Cooking Mussels

On the Way to an Exquisite Delicacy – Mussels

A popular seafood dish, mussels are a specific variety of shellfish that are quite popular amongst seafood lovers. The key characteristic of families that are classified as mussels are a more rounded shell that are typically coloured dark blue, blackish or brown.  Like many other varieties of shellfish, mussels have been a popular delicacy for over thousands of years having been eaten in Europe, North America and Asia.

The story goes that in 1920 an Irishman became shipwrecked in the French city of La Rochelle. Being hungry he devised a method of trapping seabirds through the use of a poles and netting. However an unexpected side effect was that the netting provided the perfect habitat for mussels and the Irishman reeled them in along with the poultry that he had caught. The accuracy of the said story may be questionable, but it is a known fact that the Romans had mussel beds.

So how does once exactly prepare mussels for eating? Like with any cooking half of the work revolves around picking quality ingredients and when preparing mussels there is no exception. When purchasing always choose mussels that are tightly closed and devoid of cracks. Mussels are cooked alive as when they are alive their immune systems fight off disease. This no longer happens once they are dead which greatly increases the chances of food poisoning. It is important to try and use your mussels as soon as possible or within 24 hours of purchasing.

If the shell is slightly opened and does not close when slightly tapped then do not purchase. In a similar manner, any that do not open when cooked should not be eaten. If they are light and appear to rattle when shaken they should not be used as this indicates a mussel that has died and broken off from its shell. Conversely a mussel that weighs too much indicates one that has died and has become filled with sand. While fresh water mussels can also be eaten they are generally considered unpalatable in comparison to the seawater variety.

Despite being less gritty than clams and oysters mussels still have to be cleaned by both rinsing and scrubbing with a small brush. If the mussel’s ‘beard’ is visible it will also have to be removed but do this only prior to cooking as doing so can damage the mussel and cause it to die.

When cooking care should be exercised to avoid overcooking which can result in a rubbery and bland dish. Cooking techniques are aplenty when it comes to mussels and can include steaming, simmering, baking, light broiling and frying. Mussels can also be used in soups, salads, pasta dishes, paella, and even omelettes.

Poulos Bros is a seafood supplier that offers both fresh and frozen seafood that is deliverable to a location of your choosing. Best of all you can order seafood online through their site.

About the Author

Charuka is the owner of his own web design firm that is based in both Australia and Sri Lanka. He has extensive industry experience both in other firms and in running his own. Charuka also holds a Master of Computing from the University of Western Sydney and is a Bachelor of Information Technology from Charles Stuart University.

Can you freeze cooked mussels?

I got a bag of mussels and we couldn’t eat them all. They are in a broth of their natural liquid, white balsamic vinegar, onion, garlic, and Italian Seasonings…

Can I pop them into the freezer?

I REALLY don’t want them to go to waste!

Yes – they will not be quite as good, but as long as they are cooked, you can freeze them.

Cooking: Stuffed mussels Livorno style

 

Cooking Mussels

Cooking With the Basic Wok Accessories

A wok is one of the primary cooking vessels which can provide an extended cooking surface. Most woks come with basic accessories, making cooking easier and productive.

Woks evolved centuries ago as a result of fuel shortages. It is commonly used in stir-frying which can withstand high temperatures while cooking. Buying the right accessories for your wok will not only bring out a good cooking experience for you, but will also make cooking more fun. Here is a list of accessories that comply with cooking using your wok.

1. Wok Lid/Cover – A wok lid or cover comes in dome tops or flat tops. Some would even have deep or shallow types. Lids should be able to fit the rim of the wok. Aside from this, it should be high enough to cover the whole chicken underneath.

2. Spatula – A spatula is basically used in stir frying, for stirring, tossing and the shifting food inside the wok. It is a long-handed utensil that has a flared, wide and slightly curved metal blade. The wok spatula is especially designed so to avoid wok scratching. A wooden spoon can also be another option. This is without harming the nonstick surfaces.

3. Steaming Basket – This is a round basket that holds the food over steaming water. The steam allows the food to become cooked. There are 2 types of steaming baskets, the bamboo baskets and metal baskets. Bamboo baskets are tightly woven wooden bamboo strips. It is much better than metal because it absorbs the moisture, allowing the steam to circulate inside. Metal baskets can spoil the taste of the food because of the dripping water. This can be avoided by wrapping the metal steamer with a thin towel. Steaming baskets comes in various sizes and are stackable.

4. Wok Ring – A wok ring is used so as to stabilize the weight of the round-bottom wok on the stove. Two kinds of wok rings would include the open and close sided, along with a series of holes venting around the ring. Open-sided rings are best suited for gas stoves while closed sided rings are suited for electric stoves.

5. Wok Skimmer – A wok skimmer is a wire mesh strainer that has a long bamboo handle (also comes with metal handles). It is used for taking out wantons, noodles, dumplings and deep-fried foods from boiling water. Aside from this, it is ideal for serving mussels, clams and vegetables. The wire mesh allows the “dripping-off” of the oil from the food.

6. Wok Ladle – A ladle is the most commonly used utensil of most Chinese chefs. This is used in adding water stock and other seasonings while cooking. It is also used in scooping ingredients, instead of using a measuring device.

7. Bamboo Brush or Cleaning Whisk- A bamboo brush is especially used for cleaning woks. Other cleaning alternatives are nylon or plastic scrubbers.

8. Wok Rack – A wok rack is a semi-circular rack which is used for hanging one side of such woks. It also works when draining water or oil while preparing other dishes. It can also keep the food warm.

9. Wire Steamer Rack – Wire steamer racks fit in woks, for steaming purposes. Examples would be braising and smoking.

10. Tongs – Tongs are used in removing and maneuvering hot food from woks. It comes in different styles, materials and length.

11. Deep-fry Thermometer – A deep-fry thermometer is used in deep frying. Its purpose is to assure the right temperature while cooking. Hence, the bulb of the thermometer should not touch the bottom part of the wok so as to achieve the most accurate reading.

12. Chopsticks – Two-thin sticks are used in cooking or mixing of ingredients inside a wok.

Other accessories would include the portable gas stove, clay pot, perforated ladle, paella pan, wok trolley, etc.

Woks are considered as one of the world’s multifaced cookware pieces. This is along with the necessary accessories that can help one cook with ease. These custom utensils are made as a part of wok cooking.

About the Author

For more information on Cooking Wok Accessories and
Steaming With a Wok please visit our website.

About Cooking mussels?

So i have a batch of mussels im about to cook. I was wondering if they are open and then i tap on the shell and they close are they still edible? Or since they were open at one point they must be disposed?
Please and thank you

No, if you tap on opened ones and they close— it’s a good thing, it means their still alive and you can cook them. If they don’t close discard them, it means their dead. Same when cooking if ones don’t open get rid of them.

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