If the mussel’s still alive, it will close its shell. If it doesn’t close, toss it. How to clean mussels Before cooking, dump your mussels into a colander in the sink and run cold water over them.

Most people haven’t cooked many — if any — mussels in their lifetimes. Just the sight of that little cluster of blue-black shells is sometimes enough to send one scurrying back to… ...

If the mussel’s still alive, it will close its shell. If it doesn’t close, toss it. How to clean mussels Before cooking, dump your mussels into a colander in the sink and run cold water over them.

If the mussel’s still alive, it will close its shell. If it doesn’t close, toss it. How to clean mussels Before cooking, dump your mussels into a colander in the sink and run cold water over them.

A guide to buying, storing, and cooking mussels that will give you the confidence to prepare mussel dishes at home.

How many mussels to buy per person: Buy enough mussels for the whole gang. Remember to take into account what we in the biz call “yield percentage,” which, with mussels, is roughly 25%.

If the mussel’s still alive, it will close its shell. If it doesn’t close, toss it. How to clean mussels Before cooking, dump your mussels into a colander in the sink and run cold water over them.

How to Cook Mussels If you see a clump of coarse looking hair or threads on one side of the shell, don’t fret. It’s called the beard, which is how mussels attach to surfaces in farms or the wild.

Buy enough mussels for the whole gang. Remember to take into account what we in the biz call “yield percentage,” which, with mussels, is roughly 25%.

But generally speaking, all clams and mussels should cook quickly—within just a few minutes. The labor comes in before the actual cooking, in scrubbing and cleaning the shells and preparing the ...

Mussels are shells of their former selves, but with so much to offer Here are a few ideas for repurposing the empty shells for dinner.