What are mussels
Mussels are a type of bivalve mollusk that is commonly consumed as seafood. They have a hard, shell-like exterior that protects their soft, edible interior which tastes chewy, slightly sweet and briny flavour.
Mussels are highly nutrient seafood which has a good source of protein, iron, and vitamin B12, along with other minerals like zinc and omega-3 fatty acids.
Types of Mussels
Though there are different types of mussels available in every region of the world depending upon their availability in the season, among them, Blue mussels, Mediterranean mussels, and New Zealand Green-lipped mussels are the most popular.
- Blue Mussels: The most popular mussels are Blue mussels, which are known for their blue-black shells, and slightly sweet flavour. It is mostly available during the winter and spring seasons.
- Green-Lipped Mussels: Green-lipped mussels are the most cultivated mussels in New Zealand. You can easily identify them by seeing a green tinge on the edge of their shells. It tastes sweeter, a nutty flavour.
- Mediterranean Mussels: There are other popular variants of mussels available that as Mediterranean mussels which are basically smaller and more delicate in flavour than blue mussels and are mostly people used in Mediterranean-style dishes. This type of mussel is available during summer and fall.
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Mussels vs Clams
Though both mussels and clams come from the bivalve mollusk family, which is basically used as a seafood meal. In terms of flavour and appearance, there are certain differences between them.
- Flavor: Mussels usually taste like a mild but slightly sweet flavour, on the other hand, clams are tastes slightly briny, and salty flavour.
- Appearance: Mussels have a black or brownish shell that is slightly curved and often rough or barnacled, while clams can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but are often oval or round and have a smooth or ridged shell.
Mussels vs Oyster
Though both Mussels and Oysters are seafood that comes from different mollusk families. Apart from that there are certain differences between them.
- Flavour: Mussels have a mild, slightly sweet flavour with a slightly chewy texture, on the other hand, oysters have a briny, salty flavour with a smooth, creamy texture.
- Appearance: Mussels have a dark, tightly closed shell that is often rough or barnacled, on the other hand, oysters have a flatter, wider shell that is smoother and often more elegant.
How to pronounce mussels
If you want to pronounce mussels in English which is ” muh-sl “.
Though exact pronunciation of mussels may vary depending on the person’s accent and regional dialect.
Mussels meaning in different languages
If you are from India but want to know what mussels meaning in different languages in India. Here are the various meaning of mussels.
Mussel meaning in Hindi
Mussel meaning in hindi is shambuk ( शंबुक ) .
Mussel meaning in Tamil
Mussel meaning in Tamil is Mattikal ( மட்டிகள் )
Mussel meaning in Bengali
Mussel meaning in Bengali is Jhinuka ( ঝিনুক ).
How to buy mussels
To buy the best mussels from the market you can simply follow the below instructions.
- Buy fresh mussels: While buying any type of mussels from any seafood seller from the market make sure mussels are fresh you can easily find sea-like odour from them. Sellers usually keep them in cold or on ice and have shiny shells.
- Inspect the mussels: Before purchase make sure the mussels are tightly closed. Avoid open mussels, that have cracks or chips in the shells, or have a strong, sulfurous smell this is an indication that the mussel has died and should not be cooked.
How to store mussels
After buying mussels from the market, you can safely store them in a refrigerator in a container with a damp cloth to keep them moist until you cook them. These easy kitchen tips will surely help you to prevent mussels from drying out.
How to clean mussels and debeard mussels
Discard any open mussels
After keeping mussels in water, make sure closely cross-check whether your mussels are dead or alive for cooking.
To check this you can either squeeze them a few times or knock them with another mussel after that if the open mussels do not slowly close.
Then it is a sign that your mussels are dead. It is safe if you discard them and try the same way with the other one.
Rinse and Scrub
Now using a firm brush to scrub the mussel’s outer shell to remove any additional sand or barnacles.
Furthermore, rinse the mussels under cool running water and place them inside a container with a damp cloth or paper towel before cooking.
Also read : 22 best kitchen hacks of 2023
Kitchen tips : How to clean mussels and debeard mussels
Ingredients
- Mussels
- A firm brush to scrub
- A damp cloth or Paper towel
- Container
- Kitchen scissors
Instructions
How to clean mussels and debeard mussels
- You can follow the below instructions on how to clean mussels easily at home before cooking.
- Keep mussels in freshwater
- After buying mussels from the market now keep the mussels in a bowl of fresh cold water for about 30 minutes.
- It helps the mussels to breathe and extract excess salt and sand stored inside it's shells.
- Discard any open mussels
- After keeping mussels in water, make sure closely cross-check whether your mussels are dead or alive for cooking.
- To check this you can either squeeze them a few times or knock them with another mussel after that if the open mussels do not slowly close.
- Then it is a sign that your mussels are dead. It is safe if you discard them and try the same way with the other one.
- Rinse and Scrub
- Now using a firm brush to scrub the mussel's outer shell to remove any additional sand or barnacles.
- Furthermore, rinse the mussels under cool running water and place them inside a container with a damp cloth or paper towel before cooking.
- Remove the beards
- If the mussels have beards, use a sharp knife or kitchen scissors to cut them off. This is the tough, stringy part that extends from the shell.
- You know most of the mussels have a common thin, sticky membrane known as "beard", which is made of a lot of fibre that is attached to the mussel's shell.
- To remove the beard from the mussels just hold the mussel in one hand, cover the other hand with a dry paper towel, grasp the beard between your thumb and forefinger and pull it downwards towards the hinged end of the mussel shell.
- In this way, you can easily remove the beard from the mussel without killing them.
Notes
Cleaning Mussels Note
- Never use open-mouth mussels because it is a sign that your mussels are dead. It is advised always try to use fresh mussels for cooking.
Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to clean mussels and debeard them easily before your cooking. Just follow the below steps and enjoy your dish.
Keep mussels in freshwater
After buying mussels from the market now keep the mussels in a bowl of fresh cold water for about 30 minutes. It helps the mussels to breathe and extract excess salt and sand stored inside their shells.