Note: half the weight of the shiitake-farm is water. So if a 3kg Shitake farm is weighing in at 1.5kg… then it has zero water left. The water inside the bag is what allows the mushrooms to grow (most of the weight of the picked mushrooms is from this water).
CAUTION. Over-wetting the block may cause damage. It has the potential to allow contaminants like mould to grow or it may encourage the block to fall apart.
The best way to maintain moisture in the block is to not allow it to lose too much water in the first place.
- Keep away from drafts and heat sources that are naturally drying.
- Mist the outside of the block frequently, saturating the surface layer at least once a day.
- After it has fruited, take it outside and spray it very gently with a hose. Allow some of that water to soak in before doing it again.
- If it is very dry (light) soak it carefully in a bucket of cold water. Tap water is fine. It will be buoyant, so you may need to put something heavy on it to submerge it. Soak for 3-4 hours then let it recover for a few days before doing it again if it is required. Take care handling it when it is thoroughly wet.
If it has completely dried out, Shiitake are very hardy, and it’s likely that it’s okay. Just take care in rehydrating it.