[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/morels-find-cook-eat\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/morels-find-cook-eat\/","headline":"Morels: Find, Cook, Eat!","name":"Morels: Find, Cook, Eat!","description":"Warming air, singing songbirds, and budding trees mean one thing\u2026okay, maybe two \u2013 morel mushrooms and gobbling turkeys!\u00a0 It\u2019s one...","datePublished":"2015-05-06","dateModified":"2018-06-12","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/author\/hagosto\/#Person","name":"Hector Agosto","url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/author\/hagosto\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7bfedbdc5ef3ed8f8df91eb37e1ffbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7bfedbdc5ef3ed8f8df91eb37e1ffbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Legendary Whitetails","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/logo-legendary-whitetails.png","url":"http:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/logo-legendary-whitetails.png","width":522,"height":226}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Mushroom-e1430926579152.jpg","url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Mushroom-e1430926579152.jpg","height":405,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/morels-find-cook-eat\/","about":["News"],"wordCount":941,"keywords":["News"],"articleBody":"Warming air, singing songbirds, and budding trees mean one thing\u2026okay, maybe two \u2013 morel mushrooms and gobbling turkeys!\u00a0 It\u2019s one of nature\u2019s finest wild food offerings on the planet. Being able to hunt a wild turkey that is so wonderfully complimented on the dinner plate by one of the very plants (or should I say fungi) it walks and struts amongst is truly a culinary gift.\u00a0 Few things match the taste of a wild turkey breast smothered with freshly saut\u00e9ed morel mushrooms! What a beautiful combo, however, both can be tricky to get from the woods to the table.\u00a0 Below are a few field and kitchen tips for those of you that celebrate the hunt the way it supposed to be celebrated. . . On your plate, and with your family!Where and When to Look for MorelsJust like turkey seasons, morel mushroom seasons vary by region.\u00a0 Spring is the easy answer, and for much of the country, that falls between the middle of March and the end of May.\u00a0 Every year is different, but the general rule of thumb is to expect morel filled woodlots when the nights no longer dip below 40\u00b0F.\u00a0 That\u2019s good news for you turkey hunters out there because that\u2019s when you will likely be chasing longbeards around the countryside, so keep your eyes peeled!Morel Mushrooms: Range and DatesMorel mushrooms thrive in disturbed areas such as: recent burn sites, flood plains, hillside washes, and logging locations.\u00a0 Any serious mushroom hunter will tell you that they can show up anywhere, but there are a few habitat hotspots that really standout.\u00a0 Since morels are a mycorrhiza (live off another plant\u2019s roots), they are often found in association with certain types of trees.\u00a0 If you know where the certain types of trees are, then you can concentrate your search efforts in high quality areas.\u00a0 Some of morels\u2019 favorite trees include Ash and Elm (especially dead Elm).\u00a0 While those are favorites, other capable morel producing trees include: Sycamore, Tulip Poplar, and Cottonwood.You Found Them, Now What?With the above site tips, there\u2019s no doubt that you will likely find some morel mushrooms.\u00a0What you do with them after you find them is critical to their taste.\u00a0 There is much debate about whether or not you should soak them in salt water to free them of any bugs and dirt.\u00a0 While many believe in the 24 hour soaking method, it is not necessary and quite frankly, makes them mushy and kills the flavor.\u00a0 Many, including myself, believe they taste the best if you clean them under cold water and use a basting brush or soft bristled tooth brush to clean the numerous cavities. Clean the pores as best you can with the brush, then slice in half the long ways, rinse again, pat them dry, and then toss them into the frying pan! \u00a0If you are still worried about a few bugs, soak them in COLD water for 15 minutes immediately before cooking. Only clean as many as you plan to eat, and keep the others stored in a paper bag in the refrigerator.For further information on morel mushroom identification\u00a0click here.If you go out searching for morels, it is best to carry a paper bag or mesh sack to store them in while you are out looking.\u00a0 Or if you\u2019re like me, I usually end up having to stuff my baseball cap full of them while out turkey hunting\u2026nothing wrong with that though!Into the Frying PanKeep it simple \u2013 some butter, garlic, flour and your choice of spice or marinade\u00a0is all you need to create a mouth-watering dish of Wild Morel Mushrooms. \u00a0\u00a0Simply follow the recipes below.Ingredients– 1 lb. Morel Mushrooms– Flour– 1\/2 cup butter or margarine– 1-2 minced garlic cloves– Spice or Marinade of your choiceDirections1) Clean the morel mushrooms under cold water using a basting brush or soft bristled tooth brush right before cooking. Clean the pores as best you can with the brush, then slice in half the long ways, rinse again and then pat them dry.2) Melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat with the minced garlic cloves.3) Lightly flour the mushrooms after pat drying them.4) Cook in butter 3-4 minutes or until golden brown, stirring constantly.5) Brush with a light coating of the marinade of your choice."},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Legendary Whitetail's Blog"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/morels-find-cook-eat\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Morels: Find, Cook, Eat!"}}]}]