Are Fiddlehead Ferns Toxic?

Significance

• Fiddleheads are prepared and consumed much like any other leaf vegetable like Swiss chard or cabbage, though recipes will vary from culture to culture. In Maine, fiddleheads are eaten during the springtime and used as a side dish or cooked along with meat.

Identification

• Fiddleheads are the new growth part of the fern plant. They are tightly coiled up and look like the top portion of a violin. You can find fiddleheads at the bottom of the fern plant.

Warning

• Make sure you properly clean and cook any fiddleheads before you eat them. If not prepared properly, fiddleheads can have a bitter taste. Since they are not a part of your normal diet, eat small amounts at first to make sure you can tolerate them.