Mussel Myths

• MYTH: If a mussel has been cooked and remains closed, it’s a common belief that it cannot be eaten.

  If you can manage to pry the shell open, it is safe to eat. The challenge lies in opening them, which is why many people choose to discard them. Attempting to break the shell may result in bits of shell mixing into the mussel. Interestingly, the adductor muscles of these mussels are often stronger than those of their counterparts that do open during cooking, which is why they stay closed. This does not mean they were dead or unsafe to eat before being cooked.

• MYTH: If a live mussel is open, it means it's dead.

  Mussels will naturally open when they are out of water. If you notice a mussel gaping, you can encourage it to close by rinsing it under cold, fresh running water or tapping it against a hard surface. If the mussel remains open after these actions, it may be dead, and you should discard it.

• MYTH: You can enjoy fresh mussels any month with an R. 
  

  Traditionally, it was believed that the ideal months to eat mussels were from September to April. This belief stemmed from the fact that summer months usually see higher phytoplankton levels, which can lead to potential toxin accumulation. However, with modern farming techniques and regulatory oversight, phytoplankton and biotoxin levels are now carefully monitored, allowing mussels to be safely harvested year-round.

• MYTH: An open pre-cooked mussel is unsafe to eat!

  All UK supermarkets now offer pre-cooked mussels. Similar to cooking fresh mussels at home, the shells will naturally open when they are cooked. These pre-cooked mussels are vacuum-sealed and cooked to ensure freshness. During the packaging process, the air is removed, which can cause the shells to close, but they will spring open once the package is opened. Rest assured, these mussels are perfectly safe to eat.