How to Eat, Clean, Debeard and Store Fresh Mussels

How to Eat Mussels

There are so many ways to prepare and serve mussels but the most popular I believe is to steam the mussels, in their shell, inside a sauce or broth. This Mussels in Tomato and White Wine Sauce is just fabulous.

Usually, mussels are eaten with your fingers, a fork, and spoon and accompanied by a bowl to place all of your empty shells. Also you will need a bowl with a slice of lemon to clean your fingers or a pile of napkins!

Many people do not try certain foods because they aren't sure exactly how best to eat them and mussels fall into that category. If this is you, you don't know what you've been missing. Have a look below and I will show you how to eat mussels in a white wine cream sauce.

In one hand you pick up and hold the shell, widen shell opening if necessary using your thumbs, remove the mussel with your fork, dip it in your sauce, catching a few vegetables while you do and eat it all in one tasty bite.

You can also loosen the mussel in its shell with your fork, bring the shell to your mouth by your hand, pour the mussel with all of the juices from the shell into your mouth and enjoy!

Place empty shell in your designated bowl.

Using your fork, spoon or better yet a crusty slice of bread, dip and scoop your vegetables and enjoy your sauce until you have had enough!

How To Clean and Debeard Mussels

As of late, the majority of the mussels that are available for purchase in grocery stores are from farms where they are kept in containers where impurties can be easily monitored and removed.

As a result, generally, you only need to rinse your mussels off with water once you get them home.

It is easy enough to clarify, just ask where your mussels are from at the fish counter, at the time you purchase them. Then you will have all of the information you need!

Usually, the processing of farmed mussels will clean most of the shells for you but just in case a few are missed, here is how you check and prepare them before cooking, no matter which recipe you use.

After you have done all of this once or twice you should be able to get a few pounds of mussels totally ready in less than 20 minutes.

When you get your mussels home you will need to go through them all, one by one. First, you need to check to make sure that each shell is tightly closed and discard any that are cracked or broken.

You should also be looking for little things and strings that are hanging off of the mussel and remove them with a knife by scraping the outside of the shell, pull the strings and such off with your fingers or scrub them off with a scouring pad to remove as you possibly can.

Some of your mussels will be cleaner than others and that is totally normal.

Ultimately, you are trying to get the shells of your mussels to look as clean as possible.

This will sound strange but if any of your mussels are open, even ever so slightly, just tap the shell lightly on your sink or wherever you are sorting them and any mussels that do not close tightly within a couple minutes, discard them too.

If your mussel is alive the tapping of the shell should cause a reaction where the mussel closes its shell automatically, within a couple minutes. If the mussel doesn't close its shell it is dead and needs to be discarded or risk you getting sick.

What is the Beard of the Mussel?

The area where the two shells meet will likely have the most strings hanging off of and around it. This is considered the "beard" of the mussel.

The beard of the mussel is actually technically called byssus threads, and it looks like fine brownish colored seaweed. These threads are used by the mussel to attach itself to rocks, and the like, in the inshore or coastal waters of the ocean.

These threads that are the beard of the mussel are not harmful to you in any way they just may affect the taste in a negative way.

How do you Store Fresh Mussels?

Live or raw mussels can be purchased and stored in your fridge the day before you plan on using them. I will even go out of my way to purchase mussels on the day that I am using them whenever possible, just because it is a little safer and easier too.

Raw or live mussels must be kept alive before cooking and must be stored properly or risk illness.

They need to be kept in the fridge and cool at all times. They cannot be stored in a sealed airtight container or under water because they need to be able to breathe. Yes breathe or they will die.

As a matter of fact, as soon as you arrive home from shopping and purchasing your mussels you need to bring them inside your home and open the bag as you place them into your fridge.

You now have 2 options on how to store your mussels in your fridge.

On Ice

When I purchase my mussels I always ask for them to be packed up with ice and to include an extra bag of crushed ice just so I can easily keep them in the fridge until needed once I reach home.

You can easily store your mussels on some ice, and ice cubes will work too, as long as the water has some place to go, as the ice melts, so you don't end up drowning your mussels by mistake. I know because I have done this myself. It was years ago but I will never forget it.

Now I will throw some ice in my colander or strainer, with a bowl or pan underneath to catch the melting ice water, and place all of the mussels on top of the ice.

Keep an eye on the amount of water that drains and dump it as necessary.

In an Uncovered Container with a Cloth

Your other alternative is to place the mussels into an uncovered container or bowl and cover them with cool damp cloths or paper towels until needed.