Recipe Notes

Expert Tips For Cooking Mussels

• Make sure your mussels are sealed before cooking, and likewise, make sure your mussels have opened after cooking! Any mussel other than that should be thrown away.
• Don’t Soak Mussels in Water: Freshwater kills mussels and can affect texture. Rinse quickly under cold running water instead.
• Preheat the Pot Properly: Your pot should be hot before adding the mussels to create the sauce.
• Use a Wide Pot, Not a Deep One: Mussels cook more evenly in a wide shallow pot. Overcrowding leads to uneven steaming.
• Shake the Pot While Cooking, do not stir! Instead of stirring (which can break shells), hold the lid closed and gently shake the pot to redistribute heat.
• Watch for the Open and Plump Stage: Remove from heat as soon as most shells open. Residual heat will finish the rest.
• Reduce the Broth for Intensity: If you want a more concentrated sauce, remove mussels once opened and simmer the liquid 1–2 minutes longer before pouring back over them.
• Finish With Acid After Cooking: Add lemon juice after steaming, not before. Acid added too early can slightly toughen shellfish.
• Discard Aggressively: If unsure about a mussel, discard it. Safety is more important than yield.
• Make sure to follow how to clean mussels (above) before cooking.
• Add in your favorite flavors to this recipe and make different mussels recipes every single time.
• Serve mussels right away with bread, pasta, salad , rice on any which way.
• It's best to eat mussels the same day, but if you can't, store them in the fridge for 2 days at most and reheat them before serving.
• If you want to cook frozen mussels, follow the same way as this recipe.
• Read the questions above for more tips and info on mussels and everything you need to know!

How to Store Mussels

Fresh mussels:

• Store in refrigerator in a large bowl covered with a damp cloth or paper towel.
• Do not seal airtight. Use within 1–2 days

Cooked mussels:

• Store in airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days

Do not leave mussels at room temperature or on the counter.

Can You Freeze Mussels?

Yes,  but only after cooking. Remove meat from shells and freeze them in airtight container for up to 3 months. Fresh raw mussels should not be frozen in their shells.

What are mussels?

Mussels are a bivalve mollusk similar to clams and oysters. They live in fresh and salty water. With their dark distinct oval shell, mussels are readily available in all grocery stores.

How to eat mussels?

This is a tricky one! You can absolutely grab the mussel by the hand and simply suck the fish out of the shell when it's cooked. However you can also try holding the shell with one hand and grabbing the inside of the mussel using a fork or seafood fork. Don't forget to dip the inside in the sauce before eating it!

How to cook mussels?

There are so many ways to cook mussels, but they mostly involve steaming or boiling. The best way to make mussels is to clean them well first (check the section above for cleaning mussels). Then choose the sauce or flavor you want (such as today's simple garlic and lemon) and add in the mussels. Close the pot or pan really well so the mussels cook in the steam.

What do mussels taste like?

Mussels have a very mild ocean taste with a faintly sweet and almost mushroom like undertone. That's the best way to describe the taste! Overall, they don't have a distinct taste and for that they're great to pair with many sauces and dishes.

Are mussels healthy?

In moderation, yes! Mussels pack a good amount of omega-3 and amino acids.

How long to cook mussels?

Depending on how hot your pan is, the mussels cook anywhere from 6-15 minutes. I love adding an extra 5 minutes of cooking time so that the mussels absorb more flavors from the sauce!

How to prepare mussels?

Depending on the mussel itself. For these mussels the best way to prepare them is by cleaning them, flavoring the post with your aromatics and adding in the mussels. Allow them to cook well while the pot is closed.

I also love cooking them in marinara sauce with pasta. Here's the recipe and video for Mussels Marinara.

Plus, if I'm making green lipped mussels, then I love adding a crunch topping and baking / broiling them!

How to Cook Frozen Mussels?

Follow the exact recipe here.

Do you eat the shells?

No. Only the meat inside the shell is edible.

Can you overcook mussels?

Yes. Overcooking makes them rubbery.