Mussels, Cleaning

Clean mussels not more than an hour before cooking. Rinse them under cold water and drain in a colander (they will quickly die if left to soak in fresh water). With a small knife, pull off the beard (the fibrous tuft the mollusk uses to cling to rocks or pilings) and scrape the mussel shells clean of any barnacles. Gaping shells are suspect, so tap them on the counter and discard any still open or damaged, as well as with any still closed after steaming.