How to Prepare Fresh Mussels

To Prepare Fresh Mussels
There are many opinions about cleaning mussels properly and in some part depends on whether they are wild or farm raised. If they're wild there will be sand and small rocks, etc. and possibly more 'stuff' stuck to the shells. Some people recommend soaking them in salted or fresh water for about 10 - 20 minutes to allow them to dispel any sand that may be inside. Others recommend not soaking because the juices are lost in the soaking water. I've done it both ways and don't really find it to be much different, but then I've never purchased wild mussels. Here are some absolutes:

Discard any mussels with shells that won't close (tap the shell firmly and if it closes tightly, the mussel is alive and you can use it)
Discard any mussels with broken shells
Remove the byssal threads (Beard) by firmly and briskly pulling out and toward hinge (holding mussel in a towel helps secure it)
Scrape the shells with a knife or stiff brush to remove any barnacles, etc.
Live mussels will open during cooking - discard any that don't open

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How to Prepare Fresh Mussels