How to Cook Fiddlehead Ferns (Blanching) 

I love that one.

FLORIDA HAS THEM? I lived there for 18 years and never knew that

Thanks Chef. If this method works for you please leave a rating on the post linked in the video description. Some people have been dinging it, and I think they're just skeptical of the process or think they're undercooked. Once you make them like this, you won't go back though.

Kind of. You can't water bath can them though-it'll make them mushy. I hot pack them. The FDA would disppaprove, but it works. One guy harvests them commercially and used it to pickle up to 50 lbs at a time. foragerchef.com/pickled-fiddlehead-ferns/

You can do it! Next year. There are no deadly look a likes for fiddleheads. These are very easy in the scheme of things.

Swallow - this, I assume, is a term for a category of starchy foods used to alternate with soups?

Yes! That’s exactly what you do. Some are a little bitter after blanching, some aren’t. Either way once they’re seasoned they’ll be great.

No it’s bitter discard it

He literally says it 10 seconds into the video? Did you even listen to him? Christ

At peak season I used to pay $15US/lb. $45/kg

Agree 100%. I can’t stand mushy fiddles. If the water’s at a rolling boil you can get away with a little less time if the fiddles are small. Big thick ones need the 2 min to not discolor after cooling though.

I blanched for 5 minutes then sautéed with garlic, seasoning butter and olive oil and a splash of lemon juice. They were good! Firm but tender. I sautéed them right after blanching.

You have to boil them 15 minutes or steam.10-12 minutes. Otherwise you risk getting sick

@@wendykalecki5498 This is not true at all if you’re using ostrich ferns. It’s comments like these that spread misinformation about this plant. Boiled for 15 minutes you’ll have a pile of mush to put on your compost. If you cook ostrich fiddleheads and get sick, you likely did not identify them correctly-that is exactly why there’s so much confusion. People misidentify the plant, get sick, then blame the real plant for their mistake. Tale as old as time.

@@foragerchef4141 you are totally wrong. But ok.