How to preserve wet Gastrodia elata?

Damp Chinese medicinal materials must be air-dried before they can be eaten by humans, because damp Chinese medicinal materials are very difficult to preserve, and they will rot even if they are kept at home, which is a pity. Take Gastrodia elata for example. Fresh Gastrodia elata is sometimes wet, so it still needs some processing after you buy it. So the question is, what is the most correct way to preserve wet Gastrodia elata?

Cook first and then dry in the sun? Or dry directly in the sun?

Don’t be so silly or naive as to put the Gastrodia elata directly under the sun to dry. It’s actually nothing serious, it just won’t last long. If you want to dry fresh Gastrodia elata, you must boil it first and then dry it in the sun. I believe the elders in your family are familiar with this.

Cook or simmer? How many minutes to cook?

First of all, I want to correct something. What happens to fresh Gastrodia elata after it is cooked? Does it become soft or very soft? Don't worry too much. Just cook it for 2-3 minutes. Generally, it is enough to cook it until there is no white core left. Then put the Gastrodia elata in the sun to dry.

How to bask in the sun without sunshine?

If there is no sun, then dry it. When the Gastrodia elata is half dry, it is flattened and then dried at 70 degrees, which takes 2-3 days.

How to make fresh Gastrodia elata dry easily?

If the fresh Gastrodia elata is relatively thick, poke a few holes in it with a needle. This will allow the moisture to flow out faster, shorten the steaming time, and dry faster.