Cleaning morel mushrooms is not an easy task. It can be a messy, time consuming process that requires some know-how and patience.
Morels have a sponge-like texture which can trap dirt and grit.
If you want to enjoy the delicious taste of these wild mushrooms without getting your hands dirty or throwing them away because they’re too gritty then this blog post is for you! We’ll discuss how to clean morel mushrooms and what tools are needed, as well as what it takes to get them ready for cooking with minimal effort.
The spongy shape and texture of morels make cleaning a bit of a different process. They require attentive cleaning, which prevents grit, a soggy mess, or indeed both these undesirable outcomes, on your plate.
Don’t Clean Morels Until You’re Ready To Use Them
It is important that you not clean morels until you’re ready to use them. The cleaning process ends up with them absorbing some water which will make them more significantly more susceptible to rotting or mold if you store them once cleaned. Just keep the dirty little things as they are in a breathable paper bag until they’re ready for your favorite recipe.
Firstly Give The Morels A Good Shake
You should shake morels vigorously, not violently, to remove excessive dirt in a paper bag or colander. You want to knock out as much dirt as you can without damaging them. Leave any dirt or debris behind while you remove the mushrooms.
Secondly, Soak The Morels
They are going to need some soaking to get rid of the dirt, dust and even insects that tend to hide out in all the nooks and crannies.
To proceed with the soaking process, you can either leave them whole or cut them in half (lengthways from top to bottom). Mix a little salt in water in a container until dissolved. Soak the morels in the water for 20 to 30 minutes along with some swishing around to loosen any dirt particles. Use your hands or the dishwashing brush to gently scrub off any debris that’s stuck on their surface.
If it looks like they’re all squeaky clean, proceed with the drying step below. If they still have stubborn dirt issues, follow the steps outlined in ‘The Morels Are Still Not Clean’ first, then proceed with the drying process outlined below.
If The Morels Are Still Not Clean
If they still look like they have more stubborn dirt and grime on them, you’re going to have to get slightly more industrial on them. They are so delicious that it really is worth the persistence.
So now you’re going to have to use a sponge or cloth dipped in hot soapy liquid (dish detergent will work) that has been heated on low-medium heat for about ten minutes.
After washing them off thoroughly you can now remove any debris from their surface by gently brushing them off.
With the majority of dirt and debris removed, clean out any remaining mess with a damp cloth or sponge dipped in cold water.
After giving them a very thourough final rinse (to remove all traces of detergent), follow the drying instructions and you’re done.
Finally, Drying Your Clean Morels
Once you have cleaned the morels, lay them flat on layers of paper towels or a kitchen towel. Let the mushrooms rapidly and gently drip dry, moving them around somewhat to let any remaining water inside the nooks and crannies to escape. The toweling should be replaced if it is very wet and repeated several times until all of the water has been removed from the Morels. Now you’re done. They can even go straight into your frying pan if you want! Remember, don’t store them for too long now they have been cleaned as they will go off much quicker than before. Of course, now they are all clean, you do have the option to dry them in a dehydrator. That way you can keep them stored for a lengthy period. Check out our post on drying mushrooms here.