Storing Morels?

[chuckinduck]

Whats the best method to store morels for extended use throughout the year. My brother and I found 5lbs worth lastnight and I want to make sure they don't spoil. Someone told me the best method is to just hang them in a room with lots of sunlight and dry them out? Anyone else have a suggestion?

[jbing]

dry them on a screen(no sun)the quicker the better,vacume pack or freeze till dinner,but make sure their dry if you dont freeze them or you will get mold.

[Woodbutcher-1]

Food Dehydrator

[Zofchak]

The best way I have found is to dehydrate slightly (makes sure they're still flexible) with a food dehydrator and vacuum seal them in bags and then freeze. They take up very little room in the freezer and I have had them last for well over a year.

[Coldwater Charters]

How about when you get them out of the freezer? What is the process after that? Can you still fry them just like a fresh one?

[Matt V]

I lay them out on my jerky rack's until they are dry and then put them in a tupperware dish until we are ready to eat them. I have kept them up to a year this way without any problem's. When you are ready to eat them, just put them in a bowl of water until they pop back into shape. I have 5 #'s drying this way right now.

[Michigan Mike]

I use a dehydrator too and store them in Ziplocks and it seems to intensify the flavor imo.
They'll last a few years if you do it right.
Best not to wash them if your going to dry them if you can.
I just cut them down the middle dry on lowest setting and then
test them after they are cool for about an hour.

Here's a few other ways....
http://www.mykoweb.com/recipes/mn_may92.html
http://thegreatmorel.com/recipes2.html

mike

[chuckinduck]

Thanks guys, I do have a dehydrator, is there a time frame I should use when drying them out?

[Boardman Brookies]

I just picked 3 pounds of greys and black this afternoon. I have the strung up on my kitchen with a fan on them. When they are dried out I keep them in canning jars. I bet they would stat good for a year, but I tend to eat them up fast.

[Oldgrandman]

I just picked 3 pounds of greys and black this afternoon. I have the strung up on my kitchen with a fan on them. When they are dried out I keep them in canning jars. I bet they would stat good for a year, but I tend to eat them up fast.

Kept airtight they last years dried but as you say, not very often :).

[gamebird_guy]

Flour them and fry them in butter until done but not real crispy, spread out aon a cookie sheet and freeze, break them up and freeze them and they taste exactly like they were fresh. I like drying but it seems to take some flavor away. IMO..good luck

[icecathound]

i have to agree with gamebird guy the cooking and freezing method is the best ive tried all the other ways and they dont hold a candle to the cooking and freezing. try some each way and decide which you like best

[Kevin_D]

How about when you get them out of the freezer? What is the process after that? Can you still fry them just like a fresh one?


It is my understanding you have to rehydrate them before cooking them. I asked the same question on another site and he said he rehydrated in broth.

[chuckinduck]

Thanks for everyone's help. I ended up drying them with a fan. Mostly because it seemed quick and easy, and I didn't want to spend all night working on them, especially since it was getting late, and there's still a gobbler with my name on it, and 4:45a.m comes really early. The technique was found on greatmorel.com, and seems like it's working really good. I simply cut the morels in half, then placed them on my oven racks and ran a oscillating fan on them all night, and continued it today. They're drying nicely, and I'd expect they'll be done around 10 or 11 a.m this morning. Total time was about 12 hours. I could probably let it go longer I suppose.

[scottfree]

the best way is using a fan. faster than the dehydrator. if you want to save the spore then simply put a wet paper towel underneath the screen or rack your drying upon. shrooms keep this way for "YEARS" . put your stash in a corrogated cardboard box with a few bayleaves....keep the mites off the dry ones. i prefer the clean and coat w/ bisquik then freeze method. put them on a cookie sheet when they are cleand and coated slide them in the freezer. store in a vacuum bag or ziplok. ready to use and great in all dishes!

[woodie slayer]

I lay them out on my jerky rack's until they are dry and then put them in a tupperware dish until we are ready to eat them. I have kept them up to a year this way without any problem's. When you are ready to eat them, just put them in a bowl of water until they pop back into shape. I have 5 #'s drying this way right now.

yup same thing i do every year. they dry in about 3-4 days