Entre Les Murs

Mussel Massacre

Another in my occasional series concerning things I've learned (through bitter experience) in the kitchen.

Mussels:
- must not be sealed in plastic; they need fresh air, and
- should not be immersed as they will not survive in fresh water, but
- should instead be kept moist with a damp towel or newspaper.
With the proper care they may be kept alive in the fridge for several days.

(Note: sources differ as to whether refrigeration is a good idea or not. One says they'll die; another says they should be stored in the coolest part of the fridge. There are also varying claims for how long they'll last. I read from 2-3 days to 5-8; obviously it will also depend on how long they've been out of the ocean when purchased.)

If you keep them in a plastic bag for seven hours, then dump them in a bowl of water prior to cleaning, you can expect to lose, oh, about a third of them. Fortunately, if you buy as many as the fishmonger suggests, you'll still have plenty for two people.

posted 27.2.06