Can mussels be frozen? - How to preserve mussels

Are you adventurous when it comes to enjoying different foods? Do you have your favorites and do you usually stick to that category or do you dare to try new things when you get the chance?

Have you tried the mussels? Do you love them or hate them? Maybe you just need the best tips to prepare and enjoy them.

Mussels are one of those foods that many people are afraid to work with. They can be a bit intimidating, but there are many things you can do with mussels.

There is a wide variety of dishes that you can prepare. Mussels can be quite versatile and really aren’t too horrible to work with if you take the time to learn how to work with them properly.

A few mussels go a long way. You can often buy them in bulk, which means you need some good storage options if you’re going to take the plunge and buy some mussels.

So can mussels be frozen? You can freeze mussels, but you must do it carefully. When freezing fresh mussels, they must be alive when frozen. They will die in the freezer, but will still be safe to eat. Freezing cooked mussels is easier and safer in general.

In this guide, we will talk about everything you need to know about how to freeze mussels. We will cover proper storage methods and proper handling of mussels in full.

There’s a lot of information you need to know to make sure your mussels are safe and secure so you can enjoy them time and time again.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about freezing mussels and much more.

Complete guide to freezing mussels

Mussels are mollusc creatures. They come in shells and can come from saltwater or even freshwater.

Most often, mussels are distinguished by their long, slightly narrow shells that have meat inside.

Mussels are similar to clams in their general composition, but they are separated in appearance, as clams tend to be more rounded in structure than elongated.

There are several different types of mussels. Here are some of them for reference:

• freshwater pearl mussel
• mediterranean mussel
• blue mussel
• zebra mussel
• california mussel
• perna canaliculus
• charru mussel

Most of these names may not make any difference to you unless you are very familiar with mussels and have a favorite.

When you buy mussels, they are most often Mediterranean mussels or blue mussels, but you may be able to buy other varieties as well.

work with mussels

You must be careful when working with mussels. If not handled properly, you could be dealing with food poisoning or a nasty disease from spoiled mussels.

That being said, it’s not that bad as long as you pay attention to proper handling procedures and strive to do things properly.

There are many things you can do with mussels. You can make many different types of dishes with mussels. You don’t have to eat them plain.

Here are some delicious mussel main course ideas for you to try: 

• Mussel Soup
• cioppini
• Corn and mussels soup
• Mixed pasta dishes with mussels
• Steamed mussels
• grilled mussels
• Mexican style mussels
• Provencal mussels
• Red curry mussels
• Fried mussel rolls
• roasted mussels
• mussels with bacon

These are just some ideas for dishes that you can prepare with mussels. Don’t be intimidated by the mussels. They are easy to work with; the shell is simply a protector.

Preparation of mussels for use

Before cooking with mussels, you must clean them and prepare them for use. Once the mussels are cooked, they can be frozen or refrigerated. You can also freeze live mussels if you do so carefully.

To properly prepare mussels for use, cleaning is the first step. Remember that the mussels came out of the water and most likely came into contact with things like barnacles, mud, sand, algae, and other debris.

Follow these processes to clean the mussels: 

1. Place the mussels in a clean sink or colander.
2. Let the water run diligently over the mussels
3. Use your hands and a cleaning brush (optional) to clean the exterior of the shells
4. If you find open mussels, you can tap them against the side of the sink to see if they close. If they close, they are alive, but if they don’t you must throw them away.
5. If the mussel has baleen, you should scrape or pull it off if you can.

Proper Storing and Freezing of Mussels

Mussels can be stored long term both when fresh and after they have been cooked.

The processes are very similar, except that once the mussels are cooked, you won’t have to watch if they are alive to see if they are still good or not.

Freeze fresh mussels

When it comes to freezing fresh mussels, you’ll need to do it very quickly after you buy them. We recommend that you freeze them within 1 or 2 days of obtaining them.

These are the steps to freeze fresh mussels: 

1. Place the live mussels with their shells in heavy-duty freezer bags. Something like this from Amazon is perfect.
2. If you find any open shell, you have to hit it to see if it closes. If not, you will have to throw them away.
3. Leave some free space in the bag, and then release as much air as possible.
4. Close the bag well. You may even want to double bag the mussels to put an extra protective layer around them.
5. Label the container and put the date on it.
6. Store the mussels in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When you store mussels in the freezer, the shellfish inside are killed. However, being frozen, they will be properly protected.

When you are going to use them, take them straight out of the freezer or you can let them thaw in the fridge overnight.

Freeze cooked mussels

We are not going to explain here how mussels are cooked, since there are many cooking methods.

However, if you’ve already cooked the mussels and simply need a way to store them, you can safely freeze them after they’ve been cooked.

It may actually be more ideal to freeze them this way , but you should know that you can effectively freeze them either way.

Here are the steps to freeze cooked mussels: 

1. Start by wrapping the cooked mussels in aluminum foil.
2. Place the wrapped mussels in a shallow container or heavy-duty freezer bag.
3. Close all storage methods well.
4. Label and date the container.
5. Cooked mussels can be stored for up to 6 months in the freezer.

If you want, you can store the cooked mussels in the fridge for 3-4 days before freezing.

Your mussels may keep longer than 6 months, but it is recommended to use them within this time frame for the best quality.

The best way to use mussels after they have been frozen is to let them thaw in the fridge overnight before using them.

Mussels that have been frozen should be safe in the fridge for about 3-4 days after you take them out of the freezer. 

If you choose to store fresh mussels in the fridge, you should submerge them in shallow water to maintain the integrity of the mussels.

The best thing to do is cover the mussels with water, then cover the water with moistened paper towels.