How To Store Magic Mushrooms

Magic mushrooms are great, but if you don't store them properly, then they have an exceedingly short shelf life. In fact, some varieties may only last 24 hours or less before they're inedible. Therefore, unless you want to consume them immediately after harvesting, you'd best find a way to give them some longevity! Fortunately, dried magic mushrooms last for a very long time indeed—so long as they're stored correctly.

In this article, we look at how to properly store magic mushrooms to keep them edible and potent for as long as possible.

Understanding magic mushrooms

Magic mushrooms appear in various species, but all come from the Psilocybe genus. What links them is that they are fungi that produce the psychoactive chemicals psilocybin and psilocin, to varying degrees. They grow all over the world, with the most common and easiest to grow at home being Psilocybe cubensis. But if you pick them in the wild in Europe, you’re most likely to go hunting for Psilocybe semilanceata (aka liberty caps).

Regardless of the type, magic mushrooms all go off incredibly quickly! Therefore, it’s crucial to prepare and store them correctly if you want them to last more than a day or two.

Why proper storage matters

If you don’t store magic mushrooms or truffles correctly, they will go off fast. And once they’re gone, there’s no bringing them back. Fresh shrooms will go off almost immediately if left in normal conditions. And dried ones need a fair amount of care too if they’re to be stored for any significant amount of time.

If you want to store mushrooms for a long time, then they must be dried.

• Note: Liberty caps, perhaps the species you’re most likely to find wild in Europe, should be dried almost immediately as they contain nematodes (which look like little white worms or maggots). Though totally harmless if dried, nematodes on freshly picked specimens will quickly work to devour the mushrooms if left to sit. Long story short—dry them as quickly as possible.

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Fresh vs dried storage

Fresh mushrooms can’t really be stored for more than a few days, as they will start to rot very quickly. They have a 90% water content and are therefore very tempting to bacteria and harmful fungi.

So, unless you intend to use your shrooms imminently, set about drying them posthaste!

Storing fresh magic mushrooms

Fresh mushrooms are moribund (dying) beings. Once harvested, they can only be stored for a few days in a refrigerator. If you need to store fresh mushrooms, do so in a paper towel or dishcloth. And don’t pack them too tightly as this will only speed up their demise. Mould and rot can set in very easily.

It can also help to place these wrapped mushrooms in an airtight container, as this may extend their longevity a little. But still, don’t expect miracles.

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Benefits of drying magic mushrooms

If you intend to keep magic mushrooms for any significant period, then they must be properly dried and stored. If they’re not totally dry, they’re not going to last. And by totally dry, we mean brittle and "cracker dry". Any moisture will cause them to degrade. They might not go rotten, but the psilocybin will break down, and you’ll be disappointed when you go to eat them and discover nothing happens.

So make sure you know how to dry your mushrooms.

When shrooms are dried, the psilocin converts to psilocybin, which is more stable and stores better. Once you expose it to acid (often in the stomach or by using a technique such as lemon tek), it then converts back to psilocin, which is the compound that actually gets you high.

Dried mushrooms can be stored indefinitely, but are best consumed within around six months.

How to store dry mushrooms

Proper storage will ensure that dried mushrooms do not rehydrate and break down. As they’re extremely dry, they will absorb a little moisture from their environment, and even a small amount is enough to ruin them. So once dried, don’t be lazy about storage.

Storage methods

The following techniques are effective methods for storing dried magic mushrooms of all varieties.

Airtight containers

Airtight containers, be they plastic, silicone, glass, or something else, should all work well for magic mushroom storage. By keeping oxygen and moisture out, this slows the degradation of our desiccated fungal friends and keeps them around for quite some time. Adding silica gel humidity packs to these containers also helps to extend their lifespan, as they will absorb any residual moisture inside the sealed containers.

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Vacuum sealing

Vacuum sealing is a great option for those with a large amount of shrooms; for example, those who have just harvested a bulk grow. A true vacuum seal will keep your shrooms safe from all moisture, but is a one-time kind of thing. Once you cut it open, you’ll have to reseal it in a new pack or transfer your shrooms to airtight containers. So this method is great if you have a huge amount that you want to store long term, but not as ideal for smaller amounts if you want to dip in occasionally.

