Intelligent Drying of Deer Antler Mushrooms

I. Client Background
Mr. Qu from Huaxi District, Guizhou Province, mainly produces and processes deer antler mushrooms. In the past, if deer antler mushrooms were not processed promptly after harvesting, they were prone to spoilage and rotting. Traditional sun-drying methods were not only constrained by weather but also inefficient, failing to meet the standardized and large-scale demands of modern production. When Mr. Qu contacted Jinlu Machinery, his core demand was to use digital technology to dry the fresh mushrooms immediately after harvesting, extending their shelf life, preserving nutrients, and creating a dried product form that is easy to store and transport, thereby expanding his sales radius and extending the industrial chain from fresh mushroom sales to dried product processing.

II. Drying Process
Addressing the high moisture content and crisp texture of deer antler mushrooms, the company adopted an automated drying process based on “cloud-based intelligent control,” strictly adhering to standardized procedures to ensure consistent quality for each batch of products.

Pre-treatment and Packing
Humidification is stopped 48 hours before harvesting to ensure the freshness of the raw materials. After the fresh mushrooms arrive at the drying workshop, workers immediately sort them, cutting off the roots, removing impurities, and carefully separating the clustered mushrooms into individual stems. To protect the caps and minimize damage, workers lay the mushrooms evenly on trays according to grade, with the thickness strictly controlled between 5cm and 10cm.

Precise Temperature Control and Dehumidification
The drying process consists of two key stages. First, the initial drying stage: the equipment is preheated to 40℃-45℃ before the mushrooms are placed in, and strong ventilation is activated for dehumidification. This temperature is maintained for 2 hours, then steadily increased at a rate of 5℃ per hour. During this time, automated equipment periodically moves the mushrooms to prevent them from sticking together and affecting their appearance. In the final drying stage, the temperature is maintained at 60℃-65℃. At this point, the moisture in the mushrooms is rapidly forced out. The entire process takes approximately 13 hours, truly achieving same-day harvesting and drying.

Intelligent Monitoring and Cooling
During the drying process, an intelligent monitoring network collects environmental data in real time and automatically adjusts the positions of the upper and lower material trays to ensure even heating. The drying process is complete when the mushroom stems produce a crisp snapping sound when squeezed. Finally, the dried products need to be cooled at room temperature for 24 hours. Only after the moisture content is tested and found to be no higher than 12% can they be graded and packaged.

III. Customer Testimonials

“Since the supporting drying production line was put into operation, our product range has become more diverse, and the added value of the industry has significantly increased,” said the company’s production manager. “The application of digital technology has shifted the growth and processing of mushrooms from ‘relying on the weather’ to ‘cloud-based intelligent control.’ Especially in the drying process, precise temperature control not only preserves the unique aroma of the deer antler mushrooms, but also results in naturally colored mushrooms with intact caps and a significantly reduced breakage rate.” The manager also emphasized that the efficient drying capacity ensures that fresh mushrooms can be processed promptly even during humid seasons or peak harvest periods, avoiding losses due to spoilage. Now, this batch of high-quality dried deer antler mushrooms has not only gained a good reputation in the market for its “fragrant aroma upon opening and plump appearance after soaking,” but its stable quality has also laid a solid foundation for the company’s subsequent expansion into deeper processing areas such as healthy ready-to-eat foods.