Mussels and clams are delicious salty treats from our oceans. They can be prepared in many ways and have a rich, sea-like flavor with mushroom undertones. Mussels are also pleasantly sweet.
So, how long to boil mussels? The good news is that they’re incredibly easy to cook correctly. Boiling and steaming are the go-to methods to prepare any mussel dish.
In this article, we’ll walk you through how long to boil clams and mussels and interesting flavors you can add to make your dish more robust.
Let’s dive in.
How Do I Clean Mussels?
There are two processes involved when it comes to cooking mussels — cleaning and boiling. Let’s talk quickly about how to clean and get mussels ready for a good boil or steam!
- Make sure the mussels or clams are fresh.
- Tap the fresh mussels and run them through cold water. This will make them close their shells.
- Discard any shells that do not close.
- Clean the mussels, discard the sand and pick any dirt off of the shells.
- Rinse the mussels once more under cold water until they look clean.
How Long to Boil Mussels
You can boil mussels by adding different liquids to the pot. Instead of plain old water, opt for a rich beer, a tangy cider, a robust wine or a hearty broth.
Before boiling, you will also want to yank off or cut off the mussel “beard.” This looks like an elastic string coming out of the shell. Remove the beard before you start boiling your mussels.
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how long to boil fresh mussels.
- Choose a large pot, preferably not a non-stick one, as mussel shells can scrape the surface of Teflon.
- Fill it with your chosen liquid until the mussels are submerged (this will vary depending on how much liquid or broth you need after and your preferred liquid to boil them in).
- Set your burner to a high flame and add the mussels to the pot.
- Cover the lid and keep the temperature high. You might hear a “pop” as the mussels open.
- How long do mussels take to boil? Just under 5 to 8 minutes until they have all opened.
- Discard any mussels that have not opened. This means they aren’t fresh or were dead before cooking, making them unsafe to consume.
How Long to Boil Frozen or Half-shell Mussels?
Wondering how long to boil half-shell mussels? Here’s an easy table for you to follow:
| Types of Mussels | Boiling |
| Frozen mussels | Allow them to thaw completely Add them to a pot with an inch of boiling liquid, then cover for 6 to 10 minutes as they steam and open |
| Half-shell mussels | Steam them in boiling liquid, like broth or wine, for about 5 minutes until they open |
Conclusion
So, what do you do after learning how long to boil mussels in the shell? Serve the clams or mussels with the cooking broth as is, or with some crusty fresh bread or a bowl of steamed rice. You can also toss them in pasta with garlic, butter, lemon and aromatic herbs.
Mussels and clams are full of protein, iron and selenium. It doesn’t hurt that they taste delicious! We hope this handy guide will help you enjoy delicious, home-cooked mussels. Bon appétit!
