Morel Mushroom Prices in 2024: What to Expect When Buying

Mushrooms are one of those foods that people seem to have a strong opinion on. Either you love them or hate them as part of your meal. But even those who don’t love the taste of mushrooms have gone to the “fungi side” when it comes to morels, raving about their flavor and texture. Foragers hunt morels like a sport, and fancy restaurants consider them a delicacy. What makes morels so sought after to merit the high price tag? Read on to discover what to expect for morel mushroom prices.

What Are Morel Mushrooms?

Morel mushrooms only grow in the wild. They are notoriously difficult to farm because they need very specific conditions for growth, such as cool, moist weather. The morel looks like a honeycomb on the outside. The inside is white and hollow, and the outside color can be yellow, grey, or black. The shape may be oblong or bulbous. 

There are also false morels that look very similar to the morels you can eat, but they are extremely toxic. False morels may be reddish brown or yellow, with a cap hanging to the side. One other telltale sign that it’s a false morel is when cut open, it won’t be hollow on the inside. Still, if you’re not experienced, it can be hazardous to forage for morels and be confident that you are picking the real thing.

Morel Mushroom Prices in 2024

Unfortunately for fans of the fungi, the elusive morel mushroom does not come cheap. The delicacy hovers around $30 per pound and out of season, can be double that or more, according to Michigan State University professors.  

“They’re extremely expensive if you get them at meat markets, farmers markets, or out of people’s truck beds; they can be $45 a pound,” says Rachel Schneider, a writer who covers budget living and who is also a morel forager.

What Makes Morel Mushrooms So Expensive

There are a few reasons morels are so expensive. Since the conditions have to be very specific for them to grow, they’re very hard to find. It must be cool and moist weather, with soil temperatures of around 45 to 50 degrees. Air temperatures should be around 60. The mushroom’s need for certain conditions makes them a challenge to farm as well. Morels camouflage very easily in the wild, which is why foraging for them is such a challenging activity. The season for finding morels is notoriously short, taking place during spring. They’re also so delicate that it’s difficult to ship them fresh.

What Do Morel Mushrooms Taste Like?

Morels are often described as having a nutty taste and meaty texture. The texture is also typically less slimy than other types of mushrooms. Morels complement the flavor of meat dishes and pasta in particular, and enthusiasts have clubs, websites, and organizations devoted to finding and eating the fungi. 

Where To Find Morel Mushrooms

Morels grow throughout the United States, typically in the springtime only. Though they are possible to find anywhere, they are more common in Tennessee, Michigan, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Vermont. Morels often grow around dead trees that have had sunlight on them, particularly Ash trees. They can also spring up where there has been a wildfire burn.

If you can’t find them in the wild (and most people can’t), or locally in a store near you, it’s possible to buy them dried out online. Numerous specialty sites sell morels, but they can also be found on Amazon or Walmart’s website. The price typically starts around $14 for one ounce of dried morel mushrooms.

How To Handle and Cook Morel Mushrooms

If you can get your hands on fresh morel mushrooms, Schneider recommends that when you pick them, put the morels in an onion bag. “This will allow the spores to fall out and grow more later on,” Schneider says. Schneider also recommends that you soak the morels before you cook them.

There are multiple tasty ways to make morels, and you don’t have to be a gourmet chef to enjoy them. “Slice them in half after soaking them and then pat them dry, dip them in egg, and coat them with crushed saltine crackers with whatever seasonings you want and pan fry them,”  Schneider suggests. Morels can also be sauteed with butter, onion, and pepper for an easy recipe. Additionally, they’re popular in risotto dishes, soups, pizza, and pretty much an endless array of recipes.

Final Thoughts

Morel mushrooms remain a scarce delight, but if they can become easily cultivated, the high price per pound could drop. For now, enjoying the delicious mushroom still comes with a price tag that reflects how hard they are to get. It’s no wonder morel foraging has become an art form!