How to reheat mussels - The best way

Mussels may be considered an acquired taste, as not everyone likes their taste and texture, but in recent years they have risen to fame as an impressively healthy dietary item.

Seafood in general really stands out when it comes to nutrition and health benefits, but most types of shellfish require extra attention in preparation and later storage.

Mussels are no different. Whatever your plans for your mussels, whether you freeze them or cook them, you have to be quick if you don’t want to risk food poisoning.

With that being said, how do you reheat mussels? You can reheat the mussels by removing them from their shells and quickly microwaving them on a small plate covered with a damp paper towel. You should always reheat mussels separately from any broth or dish they are a part of, adding them after reheating the rest of the dish.

If you try to reheat the whole dish together, we can guarantee that in most cases the mussels will lose their texture and flavor.

There are several safe ways to reheat them without risking food poisoning or loss of texture and flavor.

With that said, keep reading below for our full guide on how to reheat mussels.

Complete Guide to Reheating Mussels

Mussels are part of the family of marine molluscs. Cultivated thousands of years ago by ancient cultures, they are extremely sustainable and packed with nutrients, making them a favorite for many who follow a healthy lifestyle.

Although there are numerous types of mussels, most people hardly recognize them unless they are very familiar with the species. Of all of them, Mediterranean mussels are the most commonly found type in stores, although you can easily find others, especially if you live near the sea or ocean.

Handling mussels correctly is crucial if you want to avoid food poisoning or more serious illness. However, the handling of fresh mussels is a topic for another time that is not related to our discussion today.

Now we will focus on the already cooked mussels that you must reheat properly and safely.

How to reheat mussels

As we said at the beginning, you can reheat mussels on their own or as part of a dish, but different methods require different actions. In each case, the process includes several steps that need to be followed unless you want to end up with bad-tasting mussels.

Here are the two most common cases:

Reheat the mussels plain

If you plan to eat the mussels on their own, you must, in all cases, remove them from their shells beforehand.

Precooked mussels tend to become tough and unpleasantly chewy, so the shells need to be removed to prevent them from drying out.

People often make the mistake of reheating them on a large plate, but we recommend using as small a plate as possible. The key is to keep the mussels condensed. It’s the most effective way to keep them moist and prevent them from drying out, which causes loss of flavor.

The second most important thing is to prepare a damp paper towel to cover the pile of mussels to additionally keep as much moisture as possible. As long as they are condensed and covered, you can microwave them.

Be sure to set the microwave on low power, ideally around 30% if your microwave allows for these settings. Reheat for 15-20 seconds at a time and check after each lap.

You can reheat them as much as you want, but it is not advisable to overheat them, as they will dry out or you will have to eat them quickly, since they will lose their quality when they cool down.

Reheat with a broth or other dishes

The most ideal way to reheat mussels is with a stock or any other similar dish, although it may require a bit of extra work.

To do this, you have to separate the mussels from the broth or from the plate. Set them aside while you reheat the accompanying dish. Be sure to remove the shells if they are still intact.

The ideal is to reheat the dish to the necessary temperature on the fire. When it is hot enough, remove it from the heat and add the mussels.

It is recommended to heat the food until it is quite hot, since moderate temperatures will not be enough for the mussels later.

As long as your broth or dish is well heated, it should be enough to reheat the mussels without risk of drying them out or losing quality. Be sure to stir well so that each mussel passes through the center.

It doesn’t matter if you have broth or any other food like pasta, for example. The principle is the same and you should never add the mussels before the rest of the food has been reheated.

How long do cooked mussels keep?

First of all, it should be mentioned that cooked mussels should be placed in the refrigerator no more than two hours after cooking.

If you leave them longer, we recommend that you discard them. Although they might still be good and healthy, you can never be sure with the proliferation of bacteria.

Other than that, you can safely store the mussels in the fridge for up to 5 days. However, you should make sure that you place them in an airtight container.

You can use high-quality freezer wrap or aluminum foil, but we recommend against this to extend the life of the mussels.

If you are not sure if you are going to consume them in those few days or not, we suggest that you freeze the mussels, so that they normally retain their quality for 2-3 months.

Once you plan to use the mussels and need to defrost them, we recommend leaving them in the fridge overnight. Fortunately, you can keep mussels in the fridge for several days even after freezing and thawing.

How do you know if the mussels are bad?

The easiest way to tell if your mussels are unfit to eat is to smell and look at them.

If you detect any sour odor in the mussel pile, discard the entire batch. Also, if the mussels seem slimy, they are most likely bad.

Mussels that cannot be opened must be discarded. It usually means that the mussel is dead and especially unhealthy to eat.

Related questions

What happens if you eat bad mussels?

Shellfish food poisoning is one of the most dangerous types of food poisoning and can lead to serious illness. That is why it is very important to cook mussels as soon as possible after buying them. 

As we cannot delve into medical terminology, since it is not our specialty, we can only name the common symptoms and how to react if you suffer from shellfish food poisoning.

In the case of eating contaminated mussels, you can expect reactions such as vomiting and diarrhea. This is usually the first stage of the problem, followed by numbness in the mouth and headaches. Some people also experience a temporary fever.

How long does it take to experience the first symptoms? Normally, it takes several hours, but there are cases where people realize it within 48 hours. This is considerably problematic, as you may not realize that food poisoning is coming from mussels or shellfish and you may miss it and end up with a bigger problem.

Although shellfish poisoning is not necessarily serious, if you or those around you experience sudden symptoms that do not subside soon, it is recommended that you seek emergency medical attention.

If you can, call your local emergency services and check with the poison control department.

How to properly freeze mussels

When it comes to mussels, you can freeze both fresh and cooked mussels. The principle is identical.

If you plan to freeze the fresh ones, remember to be quick. Just as fresh mussels must be cooked within hours of purchasing them, it is also recommended to freeze them the same day.

Make sure all the mussels are closed or as closed as possible. If you see any mussels that cannot be closed, we recommend that you throw them away, as it can ruin the whole package later.

Prepare a heavy-duty freezer bag or several smaller ones and start filling them with your mussels. Be sure to leave some headroom and get as much air out as possible.

If you want to add a second layer of protection against freezer burn, place the freezer bag in another and squeeze out as much air as possible.

Try to store the mussels as far away from the freezer door as possible so they don’t suffer from temperature changes.

Eat the mussels within 2-3 months if you like the quality. They will last much longer in the freezer and can be eaten, but not with the same quality of freshness.