A Guide To Storing Magic Mushrooms For Longevity & Maximum Potency

Magic mushrooms and truffles can easily lose their potency if not treated right. Additionally, there’s nothing worse than getting ready to blast-off on a psychedelic journey, only to find your rocket (i.e. the mushroom!) has sprouted some unappetizing mold. When this happens, you must immediately get rid. To prevent this happening we’re sharing a guide to storing magic mushrooms for longevity and maximum potency. 

What Is a Magic Mushroom?

First things first: what is a magic mushroom? 

Magic mushrooms are a group of fungi who contain the psychoactive compound psilocybin, which turns into psilocin on digestion. Because of this they are often also referred to as psilocybin mushrooms. 

What Does a Magic Mushroom Look Like? 

What does a magic mushroom look like, you ask? Well, most magic mushrooms are pretty unassuming. They are usually small and brownish, belying their ‘magical’ properties. 

Where Do Magic Mushrooms Grow?

After hearing of their many virtues, the next question is always, how can I get some? Where do magic mushrooms grow? Well firstly, magic mushrooms grow all over the world, and are seasonal to boot. You can learn all about where magic mushrooms grow in the wild with our Magic Mushroom Forager’s Guide. 

The second, perhaps surprising answer to the question: ‘where do magic mushrooms grow?’ is… your house! Yes, a magic mushroom grow kit is all you need to grow your own supply of magic mushrooms from the comfort of your home. Additionally, using a magic mushroom grow kit rather than foraging for shrooms ensures you know exactly what kind of magic mushroom you are getting, removing the risk of misidentification. 

How Long Do Magic Mushrooms Last?

You may not be ready, or able, to trip the minute your fresh truffles arrive in the post, or you harvest from your magic mushroom grow kit. So, how long do magic mushrooms last before they are no longer useable?

We believe that learning the best methods to store them is essential. As we sell products of the highest quality we want them to stay of the highest quality for as long as possible. Whether you go for truffles, fresh harvested mushrooms, or you dry your shrooms — we have a method for you! This way, when the time is right, your stash will be ready and waiting for you to get trippy. 

How To Store Magic Mushrooms (Fresh)

If you have recently harvested a crop of shrooms from your magic mushroom grow kit, and do not want to take them immediately, you need to know the best way to store them. Fresh magic mushrooms are probably the most sensitive and quick to depreciate. The storage protocol for fresh shrooms begins the minute you harvest them. With clean hands, pick your shrooms and gently remove any dirt from them. If your shrooms are wet, lay them on some toilet paper or unbleached kitchen towel for 20-30 minutes. After this, gently pat dry with the paper. Like non-psychedelic edible mushrooms, the place to store them is the fridge. Here’s how:

Storing Fresh Magic Mushrooms:

Place your fresh shrooms on an unbleached paper towel and put this inside a paper bag — put this inside your refrigerator (standard temp of around 4°C). Make sure the paper bag is wrapped snugly around the shrooms — though not crushing them — to prevent contamination as much as possible. Fresh magic mushrooms, in general, can be stored like this for between 5 and 10 days. However, we recommended checking them for any mold or decay after around 3- 5 days just so you know what you’re dealing with. Do not risk eating mushrooms that have begun to decay — the only trip you’ll be taking is one to the emergency room! 

What Does A Magic Mushroom Look Like When Fresh?

When fresh a magic mushroom should look healthy and without any mold. Basically the same as when it was still in your magic mushroom grow kit, but loose and with any dirt or substrate removed. 

How To Store Magic Mushrooms (Dried)

If you are looking to store dried magic mushrooms, there are a few more options on the table. With some of these methods you can keep your stash potent for up to a year! 

What Does a Magic Mushroom Look Like When Dried?

When dried a magic mushroom is much smaller and lighter. The cream coloured stem turns a gray bone-like color, and the caps appear duller in color as well as being wrinkled and withered. They should contain no moisture. Any blue bruising that happened while they were fresh and juicy takes on a gray tone. 

In A Jar:

The easiest, most common, and recommended by experts way to store dried shrooms is in a simple jar! Ideally, use a jar you can tightly seal — a mason jar is easy to get your hands on and works perfectly. The jar must be stored in a dark place, or at least out of direct sunlight, such as in a cupboard. For best results, and a professional spin, you can also add food-grade silica packets to your jars of shrooms. You know — those little sachets that arrive with mail-order packages and say ‘DO NOT EAT’? Well they are ideal for keeping any potential moisture from affecting your shrooms. They are easy and cheap to buy online — and a must if you want your dried shrooms to last up to their full potential of one year! 

