How to Boil Mussels: A Beginners Guide

Knowing how to boil mussels properly makes the difference between a good and a great dish. In this article, we will walk you through a step-by-step guide on doing just that. From the selection process to the execution of cooking them, we have everything you need. Also you can read our article about how to boil shrimp.

How to Select Mussels

The obvious place to start is by selecting your ingredients, in this case, mussels. It’s said that greatness is a lot of little things done really well. Cooking is that in practice. The first step in that journey is picking the best clean mussels. Let’s get started.

• Start by selecting mussels that are alive. Choose closed shells, or mostly closed. If the shell is open, you can do a tap test on it to see if it is alive. If tapping it triggers the mussel to close, then it is still alive.
• When it comes to food, the fresher the ingredients, the better your dish will be. Fresh mussels will be moist and have a shiny complexion.
• Lastly, try to go with consistent sizes. If they are undersized or oversized, it’s best to stay away.

How to Prepare Mussels

The next step in preparation is the actual preparation of the mussels. For this, technique and know-how are essential for creating a meal you can be proud of.

• Keeping the mussels fresh until you are ready to eat them is vital for getting the best flavor possible. Keeping them moist and cool until you are ready to cook them is the best way to achieve this.
• In keeping with that, wait to clean them until you are ready to cook them. Doing this will keep them alive until the last possible second.
• Once you’re ready to cook and eat the mussels, you can clean them. Start by cleaning off the outside of the shells. Gently scrubbing them is the best way to make sure you remove any unwanted sea things or beings that might be stuck on them.
• This step is easy: like most food, give them a proper rinse.
• If you are using wild mussels, make sure to remove the beard. To do this, you simply grab the beard and pull it out of the shell.

Preparing to Boil the Mussels

Okay, now our mussels are cleaned, prepped, and ready for action. Remember, we are learning how to boil mussels, and if successful, we are bringing a high-class dining affair to your home’s kitchen table. Now that we are ready to boil them, start by transferring the mussels into an appropriately sized pot. This will vary and depend on the amount you are cooking, but you should be able to eyeball this.

With our mussels in the pot, we will now fill it with water until the mussels are totally submerged. We are almost ready to boil these guys, but first, we will add some salt for flavor. Use your discretion here, but don’t be afraid to give it a nice healthy dose.

How to Boil Mussels

We have covered a lot of ground at this point, and we have put in most of the required work. That is to say, we are approaching the finish line. Before we begin to boil, you will want to cover your pot and crank the heat up to high. Once the water is boiling, you will want to cook for about five minutes total. Feel free to periodically remove the lid and stir the mussels around and let that saltwater work its way in. Note that some of the mussels may potentially change colors, usually shades of orange and yellow, while others will remain shades of white. In any case, five minutes will be more than sufficient across the board. After this time is up, you can remove the them from the boiling water and onto a dish.

The Finishing Touch

We are almost done, but before we proclaim, “Voilà!” we have one last step. Like so many dishes, a little punch of zest from a lemon is a wonderful final act. Take out a fresh lemon and squeeze out the juices over the cooked mussels. And just like that, you are all done.

Why We Boil Mussels

Not only does boiling mussels make for a fine dining experience at home, it also adds a ton of nutrition to your diet. In fact, mussels are an incredible source of protein as just one serving accounts for 40% of your daily requirements. Therefore, it is safe to say that mussels give you muscles.

Additionally, they are loaded with a mix of healthy vitamins and minerals for your body. Boiled mussels are one of those dishes that is fortunately both healthy and delicious.