Buying

Mussels are filter-feeders and many harbour toxins. Most of the mussels we buy today are cultivated or farmed, making them more reliably safe to eat than wild ones. Wild or farmed, all mussels must be cleaned before cooking.

When buying mussels in the shell, allow 500–600 g (1 lb 5 oz) per person (much of the weight is in the shell) for a main course and serve with bread or French fries. Always buy mussels from a reputable source. At home, store in the fridge in a wet hessian bag or on a damp cloth (keeping them in a bowl of cold water will drown them), and cook them on the day you buy them.