Foraging for fiddleheads?

With the onset of spring comes fiddlehead season across Canada. The curled, edible shoots of the ostrich fern are considered a seasonal delicacy. They can be found in the wild, and are often sold in stores, at farmers’ markets, and are sometimes served in restaurants.

Fiddleheads can be eaten safely, but can cause food poisoning if they haven’t been properly cleaned, prepared, cooked or stored. Eating raw or uncooked fiddleheads can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and headaches, and symptoms usually occur 30 minutes to 12 hours after eating. If you experience these symptoms after eating fiddleheads, contact your heath care professional.

For tips on how to cook, clean and store fiddleheads, click here!