Are frozen mussels/clams supposed to be slightly open?
I used to live in a coastal town and never worried about getting fresh mussels, but now I live in inland Ecuador and today bought a bag of frozen clams and a bag of frozen mussels. They all seem to be slightly open, but just a crack, around 1-2mm. Is that normal for frozen mussels/clams?
The bags don't smell bad, but now I'm worried as they are just in a plastic packet with no name and no description.
How will I know if they are good to go? The shop is about two hours away so I can't go back and check. I do not know if they have been partially pre-cooked or if they have just been frozen raw.
Best Answer
You are right to be concerned. The main reasons for frozen bivalves to be slightly open:
- They were steamed before freezing. This is common, and fine. You should be able to verify this by thawing 1-2 of them and checking if they are cooked.
- They were frozen very slowly. This is bad, because the bivalves can die and go bad during the freezing process.
- They've thawed and then been re-frozen. This is also bad, because it also makes contamination much more likely.
If you check them, and it turns out that they are not precooked, then you are taking a substantial risk by eating them. I wouldn't do it.
Sorry that I have no references for the above; I've searched the relevant literature, and the only thing I can find is some Reddit questions verifying that it's normal for bivalves to open on thawing.
Pictures about "Are frozen mussels/clams supposed to be slightly open?"
Quick Answer about "Are frozen mussels/clams supposed to be slightly open?"
Unless they have been shucked and frozen, mussels should be alive when you buy and cook them. If the shell is tightly closed, it is still alive. If the shell is slightly open, it should close promptly when tapped. If the shell is open and does not close when tapped, throw it out.Can you eat frozen mussels that are opened?
The shells should open; discard any that remain closed. NOTE: Frozen mussels may open in transit\u2026they are perfectly safe to thaw, prepare, and eat.Are frozen clams supposed to open?
To prepare clams in the shell for freezing, scrub clams under cool water to remove mud and grit. The shells of frozen clams open easily when held under warm water. Clam meats can be frozen also, but when thawed, the texture of the meat is softer and is more often prepared cooked.Are mussels OK if slightly open?
Even though some mussels might appear to be badly damaged, it's always worth cooking them as they could still open. If they do open, this means they're still safe to eat (and just as tasty) as their better looking chums! However, if they do not open (this goes for all mussels), do not eat them.Are open frozen clams safe to eat?
Frozen clams certainly would be killed, and so wouldn't open upon steaming. The thing about never refreeze is almost certainly a palatability issue, not a safety issue, as long as they stay in the safe zone (under 40 degrees F) and are not unfrozen for very long--but clams are highly perishable.What Are Effective Methods to Rid Clams of Sand? : Seafood \u0026 Fish
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: SHVETS production, SHVETS production, Mikhail Nilov, Mikhail Nilov