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What's is the shelf life of magic truffles? And how can you best dry mushrooms to keep them longer? These are the most frequently asked questions our customer service receives about the use of these special psychedelics with psilocybin. Looking for an answer right away? Truffles are shelf-stable in the unopened package until the expiration date when kept in the refrigerator. Once you open the package, you have a month within that date to use them, as long as you keep them in the refrigerator. Do you want to keep your freshly harvested mushrooms or your magic truffles longer? You can with the tips we present in this practical article.
In April 2020, Czech researchers from various disciplines participated in a study on drying and storing Psilocybe cubensis, the most commonly used and cultivated mushrooms species. 5 mushrooms of about 20 cm were cut lengthwise and stored under different conditions.
In addition, 10 dried mushrooms were powdered and mixed together. Various psychoactive substances from mushrooms and truffles were also isolated to demonstrate how long they remain effective. It's an interesting study [1] to read, but like any scientific publication, not a smoothly written article. We'll try to tell you with the pen of Dutch-Headshop what you should do best, but also what you really shouldn't do.
How to Store Mushrooms or Truffles
But first, the juicy details from the study. We also don't like scrolling until you get to the conclusion:
- Mushrooms and truffles lose potency (psychedelic substances) over time because they are exposed to oxygen and light.
- Store them sealed, outside the freezer and in the dark in a cool place for the longest shelf life.
- Keep mushrooms and truffles as intact as possible when storing them. The smaller the pieces, the faster they lose potency.
- If you're going to powder dry mushrooms or truffles, for example for microdosing, after storing powder for 1 month, about half of the psychoactive substances remain. After 15 months, only a quarter remains. So, it's best to powder them at the last moment.
How long are mushrooms and truffles shelf life?
- Fresh mushrooms: shelf life of a few weeks in the refrigerator.
- Fresh truffles: unopened, shelf life of several months in the refrigerator (see best before date on the package).
- Dried truffles and mushrooms: directly dried (and vacuum packed), shelf life of one year in the refrigerator.
Now that you've got the gist of the study, we invite you to read the rest. The Czechs really did their best. Above, we mentioned "psychedelic substances" in mushrooms and truffles. But what are they exactly? They're a list of substances from the tryptamine alkaloids group, to which most psychedelics and even some other types of 'drugs' belong:
- Psilocybin - You might already know this one. This is the most common of the alkaloids. Think 1 to 2 percent of the weight of a mushroom.
- Psilocin - Psilocybin is broken down by the liver into psilocin. This is actually the substance that goes to your brain, but it's also found in mushrooms and truffles.
- Baeocystine, aeruginascine, and norbaeocystine - These substances look very similar to psilocybin under a microscope, so it's believed they have a similar effect. Some types of mushrooms contain more of these substances, but the precise effect and strength compared to psilocybin are not yet known.
- Norpsilocin - A substance from mushrooms discovered only in 2017. It wasn't tested in this study.
How strong are mushrooms after a few months of storage?
Mushrooms and magic truffles are at their best when freshly harvested. That's when they contain the highest amount of psilocybin and other tryptamines. For this reason, our magic truffles are immediately cleaned, vacuum-packed, and refrigerated after harvest before being sent to you.
How to store mushrooms and truffles?
The best way is as intact as possible, vacuum-packed, in the dark, dry, and in the refrigerator. In the study, you can see that fresh mushrooms stored for three months in the light contain about 7% less psilocybin than when stored in the dark. In the freezer, there's almost nothing left after 3 months. The further below zero, the fewer total psychedelic substances. At -20 degrees, about 80% is lost after 3 months. At -50 degrees, nearly 95% is gone.
How long to store truffles and mushrooms?
The Czech researchers looked at the concentration of dried powder over 15 months, but not whole mushrooms and truffles. For finely ground powder, after 15 months, about 25% psilocybin and other psychedelic substances remain. This decay is not linear. Because in the first month, most is already lost. After one month of storage, you'll have about 50 to 60% left, depending on the storage method.
How mushrooms and truffles age
Both mushrooms and truffles lose active substances due to exposure to oxygen. As soon as they are harvested and come into contact with air, they become less potent. That's why the first measure you can take is to store them tightly sealed, for example in a grip bag. Even better is to vacuum pack them, for example in a TightVac storage container. That way, you pump the air out, and they last even longer.
This aging process is faster at higher temperatures. Light can also accelerate deterioration, as can other molds and bacteria. That's why it's so important to store them dry, dark, and chilled. It's preferable to store fresh truffles in the original packaging in the refrigerator.