Freezing

You can also freeze dried shrooms, and it does work as an effective storage method. However, unless they’re 100% dry, you run the risk of reducing their potency by freezing them.

We’d only recommend this if you can be certain that your mushrooms or truffles are dry enough; for instance, if you have used a food dehydrator. If you just hung them beside a fan, we’d opt for another option.

Blue honey

Alternatively, you can make blue honey with magic mushrooms and truffles. This method preserves shrooms indefinitely and creates a tasty, psychedelic treat.

To make blue honey, grind your shrooms or truffles as finely as possible. Then, mix them with honey. Over time, the psilocybin from the mushrooms will infuse into the honey. It can then be put in tea, on toast, or eaten from a spoon.

This is genuinely a great storage method. The main downside is that you're somewhat limited in how you are able to consume your shrooms once they’re mixed with honey.

Advanced storage tips

Ideally, the container you store the shrooms in should be good enough by itself. But if you want to stay extra safe, you can make the broader environment more beneficial for shroom storage. With this in mind, the key is to keep the humidity low and UV light to a minimum.

To assist with this, you can use a hygrometer to measure the relative humidity in the environment, though this might be overkill in many cases.

Avoiding common mistakes when storing dried shrooms

Some common mistakes that lead to disappointment include:

• Improper drying in the first place: It’s hard to overstate how important it is to truly dry your shrooms initially. If they retain any moisture, then they will eventually go off.
• Exposure to UV light: This will break down psilocybin even if the shrooms are properly dry, so store them in a dark space.
• Not using airtight containers: Some containers that may seem airtight are in fact not, so be careful! The main mistake is to store dried shrooms in plastic baggies, which are never properly airtight.

How long do dried magic mushrooms last?

Dried magic mushrooms have a notable shelf life, primarily when stored correctly. The potency and effectiveness of these mushrooms can be retained indefinitely under ideal conditions, with many users reporting satisfactory experiences even after storing them for more than a year. However, for optimal results, it is generally recommended to use dried mushrooms within the first six months of storage.

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How to tell when your shrooms have gone bad

Identifying spoiled magic mushrooms is crucial for ensuring safety and avoiding unpleasant experiences. Here are the key indicators that your shrooms may no longer be suitable for consumption:

• Visible growth: If you notice any unusual spots, fuzz, or growths that weren't there when the shrooms were dried, these could be signs of fungal or bacterial contamination. Sometimes, the growth may not be overt. Look for any discoloration or textural changes that seem out of the ordinary.
• Unpleasant odour: Magic mushrooms have a distinctive earthy scent. Any foul or unusual odours, particularly musty or sour smells, can indicate spoilage or contamination.
• Moisture content: Properly dried mushrooms should be brittle or cracker dry. If your mushrooms feel moist or sticky, this is a strong indication that they have been exposed to moisture, leading to potential degradation of the active compounds or the growth of mould and bacteria.
• Rotten appearance: Any signs of rot, such as sludgy or slimy textures, are clear indicators that the mushrooms are not fit for consumption. Like any spoiled food, deteriorated mushrooms can pose health risks.
• Lack of effects: If you consume your mushrooms and experience significantly reduced or no psychoactive effects, it might suggest that the psilocybin has broken down due to poor storage or extended shelf life.

Storing magic mushrooms properly: Essential

Storing magic mushrooms properly isn’t a luxury; it is truly crucial if you intend to keep them for any meaningful period of time. The first thing to get right is the drying process, which, if done improperly, renders everything else pointless. Then, once dry, store them in a truly airtight manner away from light and heat. Usually, you should aim to consume them within six months. With dried shrooms, you can take them in a variety of different ways, and you can most certainly have a lot of fun!

Max Sargent

Max has been writing for over a decade, and has come into cannabis and psychedelic journalism in the last few years. Writing for companies such as Zamnesia, Royal Queen Seeds, Cannaconnection, Gorilla Seeds, MushMagic and more, he has experience in a broad spectrum of the industry.

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