The best ways to keep mussels fresh at home

Seafood specialties are very popular due to their extraordinary taste and the content of healthy ingredients in their composition. They serve as a base or supplement to many dishes that you can not only taste in a restaurant, but also prepare yourself. Consider how and where you can store fresh mussels at home. We will also learn how to choose the right shellfish and check their freshness.

How to choose the right one

One of the most sought after seafood is the mussel, which is a valuable source of high quality, easily digestible protein. In addition, these shells contain omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, iron, phosphatides, as well as vitamins A, B, C, E and PP.

In order for this delicacy to turn out to be really high-quality and useful, it is necessary to choose it correctly. As you know, this mollusc should only be eaten fresh, that is, as long as it remains alive.

When buying molds, you should pay special attention to the following features:

• The valves of living molluscs are usually tightly compressed. However, they can sometimes be slightly open.If you knock lightly on such a shell, the mold will instantly close the flaps tightly.
• Live molluscs have their own scent of marine freshness.
• The color of bivalve shells is dark blue or dark brown.
• Larger shells contain more mussel meat.
• Shellfish caught in the cold season taste the best.
• It is strictly forbidden to eat mussels with open valves - this is clear evidence of the death of the mollusk.
• If the shells of the clam shell are closed due to the accumulation of dirt between them, you should refrain from buying. Most likely, the mussel is dead and completely unfit for food.

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How to check freshness

The freshness of mussels sold in the shell can be easily identified by their smell and appearance. The surface of the hull should be perfectly smooth and even, without the slightest crack or crack. In addition, the shells must give off a clean scent of marine freshness.

Conditions and rules for keeping cool at home

The maximum shelf life of live mussels is 2-3 days, and the optimum air temperature is +7 ° C. You can preserve the valuable properties of shellfish placed in the refrigerator using very cold water, a container with ice and a damp cloth. Each of the options has its own rules, features and nuances.

Ice tray

You can maintain the original freshness of the mussels for a few days with ice and a suitable sized food container. Molluscs in tightly closed shells should be laid out in a container so that they are literally buried in the ice particles.However, it is important that the mussels do not come into contact with the water flowing from the melting ice floes.

In very cold water

Water cooled to the lowest possible temperature is also suitable for storing fresh shellfish. In choosing this method, it is necessary to place an appropriate weight on the molds, which will not allow the shells to open, while not touching or damaging their texture.

It should be borne in mind that in this way mollusks can be stored for no more than one day. The very next day, it is necessary to double-check the freshness of each mussel, and then subject them to heat treatment - for example, frying or boiling.

Tray and wet towel

Another popular way to keep mussels fresh is to place them on a tray, cover them with a water-soaked towel, and place them on a shelf in the refrigerator. Each clam should be pre-wrapped with a soft, damp cotton cloth.

This technique is intended to ensure the safety of a greater number of mussels.

In the fridge

Fresh mussels can only be stored in the refrigerator, at a temperature not higher than +7 degrees Celsius. You can place a container with seashells on the upper and lower shelves. The main thing in this case is to choose the coolest places - if these important conditions are met, the life of mollusks will be preserved for two to three days.

Frozen mussels that have been transferred from the freezer to the refrigerator for thawing are kept for a similar period.

How to Freeze Properly

Proper freezing will help extend the shelf life of the molds from two weeks to two months. For this, it is necessary to perform several sequential actions:

1. Gently open the shells and remove the clam meat.
2. Place the flesh of the mussels in a plastic container designed to store food. Cover with a little water.
3. Close with an airtight and secure lid.
4. Place in the freezer.

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The storage period for frozen seafood depends on the temperature setting used.

• -10-12 ° С - two weeks;
• -18 ° C and below - three weeks (in shells);
• -18°С and below - one to two months (shellfish meat without valves).

The shock freezing method allows you to extend the shelf life of shellfish up to four months. However, this result can only be achieved in an industrial environment with the help of special high-powered freezing equipment. This method is used by companies specializing in the sale of frozen seafood.

Frozen mussels in their original packaging are kept for the period specified by the manufacturers. This product can only be stored in the freezer until the package is opened. It is not possible to refreeze shellfish harvested by this method.

Storage characteristics in marinade or boiled

Many supermarkets and outlets offer pickled mussels. When buying such a product, you should pay attention to the date of manufacture and the expiration date. An opened package of pickled shellfish has a minimum shelf life of only two calendar days. However, there are a few tricks that can help preserve the nutritional properties of pickled shellfish for a period of time.

To do this, it is recommended to pour a small amount of vegetable oil into an uncorked container. Marinated mussels are often used as an ingredient in all kinds of seafood salads.They also belong to the category of perishable goods and should not be stored for more than one day.Consuming any form of pickled seafood beyond the recommended shelf life is hazardous to your health.

Another storage option is boiled. This allows you to retain the properties of food for a relatively long time.

To cook high-quality boiled seafood yourself, you need to follow these steps:

1. Rinse the shells under cold water, rubbing lightly with a soft kitchen sponge.
2. Pour a liter of purified water and a glass of white wine into a large saucepan.
3. Add the dill sprigs, garlic cloves, a spoonful of salt, three sweet peas and five black peppercorns.
4. Boil the liquid.
5. Boil the broth for five minutes.
6. Mix the mussels and simmer over medium heat for another five minutes.
7. At the end of cooking, catch the clams with a slotted spoon and place them in a dish.
8. Open the shutters, season with lemon wedges, as well as garlic and dill caught from the pan.

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For long-term storage, it is recommended to freeze boiled seafood immediately after cooling, using the method described above. You can store them for up to three months.