How to select dried shiitake mushrooms
1. Look at the appearance
The general requirements for the appearance of dried shiitake mushrooms are thick and neat caps, smooth cap surface, and uniform size; The gills are neat and dense; the edges are involute and thick; the mushroom stalk is short and thick, and feels hard when pinched; there is no mildew, debris or burnt flakes. Compared with choosing fresh mushrooms, you need to be more careful when choosing dried mushrooms. When choosing dried shiitake mushrooms, you mainly look at the "face", which is the cap of the shiitake mushroom. The thicker the cap, the better the flavor will be. The edge of the cap should be rolled inward. If it is straight, it means it is over cooked. In addition, dried shiitake mushrooms can be divided into flower mushrooms, thick mushrooms, thin mushrooms and diced mushrooms based on their appearance.
Flower mushrooms: Shiitake mushrooms have cracked patterns on their caps and are called flower mushrooms. The cracked pattern indicates that there is more accumulation of nutrients, and the content of protein, amino acids and minerals is very high. Therefore, the nutritional value of flower mushrooms is higher, and the structure is tight, the flavor is rich, and the taste is smooth and tender. The "Sky White Mushroom" with white tender mushroom meat exposed in the cracks is the best among them. It should be noted that the patterns on the mushroom caps should be natural, large or small, deep or shallow. Otherwise, it is likely that the ordinary shiitake mushrooms were artificially scored.
Thick mushroom: "Faces are tight", the flesh is plump, the cap is patternless, maroon and slightly shiny; the flesh is dense, the texture is smooth, and the fragrance is strong. Thick mushrooms are best when they are 4 to 6 centimeters in size, have flat bun or gong-shaped edges rolled inward, and have small and few wrinkles.
Thin mushrooms: The mushrooms have thin flesh and are produced in late autumn. Their aroma and taste are not as good as those of flower mushrooms and thick mushrooms. When purchasing, it is better to choose an umbrella with fewer openings and less damage.
Ding mushrooms: These are the "Sun mushrooms" and "Qingming mushrooms" mentioned in ancient books. They are the first small mushrooms to sprout during the Qingming Festival. Although they are small, their quality is not bad at all, and they are the most economical and affordable. . The principle of choosing diced mushrooms is "tender". The tenderer the mushrooms, the more fragrant and smooth they will be. How do you tell if dried shiitake mushrooms are tender? Turn the dried mushrooms upside down. If no gills are visible, they are tender.
2. Look at the color
It has the unique color of shiitake mushrooms, yellowish brown or dark brown in color, bright and bright ones are better, the surface of good mushrooms will be slightly hoarfrost; the gills are light in color The yellow to milky white ones are better, and the purple ones are old goods.
3. Smell the fragrance
Those with a strong and unique aroma of shiitake mushrooms are better; those with no fragrance, or other strange or musty smells are of poor quality.
4. Dryness to the touch
The moisture content of dried shiitake mushrooms should be 11% to 13%, and those that are crisp and not broken are better. It should not be too dry, otherwise the quality will be poor if it breaks into pieces when pinched; it should not be too wet, otherwise it will be unfavorable for storage and prone to deterioration. Storage method of dried shiitake mushrooms
Dry storage
Shiitake mushrooms have strong water absorption. When the moisture content is high, they are prone to oxidation and deterioration, and may also cause mildew. Therefore, shiitake mushrooms must be dried before storage. An appropriate amount of hygroscopic agents such as lump lime or dry charcoal must be placed in the storage container to prevent moisture return.
Low-temperature storage
Shiitake mushrooms must be stored in a low-temperature and ventilated place. If possible, the container containing the mushrooms can be sealed and stored in a refrigerator or cold storage.
Store away from light
The infrared rays in the light will heat up the mushrooms, and the ultraviolet rays will trigger photochemical reactions, thus accelerating the deterioration of the mushrooms. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid storing mushrooms under strong light and avoid packaging them with light-transmitting materials.
Sealed storage
Oxidation reaction is a necessary process for the qualitative change of shiitake mushrooms. If the oxygen supply is cut off, its oxidative deterioration can be inhibited. Mushrooms can be stored in sealable containers such as tin cans and ceramic jars, and the containers should be lined with food bags. The container opening should be opened as little as possible, and the air in the lining bag should be discharged when sealing. If possible, it can be stored in oxygen-exhausted and nitrogen-filled bags. Benefits of eating dried shiitake mushrooms
1. Dried shiitake mushrooms also have a good weight loss effect. Dried shiitake mushrooms are a low-fat food. They can also lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and prevent cirrhosis of the liver. Benefits.
2. Dried shiitake mushrooms are good for diseases such as diabetes, tuberculosis, infectious hepatitis, neuritis, etc., and are also good for poor people. However, it is best not to eat dried shiitake mushrooms if you have cold and dampness in the spleen and stomach or itchy skin.