Help! What to do with fresh Mussels?

Stephen_Leak

Being vacuum packed, I'd say that they should be OK.

Check the instructions very carefully. I've seen some labels, which don't specifically say whether they are either suitable for freezing or do not freeze, but then say to make sure they are completely defrosted!

grannybroon

Mussels were delicious! Choice of three very easy cooking methods. I opted for the empty in a pan and heat for 5 minutes method! Two further packs in the fridge with a best before date of 6 April.

hex2

One of mine had a sticker on saying 'previously frozen, do not refreeze'.

DundeeDoll

I got one of each use by 6 april. Will heat in pan (i just love the sound of them being stirred) and scoff with hm ciabatta (mix from lidl). Twice. Cos i'm the only mussel eater in the house. Shame;-)

Byatt

What's the best way to use already cooked mussels. Just got some from Mr T's on YS for 35p.

Farway

I chickened out on the mussels, went to pub instead & sat in the sunshine with my pint & chatting to some regulars :beer:

Not money saving, but certainly Old style

zippychick

ive merged this with our fresh mussels thread as your query may help others in future

Zip

BrandNewDay

Does anybody have experience with gathering wild mussels and getting the sand out of them?

I live next to the sea. I saw my neighbours - an elderly couple - gathering them from the rocky beach at low tide. Having recently paid good money for a plate of identical-looking mussels at a posh restaurant, I asked them how to do what they were doing. They told me they were good eating. These mussels are growing on the ground on small rocks sitting in the sand. They are not on large rocks up off the sand. They said nothing needed to be done to get the sand out, that boiling them would take care of that.

So, my son and I gathered a bunch. It was great fun to poke around in the rocks - saw lots of critters including a tiny eel. We were so excited about the "seafood feast" we'd be having with our crusty bread.

I used a sharp knife to cut off the beards and barnacles. I steamed them in wine, butter, garlic, and herbs. They smelled divine.

And they were utterly full of sand. I mean, so gritty we couldn't eat them at all. Which was a pity as they were tender and tasty. Apparently, this elderly couple does not mind eating sand. Perhaps they just swallow them whole without chewing them at all?

So, I Googled and found advice to the effect of "Soak in cold water for X length of time" or "soak in cold water with flour added for X length of time."

I have been experimenting, today, with different methods. Little bowls full of fresh, salted, and floured water and a couple of mussels in each.

I think - although I cannot be certain - that they may have been a little less gritty after soaking for one hour in floury fresh water. I did not see a bunch of sand at the bottom of any of the bowls, as I read I would.

I suspect that there is no method to get sand out of truly gritty mussels and that the only solution is to either decide I like to eat sand or find a place to gather them where they are up away from most sand - such as on large rocks or the side of a pier.

Does anybody else have experience with this?

FatVonD

We're cleaning them off but I thought barnacles were kind of round ( a bit like the icing bit on an iced gem!) but these are long and worm shaped and do actually seem to have something living in them. Are they okay? They're coming off but not cleanly?

Any advice much appreciated, thanks!

Raksha

Why clean them off? If you're cooking the mussles, any barnacle will be killed the same as the mussle...