Buying Mussels

Shop around when buying mussels and select those with tightly closed shells, avoiding any that are broken. Plump, juicy flesh and a succulent taste of the sea is what you are looking for once they are cooked. Color is not indicative of quality - orange flesh tells you the mussel is female, while a whiter hue suggests a male.

Unless you know how fresh they are, always eat mussels on the same day you buy them. Carefully place the blue-black mussels into a sink full of cold water and discard any that stay open when tapped. Pull away their beards and, if you are presenting them in their shells, it's a good idea to give them a good scrub, scraping off any barnacles. A final couple of rinses will ensure a sand-free meal.

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