Mussels have a hard outer shell which is black, dark blue or brown in color. They are found mostly in mid interdial zone in temperate seas. They are considered edible in most parts of Spain, Europe and for 80% of the population in North America. Many dishes are prepared with mussels. However, care should be taken to clean them from ocean dirt, sand and also bits of sea weed on which they feed. You also need to remove their beard while cleaning. Though the entire process of cleaning mussels will seem difficult but it is interesting and easy once understood. Here’s a guide to help you clean the mussels properly. Read on.
Complexity Level: Basic
Time Required: 10 minutes apart from soaking the mussels for 20 minutes
Resources Required:
- Two large bowls of cold water
- Dry towel
- A plastic brush
- A small sharp knife
Instructions:
1. Throw away the dead ones: Avoid the dead mussels as they are poisonous and hence inedible. Check whether there are any dead mussels. If the shells are closed tightly it is alive. If not, prick or tap on the outer shell sharply. If it still doesn’t close within a minute, it is surely dead and should be thrown away. Don’t keep them wrapped for a long time immediately after buying them as this may result in the mussels dying. Store them at a cool place.
2. Soak the mussels: Now, soak the mussels in a large bowl of clean, cold water. In this step also, watch out for the ones with chipped or broken shells and if you find any, discard it. Soaking is necessary as the mussels will take in water and gradually breath out the sand and other ocean minerals. After this, remove the water and soak it again. Soaking for the second time is optional though some prefer to do this as this assures the removal of all dirt and sand from the mussels. You can use a brush made of plastic to scrub the mussels in water.
3. Removing the beard: You will find small brown threads coming out between the two shells. This is beard which should be removed completely. Take a dry towel and hold the beard with it and give a sudden and sharp tug taking the beard towards the hinge end. This will remove the beard and won’t kill the mussel. Don’t do this near the opening as this will tear the mussel inside and kill it. If this happens, throw away that mussel.
4. Remove the mussels from water: Remove the mussels from water with the help of a slotted spoon. Keep them in another bowl of fresh cold water. Don’t use the same bowl by just refilling it with water. Some of the sand particles and dirt might still remain and enter the mussels again. Keeping them in a different bowl ensures that they are completely free of the sand and other dirt.
5. Wash off any sand and debris on one mussel at a time: As a last step to cleaning use a small sharp knife and scrape any further scale or barnacle residue from the shell. Then, use a towel and clean it and soak it in water again. This should be done by taking the mussels out of water individually and clean them of any slime which might be sticking to their shells.
6. Pat dry with a clean towel: Pat them with a clean dry towel to dry them and keep them at a clean dry place. Your mussels are ready for cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long can you keep mussels after cleaning and de-bearding?
It is advised not to keep the mussels for more than 2-3 days. If you want to store them and cook later, keep them in a bowl of fresh water with a pinch of salt added to the water.
Quick tips:
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Use an old toothbrush for scrubbing the mussels.
- If the beard proves difficult for removing, try using a small sharp knife for the process.
Things to watch out for:
- Mussels which are dead before cooking are not safe at all for eating. So, just discard the ones which don’t close even with a sharp tap or have broken shells.
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Check with the Department of Agriculture regarding the warnings of the mussels being affected by paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins (PSP) in the area where mussels are purchased. These are found specially in coastal waters and are linked with “red tide”.
