Morels are one of the most prized wild foods in the world. They’re also one of the trickiest to clean. Morel mushrooms have small pits and tiny grooves that hold dirt, sand and grit like a sponge. Even if you find them in the same place every year, cleaning morels is a process where you can never be too careful. Follow these tips on how to clean morels the correct way so they taste incredible when cooked and not like a mouthful of dirt.
What You’ll Need
– Morel Mushrooms – You can clean fresh morels or dried morels. It’s more important at this stage to ensure you’re safe while cleaning the morels. – Fork or Spoon – To dislodge any grit or dirt stuck in the grooves and crevices of the morel. – Bowl of Water – You can use fresh water or water with a dash of vinegar to clean the morels. – Disinfectant or Soap – To clean your hands and the cutting board where you’ll be cleaning and preparing the morel mushrooms. – Clean Cutting Board – To avoid cross-contamination and using the same cutting board as you prepare ingredients like salad greens or meat. – Clean Knife – To chop off any dirt or grit from the morel mushroom.
How To Clean Morels
– First, you must determine if the morels are fresh or dried. If fresh, you can skip this step, but if dried you’ll need to rehydrate them first. To do this, add fresh water to a bowl and add the dried morels. Let them sit for a few hours, or until they’re soft and plump. – Fresh morels are a little trickier to clean. The best way to clean fresh morels is to start by removing the stems. Hold a morel mushroom under running water and gently pinch the stem with your thumb and forefinger. Pull the stem out of the morel and discard it. – Next, fill a bowl with water and add a dab of soap or a squirt of disinfectant to the water. Swirl the morels in the water and rub the morel with your fingers to dislodge any stuck dirt. – Place the clean morel mushrooms on a clean towel and pat them dry. Alternatively, you can also dry morels with a salad spinner. – Once clean and dry, you can store morels in a paper bag in the pantry for 2 to 3 weeks.
Drying Is The Key To Cleaning Morels
– While the clean water method works for some people, it’s not the best way to clean morels. The problem is, no matter how clean you think they are, sand and grit will get inside the grooves. – The best way to clean morels is to place them on a clean towel and let them dry overnight. Once they’re dry, shake the morels so any loose dirt falls out. – If your morel mushrooms are still wet the next day, use a clean cloth to gently pat the morel mushrooms dry. – Once they’re dry, use a clean knife and gently cut off any dirt or grit.
Keeping It Simple: Just Rinse And Shake
– If you don’t want to use a food processor or a vacuum cleaner to clean your morel mushrooms, then just rinse them really well and shake them off. – Fill a bowl with warm water and add a squirt of soap or a splash of vinegar. Swirl the morel mushrooms in the bowl and gently rub them with your fingers. – Use your hands or a clean salad spinner to dry the morel mushrooms. – Place the morel mushrooms on a clean cutting board and gently shake off any dirt or grit that remains. – If you’re going to sauté or pan-sear your morel mushrooms, you can skip the drying process.
Using A Food Processor Is Even Better
– If you’re cleaning fresh morels and want to ensure there’s no grit left inside the morel mushrooms, use a food processor. – Cut the morel mushrooms into halves and place them in a food processor. Pulse the mushrooms for about 5 seconds or until the mushrooms are chopped. – Remove the mushrooms from the food processor and use a fork to make sure there’s no grit left in the mushrooms. – Place the mushrooms on a clean towel to dry.
Best Way To Clean Morels? Use A Vacuum!
– If you want to clean your morel mushrooms perfectly every time, you can use a vacuum cleaner to suck out all the grit. – First, fill a bowl with water and add a squirt of soap or a splash of vinegar. Swirl the morel mushrooms in the bowl and gently rub them with your fingers. – Place the morel mushrooms on a clean towel and use a handheld vacuum cleaner to suck out the grit. – Place the morel mushrooms on a clean towel and pat them dry.
Conclusion
Morels are a delicious wild mushroom that’s worth the extra effort to clean them. Avoid cross-contamination by using a separate cutting board for each ingredient you’re preparing. If you’re pressing the morel mushrooms, avoid using your hands as the grit and dirt can easily be spread by touch. When using a vacuum cleaner, make sure the vacuum nozzle is at least one inch away from the mushrooms and don’t use the brush setting. Follow these tips on how to clean morels and enjoy a wild mushroom that’s completely free of grit.