Vacuum Sealing: 

If you have a vacuum sealer then this could be a method for you — it also takes up less space — if that’s an issue. It is essential to make sure that your mushrooms really are ‘cracker-dry’ if you are going to use this method. You don’t want them becoming damp again once sealed. And, how long do magic mushrooms last with this method? With this method (done properly) and kept out of direct sunlight, your vacuum-packed magic mushrooms can last a year!

Freezing: 

Though it is unusual for someone to need to store magic mushrooms for over a year (what are you waiting for?!) it is possible if you freeze them. Before you freeze them however, again it is important to make sure they are ‘cracker-dry’ — don’t freeze fresh mushrooms folks! Once cracker-tastic, you can put your magic mushrooms in a zip-loc bag in the freezer. If done properly, many say the psychedelic effects could last indefinitely. 

In Honey:

A shorter term, but still very popular way of storing dried shrooms, is in honey. This is commonly known as ‘blue honey’ or ‘shroom honey’. Using a jar or sealable container, dried shrooms can be submerged in liquid honey, sealed, and safely stored. How long do magic mushrooms last when encased in that sweet, sweet honey? When kept in a cool, dark environment, shroom honey can last up to about 4 months. 

How To Store Fresh Magic Truffles

Magic truffles are the underground portion of a magic mushroom, called the sclerotia. They contain the same psychedelic properties of a magic mushroom. 

All of our magic truffles arrive vacuum sealed (apart from our Pandora’s Box — more on that later!) We have found through extensive research, and testing, that this is the way to keep your truffles as fresh as when they were harvested. The reason for this is that the vacuum sealing creates an airtight environment for the truffles, with less oxygen and more carbon dioxide. These ‘modified atmosphere conditions’ prevent bacterias and mold from growing on our precious cargo. We’ve done the science so you can enjoy the finished product!

Unopened (still sealed) Fresh Magic Truffles: 

Once delivered these can stay fresh in your fridge for up +/- 2 months at around 4°C. 

After Opening: 

Remove your magic truffles from the vacuum seal and lay them on toilet paper or unbleached kitchen towel — this will keep any excess moisture at bay. In the fridge at 4°C, on your paper, opened magic truffles can last for up to +/- 1 to 2 weeks. Make sure they have space in the fridge and nothing touches them! 

Note: As mentioned before our Pandora’s Box is not vacuum sealed, rather it comes in a sealed plastic container and has a shelf life of up to 1.5 months when unopened. It does not require refrigeration. 

Storing Magic Mushroom and Truffle Infused Food and Drinks

Chocolate Coated Magic Mushrooms and Truffles:

If you followed our Chocolate Shrooms recipe — and used our psychedelic truffles to make a treat to delight all senses, this is for you. If you manage not to scoff all your chocolates straight away you can store them in the freezer for up to three days. Chocolate coated dry shrooms can last up to a month in the freezer. 

Shroom Tea:

One of the most popular ways of consuming magic truffles and mushrooms, shroom tea can also be stored for later. Kept in a sealed container, shroom tea can last in the fridge for up to a week! Perfect for measuring out a small microdose at a time. This does also depend if you’ve chosen to add fruit or any other ingredients to your tea. Fruit may decompose and shorten the life-span of your mixture. 

The Takeaway: How To Store Magic Mushrooms and Truffles For Maximum Longevity and Potency

• What is a magic mushroom? A magic mushroom is a type of mushroom containing psilocybin that causes psychedelic trips when ingested. 
• What does a magic mushroom look like when fresh? When fresh, a magic mushroom should look as it did when it was still growing, only harvested and cleaned.
• What does a magic mushroom look like when dry? When dried a magic mushroom should look small, shriveled, and faded compared to a fresh shroom. However, they are far more potent. 
• How long do magic mushrooms last when fresh? When fresh a magic mushroom can last up to 10 days in the refrigerator. 
• How long do magic mushrooms last when dried? When properly dried magic mushrooms can last up to a year.  
• How long do magic truffles last? When unopened and refrigerated magic truffles can last up to 2 months. After opening they can last up to 2 weeks if stored properly. 

We cannot stress enough that if you ever notice any signs of decomposition on fresh or dried magic mushrooms and truffles — do not take the risk! However, if you follow our instructions, you can keep the magic alive for much longer!