How To Get Rid Of Worms In Morels?

You have picked morels, but these contain worms? Here’s what you need to do to save them as much as possible! Read this article!

All About Wormy Morels

It is quite common to find worms in morels and other mushrooms. If you find a few, then it’s not really a problem. On the other hand, if you find many, then your harvest may end up in the trash. What a pity!

Before moving on to the rest of the article, be aware that morels are referenced on our Mushroom Maps here. These maps let you know where to find the best spots in your area.

Can You Eat Morels With Worms?

Of course you can. But the problem with worms is that they will multiply quickly if you don’t eat your morels quickly. Find out in the rest of the article how to get rid of worms to keep them as much as possible!

Where Do Worms In Morels Come From?

In general, these worms are present in the earth, reproduce in the soil and seek food nearby. Worms seek two things: moisture and food.

These worms in morels can also come from eggs laid by flies. For example, while you are drying your picking, flies will come and lay their eggs inside. Thus, after only a few days of drying, your morels will be full of worms and you will have to throw them away.

How To Know If A Morel Is Wormy?

The morel worms are usually found inside it. Indeed, these have a central cavity in which the worms often lodge. To check their presence, just cut the morel along the length of the cavity.

How To Clean And Remove Worms From Morels?

There are not many solutions to remove worms from your morels. You have to do it by hand, one by one.

The best way to do this is to clean all of your morels first. When they are clean, cut your morels in half, lengthwise. Simply perform a visual check inside the cavity.

But how do you know when a morel mushroom should be cleaned and when a morel mushroom should be thrown away?

Well, see for yourself, if your morel is full of worms, and it’s crawling, throw it away. If there are only 1 or 2 worms, you can remove them by hand and set the morel aside.

Here, there really aren’t any magic tricks. You have to go with elbow grease!

Avoid Losing Your Morels Because Of Worms

This is arguably the most important part, so read carefully.

When you harvest your morels, if they are still standing, it means that they are not infested with worms. Yes, otherwise it would be completely devoured.

So when you harvest them, there’s a good chance it’s only lightly infested with worms! And what makes them end up full of worms is the time you leave between harvesting and the final state of conservation!

Indeed, the sooner you act after the harvest, the more you will reduce the risk of having a harvest full of worms! On the one hand, the worms already present will not be able to reproduce and you will reduce the risk of flies laying eggs in your crop.

To act quickly and avoid worms, clean your morels as soon as you get home! When they are very clean, go directly to drying using a dehydrator or an oven! Avoid drying in the open air! When they are dry, put them in a jar, without waiting.

Following these tips will help you get healthy, worm-free morel mushrooms!

Find Morel Mushrooms With Our Maps!

We offer Mushroom Maps to find the best morel spots. Treat yourself!