How To Reheat Mussels In The Most Efficient Way?

For those of you who love mussels as much as I do, but don’t want to spend a fortune on them at the restaurant; here’s how to reheat mussels (that taste like they just came out of the This technique is simple and will work with any type of shellfish.

You will need:

1 lb of mussels (the fresher, the better) 2 bay leaves 1/2 cup white wine or water 1 tablespoon butter.

How to Cook Mussels?

• Rinse off the mussels in cold water for a couple of minutes to make sure they are all clean.
• Discard any broken shells or open shells that won’t close when you touch them.
• Grab your stockpot and lay down two bay leaves in the bottom of it.
• Add your mussels to the pot, covering the bottom with them.
• Pour in 1/2 cup (4 oz) white wine or water (if you don’t have wine, open a new window and go to the liquor store now).
• Cover the pot with a lid and set the stove to high.
• You want to hear a loud sizzling sound for about five minutes.

At this point, all of your mussels should be open. If they are not, wait another minute or two then check them again. Once at least 90% of them are open, you are good to go. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and stir around the pot so it melts quickly. That’s it! You can strain off the broth or leave it in for extra flavor; serve with bread to soak up that delicious sauce!

Note: I was very conservative with my measurements because every time I make this dish I end up tweaking the recipe. I think the most important part is trying to get as many mussels open as you can in that five-minute window before serving them. So, use more wine or water if your pot isn’t covered, and don’t be afraid of adding too much butter at the end either!

Reheating mussels alone is not a good idea; it makes them tougher and they start to smell bad.

There are several ways you can reheat mussels:

Reheating Mussels on Oven

Place the reheated mussels (shells down) on a foil-lined baking sheet and heat at 300 degrees for about 10 minutes or until warm. This method is probably the best if you will be serving the mussels in a cold dish like a salad.

Reheating Mussels On The Stove

Bring your broth to medium-high heat and add the mussels (shells down). Let them simmer for about 10 minutes or until warm, but make sure your broth is still bubbling. This method will make your mussels sweat instead of fry, which is ideal if you will be serving the mussels in a hot dish.

Reheating Mussels on Microwave

Place the mussels in a microwavable container and add broth just to cover them. Cover with plastic wrap then nuke for about 2 minutes or until warm. This method should only be used if you will be serving the mussels in a cold dish.

(Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your particular microwave)

Stove-To-Table (Variation)

Clean and debeard your mussels as described above. While your broth is simmering on the stove, place them in a colander and place them in a steamer basket over the pot. Steam for about 10 minutes or until warm, but make sure your broth is still bubbling.

This method will make your mussels sweat instead of fry, which is ideal if you will be serving the mussels in a hot dish.

Note: I can’t stress enough how important it is to make sure your mussels are completely open before serving them. If you see any that are not, throw them out. They won’t be good!

As far as the sauce goes; there is no real recipe for it like most other sauces. Each restaurant has its own little twist on this dish and it’s really just about making something with what you have available. The sauce needs to be somewhat thick and creamy to stick well to the mussels, but if you add too much cornstarch or flour then it will become gummy when it comes time to reheat the mussels.

What happens if you eat bad mussels?

Mussels are very nutritious, but they are also quite susceptible to pollution because of their bioaccumulation. Eating them raw can cause many problems, most notably paralysis. If you cook your mussels thoroughly this should not be a problem, but if you do eat an undercooked or bad mussel then drink some beer with it! You can also use hot sauce or cayenne pepper to bring the flavor back up.

How you can Store Fresh Mussels?

When you are buying mussels, make sure they are completely closed and have no foul smell. If you leave them in the fridge for a while then take them out early, be sure to rinse them off with cold water before cooking. This will get rid of any sand or debris that has settled around the mussels. Keep in mind that you should not be able to smell anything when you do this, but if you do see any open ones then throw them out!

You can store your fresh mussels in the fridge for up to two days, but they are at their best during the months of November through May.

To clean the mussels, first, rinse them thoroughly with cold water to get rid of any debris or sand on the outside of the mussels. Next, pull off the “beard” (the little string things) and scrub around each mussel with a firm brush to make sure they are completely clean. Discard any mussels that are already open or that don’t close when you tap them lightly against the counter.

Now, either deep fry for about 3 minutes in vegetable oil (make sure it is at least 350 degrees before adding), steam for 5-7 minutes over boiling water, grill under medium heat until they open, bake in a pan with some white wine and herbs for about 15 minutes, or just add them to your favorite broth and serve.

Meanwhile, you can also read: How Long Does Ricotta Last For?

If you plan on baking your mussels in a sauce, be sure not to overcook them – they should only take about 5-10 minutes!

Enjoy!!!