Can morels be frozen (and how exactly to do it)?

Morels are one of the most appreciated mushrooms in the world, but many people do not know that they are not actually cultivated, but only collected in the wild.

Therefore, you can only get fresh morels in spring. All year long, if you buy morels, they will be dry.

However, one of the best things you can do is buy your morels in early spring, and find a way to prepare them yourself for storage.

So you may be wondering: “can morels be frozen?”.  The answer is yes, you can freeze morels. It’s important not to freeze raw morels because they won’t hold their flavor or texture when you reheat them. The best way to prepare them is by boiling or sautéing them before freezing.

What is a morel?

A morel is a mushroom that belongs to the genus Morchella. No one really knows how many varieties of morels there are, because every year new ones are discovered and different varieties emerge.

Since there are so many variants of morels, their appearance can be very different , so don’t worry if the morels you buy in one place are different from those you buy in another.

The only things the morels share are the rough honeycomb shape of the exterior and the cap that sticks directly into the stem.

But other than that, there is a huge difference in the appearance of the morels. From brown to grey, smaller than your fingertip to larger than your fist, square to oval, they run the gamut.

How to freeze morels

The first thing to know when freezing your morels is that you cannot freeze them raw.

Freezing your mushrooms raw can ruin their flavor, but this won’t be detectable until they’re cooked and served, ruining the whole dish.

There are two ways to prepare your morels for freezing. 

• The boiling method, and
• The Sauté Method

Boil the mushrooms to freeze them

The boiling method to preserve the morels is simple.

Place the whole mushrooms in a pot of boiling water and bring to a boil for about 5 minutes.

Once boiled, pour the mushrooms into freezer bags, remove the air, seal and freeze.

Sauté the mushrooms to freeze

It is best to prepare and freeze the morels in 1-pound batches. This recipe assumes that you are going to work with half a kilo of morels.

Leave the mushrooms in lightly salted water for 1-2 minutes, stirring or shaking occasionally.

While you’re doing this, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a skillet over medium heat.

Add the mushrooms to the skillet, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook for 5 minutes. The mushrooms should have released their liquid when they are done.

Collect the mushrooms and their liquid, and add them to freezer bags. Two freezer bags fit half a kilo of mushrooms. Add the liquid to the bags because it helps protect the mushrooms and preserves the flavor.

Freeze them immediately, and they will keep for about 1 year.

Why do people like morels?

The most obvious reason is its taste. Morels are delicious and have a different flavor than other mushrooms.

People who don’t like mushrooms often say that their texture is slimy or slimy.  Instead, the morels are meaty, with a thicker consistency and a deep nutty flavor. 

The second reason is demand. Because people love morels, they have gained a reputation as the connoisseur’s mushroom.

People want to get hold of them more and more for the prestige that comes with their name, or simply to see if reality lives up to the hype.

If we add this to the low availability (in relation to other mushrooms) of morels, we have the recipe of desire.

How to buy morels

When buying morels, you should look for a mushroom that is soft to the touch, slightly moist, and spongy. They shouldn’t warp noticeably, or compress too much.

Fresh morels also have a characteristic smell, very natural and reminiscent of the forest.

Other ways to preserve morels

You don’t just have to freeze your morels as we described above. There are multiple options at your disposal, and all have their advantages and disadvantages.

Storing Morels Fresh

Storing the morels in the fridge is the easiest method, but the least effective.

If placed in the fridge and cared for properly, morels have a shelf life of 5-7 days at best.

If you know you’ll be using them soon, store them in a paper bag (not plastic because of condensation) or in a bowl with a damp paper towel on top.

This way they will stay in their best condition for as long as possible.

Freeze drying of hives

If you are lucky enough to have a freeze dryer, freeze drying morels is a fantastic option.

A freeze-dried morel will last at least 20 years and retain more than 95% of its nutritional value. Best of all, when rehydrated, a freeze-dried morel will be basically indistinguishable from a freshly picked one.

A freeze-drying machine is no small investment, but there is no better way to preserve mushrooms.

How to thaw morels

When it’s time to defrost your morel mushrooms, don’t leave them on the counter, and definitely don’t put them in the oven or microwave .

Instead, you should leave them in the fridge for 1 hour. This allows the mushrooms to thaw slowly.

Don’t worry if the mushrooms still look frozen after that hour. As long as they’ve had at least an hour to thaw, it’s safe to put them right on your plate.

Are there other ways to preserve morels?

Yes. If you don’t have space in your freezer, or just don’t want to freeze them, you can easily dry morels in your own home.

There are three methods you can use to dry your morels. Air drying, oven drying or using a food dryer.

First of all, immerse the mushrooms in salted water, stirring them from time to time. Do this for 1-2 minutes to release any dirt or grit that has been trapped in the mushroom.

Don’t leave them for more than a few minutes , as they will drink the water and it will be much more difficult to dry them.

Any mushroom that is higher than the height of your thumb (about 5 cm) should be cut in half, from top to bottom.

Using a food dryer, set it to 110 degrees and leave it for about 10 hours.

To air dry, string each mushroom on strong string (dental floss is ideal) and leave in a dry, dark place for 24 to 48 hours.

To oven dry, skewer the mushrooms as above, and tie them to a rack in the oven so they hang down and have ample space between them.

Set the oven to the lowest temperature, leave the door slightly open for air to circulate, and leave it for 8 to 10 hours.

How are dried morels preserved?

The first thing to know is that dried morels are much easier to store.

You can store dried morels in airtight containers at room temperature.

You can also keep freeze-dried morels for up to a year.

How do I rehydrate my morels?

To rehydrate the morels, simply put them in a bowl of cold water. After 15 to 20 minutes, they will return to normal, retaining their fresh shape and texture.

This method works best if you can keep the mushrooms under water.

Once made, the water will retain a good amount of flavor, and we recommend that you use it in your cooking.

Can I collect my own morels?

Since all morels are collected from the wild and not farmed, you can collect your own, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s a risky endeavor.

Let’s repeat it. Unless you’re 100% sure what you’re picking, don’t eat anything you’ve picked yourself.

There are many varieties of false morels that look very similar to the real ones, but are deadly poisonous. 

That being said, morels, like all mushrooms, like moist, shady areas. It is to be expected that you will find them near trees, specifically poplar, ash, elm and oak.

When collecting beehives , be sure to bring a knife. Cut as close to the ground as possible, without dirtying the mushroom.

Do not pluck them, otherwise you will end up with broken stems.

When it comes to storing them, the best are traditional methods. An open weave basket with a cloth on top allows them to breathe and prevents them from sweating until you get them home.

Don’t stack them too high or the bottom ones will get bruised.

However you get them, now you know everything you need to know about freezing and preserving your morels, so you can enjoy that delicate flavor all year long!