Oven drying Placenta question

[Jaimee]

I was reading through the other placenta encapsulation threads and saw that some people have success drying the placenta in the oven at 200 degrees overnight and then pulverizing in a bag with a rock.  I am not trying to encapsulate it, just dry it out so that I can transport it across the country (we're moving) and plant it in our new home. 

So I thawed the placenta during the day and put it in the oven overnight (almost 12 hours) at 200 degrees.  This morning it appear to be a charred blob.  I scooped it out and put it in a bag to crush it, but the inside is still pinkish and sort of rubbery.  It doesn't crush and it has a slight odor.  I am wondering if this will now mold... if it's not completely dry.  Should I stick the smashed/crushed remains into the oven for more drying?  If so, a lower temp maybe?  How long?  Thanks!!

[MoonStarFalling]

Did you slice it up or did you try to dry it whole? Slice it thin and dry it until it is very crispy.

[Jaimee]

It's true... I did not slice it.  I was following directions from someone else who had oven dried and she didn't mention slicing... maybe it was implied.  Anyway, I'm sure that was the problem.  I chunked it up after it was dried and put it back in the oven, but I'm a pregnant vegetarian and the smell was nauseating after a while.  I gave up and put it in a container with dirt, hoping for the best during the move. 

Next time I would probaby steam it, slice it and put it in the oven that way.  Slicing a raw placenta is not something my veggie self could do at this point.  Sigh.

[MoonStarFalling]

That's too bad. I hope it works out for you. I totally understand. I forced my MIL to do all that for me. I did look at the pictures she took of the process. Steaming doesn't make it look any prettier.

[Jaimee]

Yeah, I've seen pics of steamed placenta, but at least it won't be raw and bloody... that's the worst part.  I would love to ask someone else to do it, but dh is worse than I am and now I'm living in a part of the country where homebirth is considered very strange- placenta cooking would be beyond comprehension.  I'd have to pay a doula/mw to have it done.  Sigh...