Mussels are considered one of the most nutritious delicacies. These seafoods actively use the cuisines of many countries of the world, even if they are not typical for a particular area. Before proceeding with the preparation of culinary masterpieces, it is important to know how to clean the mussels, otherwise you can spoil the taste and aroma of the dish.
Frozen and freshly prepared clams are processed differently. Each method has its own nuances and features. Proper pre-processing will not only allow you to prepare a nutritious and satisfying meal, but also guarantees the benefits of meat, which is unusual in chemical composition.
How to clean frozen mussels? Consider this later in the article.
What are the mussels?
These are bivalve mollusks that live in sea and river water bodies. Inside the shells there is a liquid substance, which during heat treatment turns into a tasty, dense piece of meat, having a white, yellow or orange color. In food, you can eat the internal contents located under the wings. But it’s important to know how to cut and clean the mussels, as they can leave sand, dirt and algae on them that can become a source of infections.
Beneficial features
Mussels contain almost three times more protein than other mollusks. They are also rich in phosphorus compounds, fatty polyunsaturated acids, contain many vitamins and minerals. Regular consumption of mussels in food reduces the risk of developing arthritis and cancer. The meat of these mollusks has a positive effect on the functioning of the brain and liver, on vision and contributes to the overall strengthening of immunity.
How to pick mussels
Before you clean and cook the mussels, you need to sort them out. For this, mollusks with open or damaged shells will have to be thrown away. Also, too heavy specimens are not suitable, since they probably have a lot of sand inside.
Small clams are usually soaked in cool water. Large seafood that is grown on marine farms does not need to be soaked.
The most common in stores are frozen mussels. They should not show signs of repeated freezing and thawing (cracks in ice floes and hoarfrost).
Thawing Mussels
Before peeling frozen mussels without sinks, they should be thawed.
This is best done gradually. So the process will be more natural and less affect the consistency and taste of meat. To defrost, seafood is initially laid out in the refrigerator from the freezer, and after a few hours they get out and continue to defrost at room temperature.
To speed up the process, mussels can be placed in a bag, and then put in a bowl of cold water, pressed down from above, so that the seafood is completely immersed in water.
After defrosting the product, it must be soaked in cold water for several hours. This is necessary in order to separate the dirt from the shells, which can spoil the dish. When the mussels are soaked, they should be carefully removed from the water so as not to disturb the sand that has settled on the bottom of the container.
The next stage of cleaning is washing each sink under running water, removing the threads by which the mussels cling to the rocks and the seabed. You also need to remove the antennae. They are best removed with pliers, pulling to the base of the sink. After that, it is necessary to clean each mussel well with a brush.
The classic cooking option is to immerse seafood in hot water and boil for 10-15 minutes, until the shells are completely open. A small amount of white wine can be added to the broth, so the meat will be more fragrant and tender. Take out a slotted spoon. Only those sinks that are fully open are brought to the table, the rest are thrown away.
After the clams are cooked, the meat can be easily and easily separated from them.
How to Peel Fresh Mussels
Fresh products on store shelves come mainly from coastal cities, so you have to use quick-frozen seafood. Nevertheless, how to clean chilled mussels is worth knowing.
First of all, open shells are immediately removed. If they are not fully open, you can put pressure on them. If they slam shut, it means that the mollusk is still alive, and treatment should be continued.
Fresh sinks need to be soaked to remove sand, remove the antennae, threads and brush.
How to extract meat
In stores, you can buy peeled mussel meat in boiled and frozen form. It can be used immediately in any dish.
But seafood in the sink will look more aesthetically pleasing on the dining table. And here it is important to know how to get a tender piece of meat out of it. For this, cutlery is used: a mussel fork, tongs. With their help, you can easily get the meat from the shells. The shell is held by forceps, and a meat piece is taken out with a fork, which does not need to be cleaned, since all contents are suitable for food.
Eating seafood is not forbidden and hands.