By: Bob Hendricks
There are few delicacies served up by nature that outrank the wild morel mushroom. This mushroom not only offers up excellent eating but also can be just as enjoyable to hunt. While there are some kits commercially offered for grow your own morels, the morel for the most part remains wild and random in acquiring.
Just what is a morel mushroom and how does it start? This has been the subject of more studies and research than I can count, and though much more is known about this fascinating product of nature just as much is not known.
The mushroom itself is actually the reproductive part of the mycelium that consists of a web or mat of hair like fibers that grow underground. When the mycelium wants to reproduce it develops the mushroom. The morel mushroom is full of millions of spores. These spores are launched out of the mushroom and can travel literally thousands of miles. They are so light that it can take hours for a spore to fall straight down, so any wind current will carry the spore miles away.
The morel mushroom comes up in the spring usually following cold and rainy weather when the air turns warm. The morel reaches its’ peak growth within a week of emerging from the earth. It can stand for as long as three weeks. Contrary to what some believe it does not pop up full grown over night. The morel comes up very tiny at first and takes from three to four days to grow from zero to a few centimeters.
There are several theories mostly by mushroom hunters themselves on where to find morel mushrooms. Once a spot is found getting the exact location of the hot spot from its discoverer is about as likely as you winning the lottery, with the lottery win having better odds.
It seems to hold true that morels are found around certain trees. When I first started hunting morels my dad told me to always look around elms and when on our first hunt together his theory produced a nice bag of morels for supper.
There are other trees however that seem to hold a degree of occurrences of morels near them. These trees are the White ash, apple tree, Cottonwood, and Sycamore with a few pine types out west. Some say they find morels on South facing slopes. The best way to find them is to simply get out there and hunt them.
Burn areas are known to produce morels. It is said that when Yellowstone burned that the following spring there were loads of morel mushrooms found there. This would seem to make sense because remember the mushroom its self is a means of reproducing the mycelium and perhaps the fire triggered the need for the reproduction of more morels.
I have heard of morels being found nearly everywhere in the United States including Canada and as far as the Arctic Circle. The trick is being in the woods when they are coming up. They will only be available for a short season so the serious morel hunter needs to be out looking at the first sign of warm temperatures after cold and rainy spring weather. There may be nothing in a spot this week and next week there may be several of these little table morsels.
I like to carry a mesh bag when I hunt Morels. This is so the mushroom doesn’t decay faster as it would in a plastic bag and also to allow any remaining spore to fall from the mushroom as I am carrying it. Contrary to popular belief the spore that is released is not going to “seed” the immediate area as the simple act of picking it and carrying it in a bag is enough to cause the air currents to carry it far away.
Try carrying a walking stick with you because this can be very useful in turning over leaves and pushing aside plants to get a better look at finding more morels. If you find one chances are you are going to find more.
MISCONCEPTIONS:
There are more misconceptions when it comes to morels than anything I know of.
· Over picking a spot will kill it out- false, this will not affect the area
· Cut morels above the base or they will stop appearing- this is false though it will cut down on the amount of dirt in your bag and subsequent cleaning of your morels.
· Leave a few sitting so the spot will keep producing: This will have no affect on the spot, go ahead and pick all you can.
IMPORTANT HUNTING RULES:
1. Never trespass, always ask for permission when going on private land.
2. When in doubt throw it out. Never take a chance on eating a poisonous mushroom.
3. If it ain’t hollow don’t swallow! Morels are hollow. If the mushroom you have found has flesh inside don’t eat it.
4. If its’ red you could be dead. Never eat a red colored mushroom
5. Check your hunting spots early and often. It is all about timing and the weather will dictate when the time is right, but you must be in the woods when it all comes together.
PRESERVING MORELS:
If you want to preserve some morels for eating at a later time you can do so by drying the morels. This can be done in two ways.
1. Put them in a food dehydrator - do not wash first.
2. Cut away dirt and bad spots and slice them up horizontally.
3. Arrange on trays and set dryer to lowest setting
4. Dry in the basement or garage because some people are allergic to the drying mushrooms and can get hives or headaches.
5. The process can take 24 hours.
6. Let them cool down
7. If they loose their hardness re-dry them.
8. Store in an airtight container or freezer baggies.
9. They should be good for years.
Or you may also try this:
Place sliced mushroom on paper towels and dry with a fan for 24 hours.
GOOD EATING!!!
Morels are excellent eating and I would recommend you find some recipes on the web or purchase a cookbook with morel recipes.
Growing up my mother always fried them in cracker crumb and egg in a skillet. They are as good as steak.
Some like to use them in gravy or sauces over certain meats or even in soups.
No matter how you look at it hunting the magnificent morel is a rewarding hunt not only in the challenge of finding them but also in enjoying eating them. Remember though, early and often are the times to be out there hunting them!
