Morels

10 Responses to Morels

1. David Nolt says:

   May 13, 2011 at 8:39 am

   If you leave the base (“root”) the mushrooms will continue to grow and produce spores. Thus more morels!
2. Jan Butte says:

   May 20, 2011 at 7:09 am

   I’d just like to know how to dry morels. I had some that I had washed and then my husband decided to dry them, he put them on a pizza pan and set them outside, now they look funny to me and I am not sure we should eat them. Could you please help me?
3. Dean says:

   May 21, 2011 at 9:09 am

   Hello,
   The main thing you need to worry about when drying mushrooms is mold. If they don’t dry quick enough, it can be a problem. This is compounded when mushrooms are wet from rain or washing. I do not wash mushrooms with water unless I absolutely have to, and especially if they are to be dried. The mold can be of various colors and should not be eaten.

   Drying small mushrooms can be as simple as laying them on a plate, or stringing morels on thread and hanging them. They should stay out of the light and need moving air more than anything. We like to dry them on a food dehydrator because it is safer and easier to manage. An oven works if you can turn it way down and leave the door open. I usually dry small batches of morels on a plate or screen inside where I can watch and turn them. Larger mushrooms need to be sliced before drying.The following link will get you to an article on drying and storing mushrooms: http://www.montanamushrooms.com/2009/07/12/drying-and-storing-oyster-mushrooms/
4. colin says:

   May 22, 2011 at 1:11 pm

   I’ve had decent luck in finding morels around the Stillwater forest however they all seem to have at least some worms. Even the newly sprouted smaller ones. Although I cook most of what I find that day is there a recomended handling of those that dont make the table right away?? Last season I would slice them and leave them to air dry on paper plates with a fan on to circulate the air and when I rotated there were noticable worms on the plates. Should I look in a different spot or just accept that there’s gonna be a little extra protien in with them?
5. Dean says:

   May 28, 2011 at 11:56 am

   I like to think the extra protein won’t hurt me!

   The only way I know to kill the little buggers, is to soak the morels in salt water. This does not help the drying process, and dilutes the mushroom flavor. As long as you remember to cook dried mushrooms before you eat them, I don’t see a problem. They seem to be worse in cool and slow growing weather like we have had this year. Thank you for your response,
   Dean
6. april says:

   July 12, 2011 at 5:36 am

   Thank you for the informative site. I have found some false morals in my yard and was wanting to know if they are also safe to eat. If so, I plan to make sure I scatter them around for next time. I’m in Sheridan, Mt. and have found various mushrooms all over and excited to have even false morals just in my yard.
7. april says:

   July 12, 2011 at 2:04 pm

   Never mind Dean. Found the site the tells that the false morals are poisionous. Bummer.
8. Dean says:

   July 13, 2011 at 2:45 pm

   Nicely done, that would have been my advice also!
   I have been seeing some puffbals around though. Most of them are edible, and I find them delicious. Do you only pick morels, or do you venture into the rest of the edibles? Thank you for the response,
   Dean
9. Frank from Ontario says:

   August 19, 2011 at 9:42 am

   Hi, if someone could let me know where to look for morels this time of year, I’d really appreciate it, we’re heading n to Butte then Missoula then Flathead Lk up to Glacier Park
   Please reply to my e address
   fmroz@telus.blackberry.net
   as sometimes I cannot get to websites
10. darlene says:

    October 27, 2011 at 3:10 pm

    hi there big brother. i was excited to see all your pics of mushrooms. we found morels in cody wy (where i live ) for the first time ,since i have lived here, this year. we were so excited. i grew up hunting morels and thanks to my big brother i hunt them now. great site.