Mussels are bivalve mollusks that live in fresh and salty waters. Mostly they live at a depth of about 100 meters, and most of them move with the help of wings. Most often there are representatives of the species such as mussels, oysters, perlovitsy, bezubki, pearl, tridakny, "shipworms" and scallops. In cooking, mussels are considered a delicacy, so many will be interested in how to properly clean and prepare frozen mussels.
How to properly clean frozen mussels?
Mussels are kept in vacuum packs in the freezer no longer than the date indicated on the package. Before cleaning mussels, they must be thawed, put in cold water and crushed with a load, so they do not open. But it is very important to pick up the cargo so that they do not crush. After the ice comes off them, the shellfish will have to be used as soon as possible.
Many people ask themselves, do we even need to clean the mussels? Of course yes! After all, they are on, for example, the antennae with which they move, and which we absolutely do not need in our food. Also inside the mussels there is sand and other substances that the mollusks pass through themselves.
Before you clean the mussels they must be checked for openness. If the shell is uncovered, it means that the mollusc inside is already dead, and such mussels can be discarded.
After a thorough review, the mussels should be put in a pan for about an hour with cold water and corn flour added to it. This is necessary to clear the meat of the mussels from the sand that did not have time to come out, as it could simply remain there before freezing. After this, aside, it is necessary to postpone all the mussels to the antennae, with which they attach themselves to piers and rocks, and then to clean them. For this, pliers or just fingers need to pull them to the bottom of the shell. These antennae are completely unnecessary, so they can be thrown out, like the open mussels.
Next, you need to clean the shell itself from the sand and stuck to it dirt. A rigid brush is used for this. After the shellfish have been completely cleaned, they must immediately be placed in a pot of hot water and cooked at high temperature until fully opened. This process can take from 5 to 10 minutes. The pan should be shaken from time to time, so that the mussels are evenly warmed. Finished shellfish after the time can be served to the table, and unopened - throw. In order for mussels to be better prepared, a little fish broth or white wine can be added to the water.
Useful properties of mussels
After we figured out whether it is necessary to clean frozen mussels and how to do it, we can go over to the question, what will they be useful for us. Firstly, the meat of mussels is a high-quality protein, besides it is rich in phosphatides, which can not affect liver function. Also in its composition are polyunsaturated fatty acids, which favorably affect the visual acuity and the work of the brain.
There are a lot of microelements in the mussels, among them iodine, manganese, zinc, copper, cobalt, as well as vitamins B1, B2, B6, D, E and PP. In addition, mussels are an excellent antioxidant. It is proved that regular consumption of mussel meat reduces the risk of arthritis, oncological diseases, and also strengthens immunity.
Two-leaved mussels have high nutritional value, possess the most valuable medicinal properties and delicate taste, stimulate the process of hematopoiesis, improve metabolism and increase the overall tone. In addition, meat contains a large amount of minerals and glycogen, as well as provitamin D3 and enzymes, which are the best way to improve digestion.