--- Quote from: Tinker on November 30, 2020, 01:44:22 AM ---Do I need to soak mussels to remove sand and grit like I soak clams?
--- End quote --- I let the mussels rest several hours in sea water to allow them to spit out sand and debris. I make sure to cook the mussels that I harvest on the same day, so they are still alive, if any shells are open after cleaning them, I discard them - and if any shells don't open during cooking, I discard them too.
workhard:
--- Quote from: crash on November 29, 2020, 09:45:29 AM --- Before you go out, always check the hotline for quarantines and closures.
This is important. Right now WA ocean crab and clams are closed due to high demoic acid levels.
Pinstriper:
No need for soaking/purging in my experience, though I suppose if you are pulling them off the rocks down low by the sand they may take some in.
Follow Barb's advice regarding the ones that don't open in the cooking.
There's a famous Good Eats episode on mussels that is very informative.
Left in a bowl or bin in the fridge, NOT IN WATER but with a damp towel or paper towels over the top, they should make 2-3 days. They never get the chance at my place. In fact there's plain few foraging foods better suited to catch-and-cook in the field than mussels. I keep a can of marinara and a jetboil in my vehicle at all times, just in case.
Tinker:
Thanks about using damp towels and not water. Lots of YouTube videos where they let them soak in water for an extended time.
They won't last around me, either, but they'll have to sit still until it's dinnertime - there'll be no marinara hanging around in my truck, thank you - and now I know the right way to do it.
Appreciate it.
Cosmo:
--- Quote from: Pinstriper on November 30, 2020, 07:53:10 PM ---No need for soaking/purging in my experience, though I suppose if you are pulling them off the rocks down low by the sand they may take some in.
Follow Barb's advice regarding the ones that don't open in the cooking.
There's a famous Good Eats episode on mussels that is very informative.
Left in a bowl or bin in the fridge, NOT IN WATER but with a damp towel or paper towels over the top, they should make 2-3 days. They never get the chance at my place. In fact there's plain few foraging foods better suited to catch-and-cook in the field than mussels. I keep a can of marinara and a jetboil in my vehicle at all times, just in case.
--- End quote ---
If you plan to harvest mussels from the jetty, avoid the ones on the beach side in the surf zone. I harvested some a few months ago on the beach side of Barview, during low tide, purged them for several hours, threw them in some marinara, and they still had sand.