Can you cook open mussels

Wondering how to cook mussels? We have lots of delicious mussel recipes - as well as tips for cooking them perfectly. Steaming, grilling, and baking are most popular ways of cooking mussels, and we share lots of mussel recipes.

But first, take a quick look at our 5 top cooking tips for how to cook mussels perfectly every time. Cooking mussels just until they're done. Trust us, cook them too long and you'll have a tough, tasteless mess! How do you know when they're done? Easy - the shells open up. Once they open, they're done. When steaming mussels - the most common as well as the easiest mussel cooking method - choose your widest pot or kettle.

This allows the cooking liquid and steam to reach the mussels easily. Since the mussels will probably be in more than 1 layer, shake the pot every minute or so to redistribute the layers.

For cooking up to 2 pounds of mussels, we often use an 11 inch wide skillet with a glass top you can see it in the above photo. Give them a tap either with your finger or on the side of a bowl and wait for the shell to close up. If the shell does not close after tapping, then discard. Myth: You should throw away any mussel that does not open after being cooked. Fact: It takes around minutes, covered no peeking!

Myth: Mussels smell fishy! Fact: PEI Mussels are supposed to have a fresh clean smell, just like the ocean. Not only are they a healthy choice for you and your family, but they are also harvested with a concern for the environment.

If there are any that are 'gaping' open or do not close, you might want to discard them. Barnacles and white worm grow on the outside of mussels' shells. To remove, scrape off with a blunt knife then rinse quickly under cold water. Replace the lid and cook until the shells open which should take around 4 - 5 minutes.

To remove the mussels from their shells, we recommend holding a mussel in one hand and scooping out the meat with a shell. Have a finger bowl and napkins on hand to wash your fingers. This site uses cookies to store information on your computer. Read more. Not all mussels will contain a beard.