Do you know how to store the ripe fruiting bodies of Psilocybe cubensis or other psilocybin mushrooms? After all, when the mycelium produces fruit, they must be harvested to obtain a preparation, for example, for laboratory research.Storing psilocybin mushrooms may seem difficult, but if researchers follow certain rules, it turns out to be simple and effective. Learn how to do it properly.
First – drying
The main obstacle to properly storing psilocybe mushrooms is moisture. In the short term, it can even lead to rotting or molding of the mycelium. Therefore, the fruiting bodies intended for storage must first be dried. This is most often done using special devices that effectively eliminate moisture in a single session. To streamline this process, they are further chopped – but not too finely, but, for example, similar to chopping common forest mushrooms like boletes or bay boletes.
The drying process is absolutely vital. If even a little moisture remains in the harvest, the fruits of your labor can be effectively ruined. Therefore, the researcher must carefully assess whether the material is suitable for further packaging.
Storage in jars, zip-lock bags, or vacuum seals
Drying alone, however, is not enough. Storing psilocybin mushrooms also requires measures to protect them from absorbing moisture from the air. For this reason, appropriate containers are necessary. Jars with rubber seals, among others, work well for this purpose. Sealed this way, they are effectively protected from air, mold spores, and other external threats.
A slightly cheaper, but less reliable solution is a zip-lock bag. When sealing the material in such a bag, remember to squeeze as much air out as possible. Only then can storing psilocybin mushrooms ensure the desired effect. Therefore, when folding the bag, no air bubbles should form.
Vacuum packaging is the most effective method. The device used for this purpose effectively sucks the air out of the bag and then seals it. However, please remember that if you open the container and don’t use it all up, you’ll need to reseal it.
Protection from light and moisture
The next step is finding a suitable location.Storing psilocybin mushrooms should be done away from sources of moisture and sunlight, at a temperature not exceeding 40° Celsius, or – if possible – refrigerated, although this isn’t always necessary. A common practice is to store containers of dried fruiting bodies in a larger cardboard box. Moisture-absorbing agents are also placed inside (for wild mushrooms, tea bags are used for this purpose). The box is then placed in a well-ventilated, dry place, away from sunlight.
How long does psilocybin last in mushrooms?
Reports on this matter vary. Some researchers claim a shelf life of about a year, while others claim that the properties of psilocybin mushrooms do not significantly diminish even after four years. Much certainly depends on the packaging method, and vacuum packaging guarantees the best results.