If you are new to preparing black fungus then this article will help you understand how to rehydrate black fungus and prepare it for cooking.
Black fungus is harvested fresh and dried for preservation. So, most of the time you will find them in dry form, packed in packets unless you are living in China where it is commonly cultivated.
In general, you can rehydrate dried black fungus by soaking them in water for about 15 to 20 minutes. After soaking, you can also boil the mushroom for 5 minutes if it was soaked in cold water.
Let’s have a detailed look into the process.
Steps to rehydrate dried black fungus
Plan the quantity
First, plan the quantity of the mushroom that you will need for preparation.
This is important so that you can make sure an adequate amount of water is used to soak the mushrooms completely.
Start by cutting the pack and take out the required quantity of mushrooms and place it in a bowl.
Now the mushrooms are ready to get soaked.
Soaking in water
Pour hot or cold water into the blow and submerge all the mushrooms underwater.
The water level should be at least 1 inch above the mushrooms.
Finally, close the bowl with a lid and leave it for 20 minutes so it can rehydrate and get back to its original size.
Clean the mushroom
After soaking, the mushrooms will look moist and soft.
Clean the mushrooms by taking one mushroom at a time and placing it under running water.
You can gently rub the mushrooms with your finger to get rid of sand and other foreign materials.
Squeeze out water
Once you have cleaned the mushrooms well, squeeze out the water in the mushroom and place it on a clean and dry plate.
Remove the stem
Before you start cooking the mushroom, make sure to chop off the hard stem at the top of the mushroom.
Do this by taking one mushroom at a time, touch around the mushroom to locate the hard part, and simply chop it off.
The hard stem is a bit annoying when you chew the mushroom. So, I would recommend getting rid of it.
Finally chop the mushroom to the desired size.
That’s it.
The dried black fungus mushroom is properly rehydrated and ready for cooking.
Related Questions:
How long does dried black fungus last?
The shelf life of dried black fungus mushrooms is 1 to 2 years. However, if it is unpacked or not preserved in a tight container, it will last for only a few months.
So, if you want to keep the dried fungus for a longer duration, preserve it in a clean airtight bottle.
Can black fungus be eaten raw?
Dried or fresh black fungus is usually not consumed raw. They are cooked well before eating so that you can get rid of any germs. Also, the raw black fungus doesn’t taste good which makes people cook and then eat.
