Anybody finding morels?

Gargoyle

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You definitely have to cook morels! But also, it can make you sick drinking alochol with them. Not as bad as inky caps, but it has happened to me a few times. From what I understand, mo mushrooms should be eaten raw though. Even the normal mushrooms folks buy at the store should be cooked.
I was really looking forward to them since I haven't drank in 8 months. Still tore up my guts. I cook them in a skillet with butter until they are boiling a bit, or get pretty soft. I should think I have enough heat applied to kill the poison.
 

UncleBone

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I was really looking forward to them since I haven't drank in 8 months. Still tore up my guts. I cook them in a skillet with butter until they are boiling a bit, or get pretty soft. I should think I have enough heat applied to kill the poison.
Hmm, I am not questioning your knowledge, but were they perhaps false morels or some other similar shroom? I typically cook them until they are very well done. It sounds like you are too. It could just be one of those things that your stomach doesn't like though.
 

Gargoyle

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Hmm, I am not questioning your knowledge, but were they perhaps false morels or some other similar shroom? I typically cook them until they are very well done. It sounds like you are too. It could just be one of those things that your stomach doesn't like though.
Oh no Sir. I know what to look for. Don't want to start seeing purple dragons and such! :devilish::p
 

UncleBone

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Was fishing a pretty out of the way spot in northwestern NJ (yes they exist) and I stumbled upon a couple pounds worth. Was not looking for them and had never seen them before but man were they good
I have done that a few times. Its always a treat when youre not even looking for them. Even though I have been hunting for them my whole life, every year I am like a kid getting to open christmas presents when i get into them.
 

Hoodie

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Seems like around here (Oregon) people have only been finding the ones that grow around cottonwoods in riparian areas. Those usually start to pop up about a month before the mountain morels (eastside of the Cascades). My best spots are at around 2500ft-3000ft and they haven't got going yet.

I found a handful along the sunny side of a road last weekend at 1600ft, but I think the disturbance/microclimate had them going early in that one spot.

We've had some warm days, but I found a patch of snow at 2700ft yesterday while bear hunting. With all the moisture, it should be epic once they start popping up.
 

GSPHUNTER

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I recall someone telling me that they also got the trots when eating morels.

Turned out they were eating them raw….

FYI, small morels starting to pop in the Driftless (SW WI) but prime time is still a week or more away.
Not often you hear people refer to the Driftless area. Most people don't go back 10,000 years ago. :)
 

Sammymusi

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I found some Friday and went back today and found a ton! First time ever looking and just so happened to have a giant sycamore tree on my property. Cooked some up today pretty good! I’m in western pa
 

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Sammymusi

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Question for you pros , what is the best way to preserve them and store ? I don’t want to have to cook them as soon as I bring them home.
 

Sammymusi

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Few weeks ? Or even months . I have a dehydrator but wasn’t sure if that is the right way or even a safe way not to mess them up.
 
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Few weeks ? Or even months . I have a dehydrator but wasn’t sure if that is the right way or even a safe way not to mess them up.
I picked A BUNCH a couple years ago and froze them, and I rehydrated and fried some on Thursday. They had the same texture and taste as fresh.

NW Oklahoma has been bad dry the last two springs, and there haven’t been any morels. It finally rained at my place last week, but I won’t be back up there until the middle of June.

Good luck to all those looking and congrats to all those finding!!!
 
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The ones I tried to dehydrate “cooked”, but my cheap dehydrator doesn’t have a temp control.
 
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Question for you pros , what is the best way to preserve them and store ? I don’t want to have to cook them as soon as I bring them home.

Got into mushrooms a few years ago. Just started drying this past year. Pick a nice sunny/light breeze day. Set them out on cookie sheets and rotate a couple times as they dry. Stick em in a glass jar with a package of dehydrating packets. I steal mine from pre workout containers. That last bit might be optional, but drying is easy & rehydration is even easier
 
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