How much moisture do mushrooms and truffles contain?
Mushrooms and truffles contain a lot of water. The average mushroom contains about 90% water.
- A dried mushroom (Psilocybe cubensis) is about 10 times stronger per gram than a fresh one*.
- Fresh magic truffles contain less moisture. If you dry fresh magic truffles for 3 days, they lose about 60% moisture. So, you still have roughly a third of the weight left without them becoming less potent**.
* Mushrooms are usually eaten dried. Fresh magic mushrooms are a whole meal! ** Magic truffles are generally eaten fresh. Dried truffles are as hard as stones; that's how hard they can get. If you then put them in a razor-sharp weed grinder, you can powder them well. Fresh truffles are best ground in the dedicated truffle grinder.
Determining Dosage
Grams are not equivalent to "how many truffles or mushrooms should I take". That depends on your body weight, the type of truffle or mushroom, and the desired effect. If you're heavier, it's advisable to slightly increase the dose. To assist you, we've created a handy shroom and truffle calculator. We update it regularly as we gather new information. It's the best way to figure out how much you should take.
(Re) Vacuum Sealing
By vacuum sealing fresh mushrooms, you can store them in the refrigerator for about 2 to 3 weeks.
Truffles are delivered already vacuum sealed. Once opened, you can't store truffles for more than a month in the refrigerator. But when using a portion, for example in microdosing, you'll have some leftover that is no longer vacuum sealed. You can then put them back into a machine that vacuum seals them or put them in a handy, resealable storage container and keep them in the refrigerator to maximize the shelf life of fresh truffles.
Drying Shrooms and Magic Truffles
Dried mushrooms have a much longer shelf life. Once the majority of moisture is gone, you can (also vacuum sealed) store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Never use heat to dry mushrooms and truffles!
Start drying immediately after harvest. Take a large, clean plate, baking dish, or baking sheet and cover it with kitchen paper. Spread out the mushrooms, ensuring they don't touch each other. Hang a tea towel over the plate like a tent, perhaps by placing a glass in the middle. The simplest and safest place, especially with children or pets, is then to place them on a cupboard.
Another golden tip: this is the right harvesting moment for mushrooms. When the skin under the cap starts to loosen in most mushrooms.
Let the mushrooms dry for two to five days this way. When the stems feel brittle and they easily snap and break, they're dry enough. Magic truffles need a little more time to dry properly. Give them 4 to 8 days to dry out. Make sure to change the kitchen paper daily, otherwise they'll quickly mold*.
* Mushrooms turn blue-green to purple the moment you pick them. And that discoloration continues. So, that's not nasty mold.
Better Method
A better method that works for both mushrooms and truffles is to take an airtight container. For example, a larger TightVac storage container. Take some silica gel (available at stores like Action, Kruidvat, etc.) and place it at the bottom of the container. Don't worry, such a sachet is food safe. Just don't eat the sachet itself. Spread out the psychedelics and close the container.
The advantage of TightVac is that you can vacuum seal it, speeding up the drying process. Store the container at room temperature in a dark place for one day. The next day, open the container, change the silica gel, and vacuum seal the container again. Now store the container in the refrigerator. Every time you take some out of the container, vacuum seal the container again. Whether you need to replace the gel again depends on whether it feels moist inside the container. Does it feel moist? Then replace the silica gel sachet as soon as possible.
Food Dehydrators
The final method is to invest in a food dehydrator. This is a device that extracts moisture from anything you put in it and you don't need silica gel. It can be a pricey option, but if you really want to ensure long shelf life and convenience, this is the best option. With one caveat. It's important not to set the temperature higher than 30 degrees. The higher the temperature, the faster the substances are lost.
Summary: Do's and Don'ts
- Mushrooms and magic truffles lose potency through exposure to oxygen. Heat, freezing, grinding, and light accelerate the process.
- Never use heat to increase shelf life or speed up the drying process.
Wearing gloves during harvest can prevent contamination. They'll also last longer. In any case, try to keep them as intact as possible.
Stored! And then?
Whether you want to experience mystical experiences, trip, microdose, or something in between, it all starts with the 10 commandments for an unforgettable truffle experience. These ten tips are also applicable to mushrooms.
Source:
- [1] Gotvaldová, K. et al. “Stability of psilicybin and its four analogs in the biomass of the psychotropic mushroom Psilocybe cubensis”. Oct 15, 2020. Drug Test Analytics 2021;13:439-446. Wiley. DOI: 10.1002/dta.2950.