Buying Fresh Mussels
Choose a reputable fishmonger. If you don't know a local seafood shop, ask friends or your favorite seafood restaurant to recommend a fishmonger. Once you find one, ask the fishmonger when they receive shipments. Buy mussels from a shop that gets deliveries throughout the week so you know the mussels are fresh. A good fishmonger should be able to answer any of your questions or concerns. For example, they should let you smell the mussels or tell you where they were harvested from. You may be able to order fresh mussels online that are packed in ice and delivered directly to you.
Pick wild or farmed mussels depending on what's available. Both harvesting methods are sustainable, so check to see what's for sale at the fishmonger's shop. They may have blue mussels, which are available in North America during the winter and spring, or they might sell large, New Zealand mussels with green shells, which are harvested all year.Did You Know? Mussels are one of the most sustainable types of seafood. They don't need fertilizer and they filter ocean water as they grow. Mediterranean mussels are more common in Europe and they're harvested during the spring, summer, and fall.
Buy mussels that have shiny, closed shells. Although mussels might be dirty when they're harvested, the shop should wash them so the shells are clean. Don't buy mussels if they're covered in slime, dirt, or mud. The shells should also be tightly-closed so you know they're alive. Mussels need to be kept on ice before they're sold, so pass on any mussels that are sitting out on a counter.
Discard any mussels that are cracked or open when you bring them home. Unfortunately, you may find that some mussels aren't alive when you get home. Before you eat or store the mussels, go through the bag and find any that are cracked or open. Tap the side of the shell to see if it closes. If it does, the mussel is fine to eat. If it doesn't, throw it away. A great fishmonger will bag up the mussels you buy and put them on ice for you to transport home. This can help them stay fresh until you get home.
Refrigerate the mussels and plan to eat them within 2 days. Transfer your fresh mussels to a clean bowl or storage container. Then, take a damp cloth and lay it over the mussels. Chill the mussels until you're ready to eat them, usually within 1 or 2 days. Although you can store the mussels in the fridge for a few days, you'll get the freshest experience if you eat the mussels shortly after bringing them home.
Cleaning and Opening the Mussels
Put the mussels into a colander and rinse them with cold water. Once you're ready to eat the mussels, take them out of the fridge and transfer them to a colander in the sink. Run cold water onto them to get rid of dirt or seaweed that's stuck on the shells. It's a good idea to check the mussels again after you've rinsed them. Discard open or cracked shells so you're left with fresh mussels that are safer to eat.
Pull the beard from the side of the shells. You may see a little cluster of hairs between the shells of a mussel. To debeard the mussel, hold the mussel firmly in 1 hand and use your other hand to pull the beard firmly away from the shell. If you bought farm-raised mussels, they're usually debearded, so you can skip this step. You might find it easier to hold onto the beard if you pinch it between a kitchen towel before you pull.
Slide a knife between the shells to shuck a mussel. Hold a mussel in your non-dominant hand so the narrow end points between your thumb and forefinger. Take a small knife and slide the blade horizontally between the shells near the curved bottom of the mussel. Then, keep the blade horizontal between the shells and carefully slide it up along the straight side of the mussel to the hinge of the shell.Tip: Use caution when working with a sharp knife. It is possible to shuck mussels with a blunt knife since you don't need a sharp tip for separating the shells. Don't be afraid to use some force when you're working the knife along the shell since you'll be cutting through tissue that connects the mussel to the shell.
Pull off the top shell and slide the knife around the sides of the flesh. Some of the mussel might still be connected to the top shell. Use your knife to cut the thin strip that's connected so you can remove the top and throw it away. Then, slip the knife under the mussel and run it around the sides so you cut any connective tissue that's holding it to the bottom shell.
Discard mussels that are milky or smelly. Check the mussels once you open them to see if they look plump and are covered with a clear liquid. It's fine if the liquid is light gray, but it shouldn't look slimy. The mussels should smell fresh like the sea, but if they smell bad, throw them out. If you're concerned about whether or not to eat a mussel, trust your instincts and don't eat questionable seafood.
Enjoying Raw Mussels
Add a squirt of lemon juice or a few herbs if you want to add a fresh taste. Although mussels are fantastic on their own, give them a little zip by squeezing a few drops of lemon juice on them. You can also add a bold, fresh flavor by sprinkling a couple of leafy herbs, such as cilantro or parsley on the mussel. Skip this step if you want to enjoy the pure taste of the mussels.
Drizzle hot sauce or dressing for a burst of flavor. For a simple way to boost the mussel's flavor, add a few drops of hot sauce onto the flesh. You could also use a little drizzle of your favorite dressing to give the shellfish a rich flavor.Tip: Cocktail sauce is another great option for flavoring raw mussels, although it may overwhelm the mussels' natural taste. Try a vinegar and oil-based dressing, such as an Italian vinaigrette, balsamic vinaigrette, or lemon vinaigrette.
Keep the mussel on the bottom shell and tip the flesh into your mouth. When you're ready to eat a mussel, hold the narrow part of the bottom shell and place it in front of your mouth. Open your mouth and tilt the shell so the mussel slides into your mouth. Then, chew the mussel a few times before you swallow. Avoid storing leftover shucked mussels since they need to be eaten immediately.
Don't eat raw mussels if you're pregnant or have a compromised immune system. Since you're not cooking the mussels to remove disease-causing bacteria, avoid eating mussels raw if you're pregnant or have: A chronic liver, stomach, or blood condition Cancer Diabetes An immune deficiency
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