All You Need To Know About Fiddleheads Ferns
What Are Fiddlehead Ferns
A fiddlehead ferns is a vegetable that has tightly coiled tips and grows in the wild.
Best Time Of Year To Purchase
They are available early spring, generally from mid-April through early May depending on the rainfall.
The Origin
They are foraged only for a limited number of weeks in the Pacific Northwest regions, USA and Canada.
Health Benefits
Fresh fiddleheads ferns contain many vitamins and minerals, as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. They’re also a great source of antioxidants with dietary fiber, rich in potassium and low in sodium, making them very healthy.
What To Look For When Buying
When buying this vegetable, purchase them as freshly-harvested as possible. They should be bright green in color, with tightly coiled tops that have an inch or two of stem attached.
How To Clean
It’s extremely important to remove any brown, papery covering and rinse several times in cold water. Food experts say you must never eat them raw and always cook them because they can potentially cause beaver fever if not cleaned and cooked correctly.
How To Cook Fiddlehead Ferns
Fiddlehead ferns can be enjoyed in many different ways. Whether you choose to saute, boil, or steam them, make sure not to overcook. They’ll turn soggy, limp, and will taste unpleasant. To really enjoy the flavor, make sure to keep a close eye on the heat and boil in water for at least 5-7 minutes or steam for 10-12 minutes until nice and tender. Then, add some butter and salt, and enjoy! Tasting a bit sweet like asparagus, grassy like green beans, and with a hint of nuttiness, they work well as a garnish or a side dish.
In a blink of an eye, fiddlehead ferns will be nowhere in sight for purchase or consumption because of their short seasonal expiration. Make sure to buy in the early spring season. Being as they are highly sought out, expensive, and difficult to find, make sure to check your local farmers market, specialty grocery stores or wholesale food distributor Riviera Produce. And, if you are lucky enough to lay your hands on some, you can refrigerate them for up to a week or freeze them up to a year. And don’t forget to show off your yummy, picture-worthy fiddlehead ferns on social media…sauté, and Instagram away!