PREPARING MUSSELS

Preparing mussels can be scary for some people. It is expensive in most areas and you want to make sure that you are preparing it properly to get the best flavor. Preparing mussels is quite simple.

When you purchase mussels, make sure that they are “live”. To do this, select mussels that are all tightly closed and not “slimy”. If it appears that the mussel is even slightly opened, leave it.

Rinse the mussels under cold running water. Remove any loose debris or sand, and using your fingers, remove the beard from between the shells.

Place the mussels in a large pot (8qt or so), and for every 24 mussels add 4 cups of cold water and 1/3 cup salt. Stir will once to mix the salt, mussels, and water. After soaking for about 15 or 20 minutes, dump the water rinse the mussels and repeat. Complete the process a total of 3 times.

This process will help clean any unwanted sand and debris from inside the shells. Now your mussels are ready for use in any recipe.