Look for morels with dry, spongy surfaces. If picking from the wild, avoid false morels, which are identifiable by their capped-heads and thick, chambered stems.
True morels are cone-shaped with straight, hollow stems.
Though they are easily recognized, it is best to bring along an experienced guide on the first mushroom hunting expedition. These rare spring mushrooms are increasingly being gathered in the Pacific Northwest, Wisconsin, Michigan, and some parts of the East Coast. If you'd rather not go hunting, find them at your farmers' market or produce department. Since the cone of the morel is covered with a honeycomb surface, it can be a difficult mushroom to clean. To remove the dirt trapped in the recesses, rinse several times under running water.