Fresh mussels, or are they?
I bought and cooked these mussels today. I'd like to know if there is anything wrong with the left hand mussel. Is the color, size an indicator for freshness? I'm guessing it was 'captured' (OK, collected) longer ago than the one on the right.
A couple of weeks ago I bought a batch that came out like the one on the right.
Best Answer
Captured longer ago or not, should not make a difference. When you buy mussels, they are still alive. You can check this by trying to open one. Normally, this isn't an easy task. (Sometimes, their shells can open/close when opening the package in which they came in.)
The left hand mussel doesn't look tasty, but there really is nothing wrong with it. It's just a smaller size mussel. If you buy bigger mussels (e.g. Jumbo), you shouldn't have many of those in it.
As for the colour: a lot of people think this is a matter of sex. Males are white, females are orange. However, this isn't true. The difference in colour is a genetic one, it's the quantity of pigment a specific mussel has. The difference in colour doesn't make a difference in taste or texture.
Shortly: that mussel on the left hand side is okay to eat.
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Quick Answer about "Fresh mussels, or are they?"
Mussels should smell like the ocean and sea air: briny and fresh. They should not smell overly fishy. The shells should be closed tightly. If you find any mussels in your bag with open shells, gently tap them on the counter, wait a minute, and see if they close.How can you tell if mussels are fresh?
Buy mussels that look and smell fresh, with closed shells. Press together the shells of any that are open. If the shell doesn't close, the mussel is dead and should be discarded (also toss any with broken shells).Are mussels alive before you eat them?
Choosing and buying musselsMussels must be alive to ensure their freshness and their shells should be closed to make sure they are alive. If any are open, they should close when tapped or squeezed. When looking at a big batch in the fishmongers, avoid buying them if lots are open.What should you look for when buying fresh mussels?
Good mussels should look wet and smell like the ocean, salty and clean. (If they smell a little funky, or many of them appear to be open already, then you're going to want to take a hard pass.) When you get them home, you can leave them in the fridge for up to 48 hours before cooking them.Are store bought mussels alive?
If your mussels were fresh when you bought them, they should stay alive for a few days if you store them properly. Ideally, you should cook and eat your mussels within 2 days of bringing them home. Throw away any mussels that have been in your fridge for longer than 4 days.Life Cycle of a Freshwater Mussel!
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