Fresh vs. Frozen Mussels

Which Mussels Should You Buy?

If you love seafood but haven’t tried mussels, you are missing out something great. Mussels (mollusks) are sweeter than clams and oysters. They have slightly pointed shells, and they come naturally in various colors.

Most mussels available on the market are cultivated. Mussels have various species, but the most popular is the Atlantic blue, which is also known as the ‘common mussel’. Trying out mussels also doesn’t cost much, since they are less expensive than most shellfish.

However, the question is whether you should buy fresh/live mussels or frozen ones? This is part of the wider frozen vs. fresh seafood debate. The truth is that seafood taste is subjective, and there is no scientific method to determine what ‘good taste’ means.

But we can make a case for frozen seafood, because even the ‘fresh’ fish that you eat a restaurant or buy from the market is often several days old. Quality of fish, like any other food item, deteriorates quickly and if not eaten within a few days, it will lose its taste and texture.

In other words, frozen fish is fresher than ‘fresh’ fish! There is no discernible difference in taste or nutritional content in fish eaten on the same day it was caught and frozen fish, provided that it is well prepared.

But again, these are subjective factors. For some people, fresh fish (even if several days old) still tastes better than frozen fish. Apparently something gets lost in the refrigeration. So what to do in the case of mussels?

It is good to buy live mussels which have a fresh smell. Dead or dehydrated mussels stay open when you tap them; don’t buy them. However, frozen mussels can save your preparation time if you buy them already-shucked. Depending on how you prepare them, the taste isn’t likely to be much different between the two.

Fatima M.
Freelance Blogger