These hard-to-find fungi are elusive but our tips will increase your chances of spotting them during season.
Besides colorful flowers and warmer temperatures, spring brings an eagerly awaited edible treat: morel mushrooms.
The main reason morels are so pricey is their rarity.
Credit: Greg Scheidemann
They only appear from late March through May and they’re nearly impossible to farm orgrow indoors.
So where do you find morel mushrooms?
Many people have tried their hand at foraging for morels.
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Luckily, morel mushrooms have a distinct look that’s pretty easy to spot.
Look for mushrooms with a cone-shaped cap with many crevices like a sponge.
When you slice them open, all true morels are hollow inside.
Several species of false morels are toxic and can cause harmful side effects.
Watch out for false morel mushrooms, which can be dangerous.
Most false morels will have wrinkly, almost shriveled-looking caps instead of pits.
If you’re ever in doubt, leave the mushrooms where they are and keep looking!
Remember that the mushrooms will get larger as the season progresses.
Of course, if you wait too long, other foragers might get to the morels first.
Otherwise, the best method to search for morels is to head out to a forest or nature park.
Look around the base of dead or dying trees while on the hunt, as morels often grow nearby.
If you hit the jackpot and stumble across a morel mushroom or two, stop where you are!
Usually, you’ll find at least a few more morels growing nearby.
Enjoy the hunt, and savor any taste-testing of morels you’re lucky enough to discover!
Morels can be found in nearly every state, as long as the weather and environment are hospitable.
Locations where there have been wildfire burns are often the best sites for finding morels.
If you want to grow morels in your yard, the conditions must be just right.
Commercially-available morel kits provide the spores needed to grow morels.
False Morels.The Great Morel.
