How to Identify Morel Mushrooms | Green Mountain Homestead

With spring upon us, the forest floor has woken up with wild edibles all around. The excitement builds at the possibility of finding these hidden gems that are prized by foragers and chefs alike. Identifying morel mushrooms requires a little knowledge about the potential look-a-likes, but when you know the difference, spotting them is very easy.

My first encounter with this delicious treasure was when I was about 25 years old. I had just come in from tending animals on the homestead, and I was met at the door with a plate. A single piece of mushroom(they had only found one, and ate the rest before I got there). Because it was sauteed, I had no idea what I was looking at. I was just encouraged to eat it without question.

I was hesitant, but I ate it and was met with an earthy and nutty flavor that just soaked up the flavor of the butter it was sauteed in. It was delicious. I’m guessing they didn’t tell me what it was, because if they told me they found a mushroom and cooked it for me to eat, because I couldn’t identify it myself I probably wouldn’t have agreed to it. It built a desire to hunt for these little treasures during the spring.

Habitat

Morel mushrooms can be found in a variety of areas, and sometimes surprisingly in your own yard, as we recently discovered while mowing the lawn.

Found in moist wooded areas near the edge of the forest
Found near pine, elm, ash, and aspen (other trees as well)
Around dead or decaying trees
Recently burned areas, lightly used trails near woods or ditches
Thrive in a moist, not soggy soil
Near damp not wet streams or creeks
Tree covered or shady areas

Surprisingly the area where my morels are found is in a mildly wet area of our yard by a small manmade pond. This area used to have about 10 pine trees growing before we had to harvest them due to their risk of hitting our home in high winds.

Harvesting Morels in Your Yard: Safety and Best Practices

Finding morels in your own yard can be a fantastic discovery and can have the potential for regrowth if you harvest properly. There are some things to consider if you find morels in your yard:

Pesticides or herbicides: The first and most crucial step to determine if you can eat your morels, is to find out when or if your yard has been treated. If the answer is yes, avoid the mushrooms.

Other contamination sources: Consider the potential of other sources of contamination, such as run off from treated areas or animal waste.

Timing

Morel season is around April to May but this can vary according to your location. They tend to emerge when the temperature reaches around 50 degrees. Usually with some periods of warm weather, followed by rain.

Regional Variation: While the general time may be from April to May, this can vary significantly depending on your elevation and latitude. Southern regions and lower elevations tend to see them pop up as early as March. Whereas higher elevations may not see them until June.

Yearly fluctuations: The timing in which they emerge varies year to year depending on weather patterns in your area.

Soil Temperature: When soil temperatures reach around 50-60 degrees morels start popping up. Some suggest that 53 degrees is the key temperature for fruiting.

Rain: The timing that they emerge generally involves several warmer days followed by rainy weather. Morels will likely emerge some days later.

Indicator plants: Some foragers look for indicator plants such as unfurling ferns, blooming dandelions, elm trees (especially decaying), and wild strawberries blooming among many others.

Remember that these are only indicators and does not determine if morels are growing or not. This also varies state to state.

Identification:

True morels: A very distinct mushroom to identify. In fact, once you gain a little knowledge it is one of the easiest to identify. However, morels have poisonous look-a-likes. The key identifying feature of true morels is their distinct honeycomb cap. Furthermore, they are unique among their look-alikes in having a completely hollow interior from the tip of the cap all the way down through the stem. If you look at the image above you will notice that the cap is completely attached to the stem. You can also see from the image the color difference between the top morel and the other two. They are all true morels found in the same location.

Black morel: These may be consumed as well. These are true morels as well.

Gyromitra (Brain Mushroom): Has brain like folds, it is often a reddish-brown color, and it has a solid chamber inside. NOT EDIBLE: HIGHLY TOXIC

Verpa bohemica (Early False Morel): This mushroom has a distinct saddle like cap that hangs free around the stem. It also has a cottony texture inside its stem which is easy to distinguish as being a false morel. NOT EDIBLE: CAUSES GASTROINTESTINAL ISSUES

When In Doubt, Don’t Eat It: If you have even the slightest doubt in your mind as to whether you identified a true morel. DON’T EAT IT. Find yourself a reputable mushroom hunter to help you learn how to distinguish the differences. Your life could depend on it.

Morels and Alcohol Consumption

All morels contain hydrazine toxins. Because of this toxin, morels should never be eaten while consuming alcohol. Though some might believe a small amount is safe, there are reports of people experiencing adverse effects including uncomfortable pressure on the chest, severe nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and violent vomiting.

These symptoms can vary person to person depending on the amount of alcohol and morels they have consumed, but due to the unpleasantness of these symptoms, it is wise to avoid alcohol while consuming morels.

Cooking Morel Mushrooms

If you are lucky enough to have found some of these gems in the woods or yard, then be prepared for a tasty treat.

Gently wash the dirt off the mushrooms or soak them for a few minutes in salt water to remove any bugs.
It is very important to cook your mushrooms all the way through. Raw morels can cause gastrointestinal upset.

Finding morel mushrooms takes time. It takes training your eye to look for the right thing at the right time. Looking for the distinct honeycomb top peeking through the leaves or hiding under trees is often part of the fun of morel hunting.

Beginner morel hunter

Although morels are a wild edible, a small number of people have an allergic reaction to eating them. If it’s your first time trying morels, I suggest cooking them thoroughly and only eating a small amount initially to see how your body reacts. They can’t be eaten raw. This book is helpful for beginners.

Safety, Respect and Happy Hunting

So, with the warmth of spring awakening the forests and these helpful insights into the world of morels, now is the perfect time to embark on your own adventure in search of these elusive delicacies. As you wander through the woods, remember to tread lightly and with respect for the delicate ecosystem you’re exploring. Take out what you take in and leave the woods better than you found them. Take your time, train your eye to spot that tell-tale honeycomb pattern, and allow yourself to be captivated by the beauty of the natural world unfolding around you. The reward for your patience and persistence? The incomparable earthy and nutty flavor of a freshly foraged morel, a true taste of springtime. Happy hunting, and may your efforts be richly rewarded with a bountiful harvest!