The sea is an absolute treasure trove of both discovered, and yet undiscovered, culinary bounties!
There are so many delicious ingredients that come from our vast oceans, to suit so many different types of taste and sensibility.
However, perhaps amongst the upper echelons of aquatic food, and something of an acquired taste to some people is the ever famous (or infamous) mussels.
Mussels are packed with flavor and are served in a unique form, with the shells still attached, to keep the flavors intact and perfect.
Mussels are also just as easy to make yourself and don’t just require that you visit a Michelin star restaurant to experience the best of what they can do.
However, as with any food you prepare yourself, you’ve got to find some kind of way to store it.
Whether using a fridge or a freezer, you’ve got to find some way to take care of your mussels before and after you cook them?
But can you place them in the fridge or freezer? How long for? And how should you best do it?
Let’s answer all of these questions right now! Join us below for more!
How Long Do Raw Mussels Last In The Fridge?
Raw mussels can last in your fridge for a healthy 2 to 5 days.
This is plenty of time for them to still remain at their best, in terms of quality, while the cold temperatures help to prevent mold and bacteria from developing on them.
However, many mussel aficionados recommend that you aim to eat your mussels within two days, as past that date they aren’t quite in their prime, and do taste slightly worse.
How Long Do Cooked Mussels Last In The Fridge?
Cooked mussels last for a similar length of time, at around 4 days maximum.
This is because the cooking process has killed away any latent bacteria, and the cold temperatures of the fridge help to keep bacteria from reaching them.
You should aim to eat them within that 4-day time frame, as past that date they will begin to spoil, and this will alter the taste and texture, and potentially ruin an otherwise pleasant culinary experience!
How Long Do Raw Mussels Last In The Freezer?
Raw mussels can last in your freezer for a very long period of time. You can expect raw mussels to last within 2 to 3 months when placed into the freezer.
This helps to maintain their unique texture and taste intact, while also allowing them to last much longer.
If you are freezing raw mussels, you must ensure that you eat them within the recommended time frame, as leaving them past that time frame can cause them to degrade in terms of quality.
Raw mussels, left in the freezer too long, may develop freezer burn, which damages the quality of the mussels, which will make them unsatisfying once you do pull them out to eat.
How Long Do Cooked Mussels Last In The Freezer?
Cooked mussels similarly last around 3 months when frozen.
And also similar to raw mussels, you should aim to consume them within three months of placing them in there, in order to enjoy them at their best quality.
If you don’t remove your mussels within that time, you might find that they lose their flavor, which is terrible, as mussels have a very unique flavor that you don’t want to lose.
Can You Refreeze Mussels That Have Been Allowed To Thaw?
Yes, you can safely refreeze mussels, regardless of whether they are raw or cooked. However, you should ensure that your mussels have been allowed to thaw within a fridge.
If your mussels have thawed at room temperature, then they are extremely vulnerable to bacteria, at which point they should not be placed back in.
Keep in mind that refreezing any food product can slightly alter the taste and texture, as the freezing process slightly alters the molecules that make up the food.
Every time you thaw and refreeze a product, those molecules will shift a little more, proving that you should aim to only ever refreeze something once, if possible.
If you have raw mussels that you would like to refreeze for a second time, you should instead aim to cook them first, and then place them into the freezer.
Cooking them helps to give the mussels a new lease of life, which makes them easier to place into the freezer again.
How Should You Put Mussels Into The Freezer?
If you are freezing raw or cooked mussels, you should aim to put them within their own unique container.
This helps to prevent the slightly fishy smell from permeating into other foods, and also ensures that the mussels do not in turn end up taking on the smells or tastes of other foods.
One great way to store mussels in the freezer is to place them into freezer bags, which can help you to save plenty of space.
No matter what product you use to store your mussels, you should ensure that it is freezer safe.
To Wrap Up
Got some mussels you want to place in the fridge or freezer? No problem! Have you already cooked them, or are they raw?
Luckily, it doesn’t matter, as muscles can be frozen and refrigerated in any state!
If you do freeze mussels, whether raw or cooked, you should ensure that you eat them within 3 months of freezing them, to ensure that they stay of high quality, and still taste and feel as amazing as they should.
And make sure to store them in air-tight containers, so that your fridge or freezer don’t take on a fishy smell!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Know When Mussels Go Bad?
You’ll know if your mussels have gone bad by the smell, and the appearance.
If your mussels don’t smell or look how you usually expect them to, it is likely that they have gone bad, and as such you may not want to eat them.
What Happens If You Eat A Bad Mussel?
If you happen to eat a mussel that has gone bad, the worst you will experience is vomiting, nausea or diarrhea. These will usually occur within 24 hours of consumption.
Don’t worry, you won’t face any long-term consequences, but if your symptoms do seem unusual, make sure to contact a professional.
How Long Should You Boil Mussels?
Mussels should generally be boiled for around 6 minutes at most, or until the muscles begin to open up. This is a nice, quick, and convenient amount of time.
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
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Friday 22nd of April 2022
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