How To Preserve Morels?

[fishfinder72]

Looking for advice on how to preserve morel mushrooms. Last year I had quite a bit of success finding them and am curious as to how to preserve them for use later in the year.

If anyone dehydrates can you offer up details in your process? I have a dehydrator but have yet to use it.

Likewise if anyone freezes what is your process?

Does anyone preserve leeks in any way?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

[Mid-Lake Rock]

I dehydrate them. I cut the morels in half then place them on window screens that I lay in the garage. The screens allow air to circulate around the morels. It usually takes 3-5 days for them to dry out. If I want to speed up the process I will put them in the dehydrator for a little while. I've been told not to use the dehydrator, however I'm not sure of why. After they are dry and firm, seal them in a canning jar.

One note - I read somewhere to soak them in salt water to kill any bugs. I did this then dehydrated and the morels turned very dark. They tasted fine, but didn't look good.

[leech~~]

One note - I read somewhere to soak them in salt water to kill any bugs. I did this then dehydrated and the morels turned very dark. They tasted fine, but didn't look good.

I just soak to clean them and then freeze them. No bugs are living through freezing!

[River Rat (dan)]

Dehydrating works well. I wash and half them. dry overnight feel leathery.

[Sully20]

I use a dehydrator and think it works better than the screen method simply because I have more faith in the fact that all the moisture is getting removed. If I get a big haul I still use the window screens but don't trust the finished product as much for LONGTERM storage. After they're dried I store them in ziplocks in the pantry. I still have 2 quart bags full of dried morels left from last year and when I used some last weekend they still rehydrated perfectly.

To rehydrate, I put them in a bowl with warm water for about 10 minutes, stirring them a few times. Then I pull them all out in a bunch and squeeze (hard) all of the water out of them with my hands back into the bowl. Surprisingly they are quite durable and this doesn't seem to affect their ability to keep their shape.

On another note, the water that you rehydrate morels in is very flavorful, resist the urge to pour it down the sink! I strain mine then try to use it as liquid substitute if the recipe calls for any water.