There are few delicacies served up by nature that outrank the wild morel mushroom. This mushroom not only offers up excellent eating but also can be just as enjoyable to hunt. While there are some kits commercially offered for grow your own morels, the morel for the most part remains wild and random in acquiring.
Just what is a morel mushroom and how does it start? This has been the subject of more studies and research than I can count, and though much more is known about this fascinating product of nature just as much is not known.
The mushroom itself is actually the reproductive part of the mycelium that consists of a web or mat of hair like fibers that grow underground. When the mycelium wants to reproduce it develops the mushroom. The morel mushroom is full of millions of spores. These spores are launched out of the mushroom and can travel literally thousands of miles. They are so light that it can take hours for a spore to fall straight down, so any wind current will carry the spore miles away.
The morel mushroom comes up in the spring usually following cold and rainy weather when the air turns warm. The morel reaches its’ peak growth within a week of emerging from the earth. It can stand for as long as three weeks. Contrary to what some believe it does not pop up full grown over night. The morel comes up very tiny at first and takes from three to four days to grow from zero to a few centimeters.
There are several theories mostly by mushroom hunters themselves on where to find morel mushrooms. Once a spot is found getting the exact location of the hot spot from its discoverer is about as likely as you winning the lottery, with the lottery win having better odds.
It seems to hold true that morels are found around certain trees. When I first started hunting morels my dad told me to always look around elms and when on our first hunt together his theory produced a nice bag of morels for supper.
There are other trees however that seem to hold a degree of occurrences of morels near them. These trees are the White ash, apple tree, Cottonwood, and Sycamore with a few pine types out west. Some say they find morels on South facing slopes. The best way to find them is to simply get out there and hunt them.
Burn areas are known to produce morels. It is said that when Yellowstone burned that the following spring there were loads of morel mushrooms found there. This would seem to make sense because remember the mushroom its self is a means of reproducing the mycelium and perhaps the fire triggered the need for the reproduction of more morels.
I have heard of morels being found nearly everywhere in the United States including Canada and as far as the Arctic Circle. The trick is being in the woods when they are coming up. They will only be available for a short season so the serious morel hunter needs to be out looking at the first sign of warm temperatures after cold and rainy spring weather. There may be nothing in a spot this week and next week there may be several of these little table morsels.
I like to carry a mesh bag when I hunt Morels. This is so the mushroom doesn’t decay faster as it would in a plastic bag and also to allow any remaining spore to fall from the mushroom as I am carrying it. Contrary to popular belief the spore that is released is not going to “seed” the immediate area as the simple act of picking it and carrying it in a bag is enough to cause the air currents to carry it far away.
Try carrying a walking stick with you because this can be very useful in turning over leaves and pushing aside plants to get a better look at finding more morels. If you find one chances are you are going to find more.
MISCONCEPTIONS:
There are more misconceptions when it comes to morels than anything I know of.
· Over picking a spot will kill it out- false, this will not affect the area
· Cut morels above the base or they will stop appearing- this is false though it will cut down on the amount of dirt in your bag and subsequent cleaning of your morels.
· Leave a few sitting so the spot will keep producing: This will have no affect on the spot, go ahead and pick all you can.
IMPORTANT HUNTING RULES:
1. Never trespass, always ask for permission when going on private land.
2. When in doubt throw it out. Never take a chance on eating a poisonous mushroom.
3. If it ain’t hollow don’t swallow! Morels are hollow. If the mushroom you have found has flesh inside don’t eat it.
4. If its’ red you could be dead. Never eat a red colored mushroom
5. Check your hunting spots early and often. It is all about timing and the weather will dictate when the time is right, but you must be in the woods when it all comes together.
PRESERVING MORELS:
If you want to preserve some morels for eating at a later time you can do so by drying the morels. This can be done in two ways.
1. Put them in a food dehydrator - do not wash first.
2. Cut away dirt and bad spots and slice them up horizontally.
3. Arrange on trays and set dryer to lowest setting
4. Dry in the basement or garage because some people are allergic to the drying mushrooms and can get hives or headaches.
5. The process can take 24 hours.
6. Let them cool down
7. If they loose their hardness re-dry them.
8. Store in an airtight container or freezer baggies.
9. They should be good for years.
Or you may also try this:
Place sliced mushroom on paper towels and dry with a fan for 24 hours.
GOOD EATING!!!
Morels are excellent eating and I would recommend you find some recipes on the web or purchase a cookbook with morel recipes.
Growing up my mother always fried them in cracker crumb and egg in a skillet. They are as good as steak.
Some like to use them in gravy or sauces over certain meats or even in soups.
No matter how you look at it hunting the magnificent morel is a rewarding hunt not only in the challenge of finding them but also in enjoying eating them. Remember though, early and often are the times to be out there hunting them!