Best way to rehydrate dried mushrooms?

I love using dried wild mushrooms. They keep well in the pantry and have a very intense flavor. I use Oyster mushrooms, Porcini, Chanterelle and Shitake mushrooms. I re-constitute my oyster mushrooms and shitake mushrooms in dry white wine - not cooking wine. If it is not good enough to drink it is not good enough to cook with. Put 1 cup dry white wine and 4 or 5 dried mushrooms in a microwave safe glass container - I use a 2 cup measuring cup. Heat on high for 2 minutes. Set aside for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve lined with a paper coffee filter or cheese cloth. Reserve the liquid. Gently squeeze the mushrooms then chop. They will be a little chewy but dried mushrooms are generally used for cooking so they will soften more during the cooking process. If you want to use wild mushrooms in a non cooked dish buy fresh. Use the reserved liquid in your recipe instead of other liquids. It adds more intense flavor. I re-constitute porcini and chanterelle mushrooms in dry red wine.

For Christmas I used porcini mushrooms in my pork roast gravy. 2 days ago I used oyster mushrooms in a creamed potato soup. My husband wants oyster chowder for New Year's Eve -that calls for oyster mushrooms.

Chanterelles with rack of lamb or beef bourgoin.

Happy New Year

Rehydrating Porcini Mushrooms

I always find them rubbery when rehydrated too, and the stalks inedible. No matter what I try, the result is still the same. I think dried is better to add flavour, not for eating. I just end up chopping them very finely and using in risotto. Sorry that's no help!

To rehydrate morels prior to consumption, simply place them in water for two to four hours. Use two cups of water for each ounce of dried morels. They will re-hydrate more rapidly

Wendy, I use room temp water, and just leave them in a warm spot till I need them, with me, minimum an hour.

That liquid, I use in the recipe, lots of flavor there.

Place them in a bowl of very hot chicken, vegetable, or beef broth.

soak in water.