You should also toss any mushrooms that are bruised or feel mushy since they won’t store well.
The paper bag allows good airflow around the mushrooms, so they won’t turn slimy. If you want, you can wipe them with a dry paper towel before storing.
The paper towel around the mushrooms will absorb some of the moisture. However, if you seal the plastic bag, you’ll trap moisture in the bag with the morels, and they’ll spoil more quickly.
If you wash the mushrooms and refrigerate them, the moisture will cause them to spoil a lot faster. There’s a lot of disagreement among morel hunters about the best cleaning method. Some argue that rinsing is all you need since saltwater could affect the taste of the morels. Others point out that saltwater is the only way to get all the grit and tiny bugs out of the crevices.
If the morels are wider than 1 inch (2. 5 cm), slice them or cut them into quarters.
Feel free to use your favorite cooking oil like walnut oil, sunflower oil, or coconut oil.
Lemon juice and citric acid contain enzymes that prevent browning. Note that steamed morels will keep longer than morels that are sautéed in butter or oil.
It might be tempting to toss all of your morels into a bag and stick it in the freezer, but they’ll all freeze in a big clump. This is why it’s better to freeze them individually on the tray first. Don’t forget to label your freezer container with the contents and the date—this way, you know to use the morels within a year. [9] X Research source To defrost the frozen mushrooms, just transfer the container to the fridge the night before you want to cook your morels. Unlike dehydrated mushrooms, you don’t need to soak them in water before cooking them.
Some morel hunters argue that a long soaking period will affect the flavor of the mushrooms.
You can leave the morels whole or slice them.
Ideally, set your oven below 140 °F (60 °C). If you can’t turn it that low, use your oven’s “warm” setting.
To rehydrate dried morels, soak them in a bowl of cool water for 10 to 20 minutes or until they’re soft.
