Foraging for fiddlehead ferns has become one of our kids’ favorite spring-time activities. They love running through the forest hunting for these tiny green delicacies, curled up snugly to their stem.
Perhaps knowing they are only around for a short period of time is what makes finding them so magical or maybe it’s because we know they taste so good. Our kids gobble them all up as soon as we get home!
When to Find Fiddlehead Ferns
Fiddlehead ferns are usually found April – early June depending on your location. Here in Alaska, we typically don’t start finding them till the first few weeks of May.
I have also found you can extend your harvesting season by going somewhere with a cooler temperature. For example, if the ferns in the woods in town are already a little too large, plants in locations by the ocean or in the mountains where the snow has taken longer to melt will usually be a few weeks behind.
Where to Find Fiddlehead Ferns
Ferns usually cluster in small groups and thrive in cool, damp locations such as near rivers, streams, or swampy areas where the ground is wet.
If you are new to an area and don’t already know where ferns grew in years past, look for dead, dried up fern leaves on the ground since they typically come back in the same place. Usually, you can find the freshest little fiddleheads under the dead leaves.
Identifying Fiddlehead Ferns
When searching for fiddlehead ferns it is important to correctly identify the fern species before eating them (when in doubt, don’t eat it). If you are new to foraging, bringing along a picture or guide book of what you are looking for helps aid in identification.
The ostrich fern fiddlehead is the most popular and safe to consume. These fiddleheads are about an inch in diameter and have a brown, papery, scale-like covering on the uncoiled leaves. The stem is smooth (no fuzz) and has a deep, U-shaped groove on the inside of the stem.
When foraging with children, remind them not to eat anything in the field without asking (most things this time of year need to be cooked first) and make sure to closely monitor them until you are confident in their identification abilities.
How to Pick Fiddlehead Ferns
Choose fiddleheads that are a nice, bight green color with no brown or mushy spots. The best fiddleheads are ones that are still relatively short and haven’t uncoiled their leaves yet. You’re looking for tightly coiled balls on a stem 2-3″ tall.
To harvest, gently pinch at the base of the stem and brush off as much debris as you can before placing in your bag. More extensive cleaning will be done prior to eating.
It is also important to only pick a few ferns from each cluster, no more than half of what is in a clump, to ensure there are enough fiddleheads left to sustain a new crop the following year.
How to Clean and Cook Fiddlehead Ferns
Clean all of the brown papery scales off of the ferns. You can do this by either scraping them with your finger nail, spraying them with water, or, interestingly enough, placing them in a pillowcase, tying it closed, and tumbling them in the dryer for 10-15 minutes on air fluff. I usually put them in the dryer and then scrape any remnants off with my finger nail.
Once the husks are removed, it is important to boil and then cook them fully, such as sautéing, to eliminate any toxins. Raw or undercooked fiddlehead ferns can cause illness so definitely don’t skip boiling them!
When sautéing, you can either leave them plain (this is our favorite recipe) or add some additional flavors such as garlic or lemon juice. If you have an abundance of fiddleheads, check out some more tasty recipe ideas here.
Have you foraged for fiddlehead ferns? If so – any tips and tricks to share? I’d love to hear! Let me know in the comments below!
Great article!