Question about dried shiitake mushrooms

[LadyCook61]

never had dried but bought a small can of those mushrooms to try it out.

[Chopstix]

Originally Posted by CharlieD

What's wrong with using fresh mushrooms? They will taste a litle bit diferent but will be fine.

For the authenticity of certain dishes in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese cuisines, dried shiitakes are requisite because of the particular concentrated mushroom flavor they impart which can't be achieved with fresh shiitake.

Fresh mushrooms are tricky to store and don't keep well at all. In contrast, dried mushrooms are very practical and economical to use. They keep a long time in the pantry. You only need a little at a time as the flavor is concentrated. Rehydrating is very easy.

However, rehydrated dried mushrooms cannot regain the texture of fresh uncooked mushrooms. So in certain dishes say salads, dried mushrooms cannot replace fresh mushrooms.

[BreezyCooking]

I never eat Shitakes raw - always cook them. I've tasted them raw & found them unpleasant. But cooked - whether fresh or rehydrated dry - they're definitely a pantry & fridge staple here.