Ferns are abundant in forests. They also grow in some gardens and in some apartments they ensure a he althy indoor climate. But are these plants edible or should you be careful about eating them?
Can ferns be eaten?
Are ferns edible? Some fern species, such as ostrich fern and cinnamon fern, are edible and valued as a delicacy. But since many native fern species are highly poisonous and difficult to distinguish from edible species, you should avoid collecting and consuming them.
Highly poisonous and slightly poisonous ferns – difficult to distinguish
Who wants to voluntarily take the risk of being poisoned? Therefore, it is better not to eat fern. Many species native to this country are highly poisonous. And the few of them that are mildly poisonous may be difficult to distinguish from the others.
Since ferns do not produce flowers or fruit, but can be recognized primarily by their fronds, it can be difficult to distinguish a highly poisonous bracken from a less poisonous ostrich fern. Even experts can usually only tell ferns apart based on the colors and arrangement of the spore capsules. But spores are not always present
Fern tips – delicacies?
In some parts of the world, the tips of some fern species are considered a delicacy. They are popularly eaten in Canada, parts of the USA, Korea, Japan and New Zealand, among others. It is the young and not yet unrolled leaves that are used in the kitchen. They are called 'fiddleheads' in America and are even commercially available as a popular spring vegetable.
Ostrich fern and cinnamon fern are edible
Ostrich fern and cinnamon fern are considered food:
- Indian tribes already made drinks from it
- After colonization, the tips were roasted, fried or steamed
- Today frozen or pickled available all year round in America
- Taste: Mixture of asparagus and spinach
Collecting and preparing fern tips
The young, tender and still curled fronds are collected. They are then carefully washed, removed from the brown husk and then cooked. They can be scalded, steamed, fried or fried. The bitter aftertaste disappears through the cooking process. The fern tips are often served with butter and s alt.
Tips & Tricks
If you want to try fern tips, it's best not to harvest them yourself. The risk of confusion is too high! It is better to buy the fern tips pickled over the Internet (€21.00 on Amazon), for example, or to try them in a restaurant on a holiday in America.
