Before cooking, mussels must be carefully scraped and washed to remove barnacles, sand, and the “beard” that attaches them to the poles or ropes on which cultivated mussels grow.
How to Prepare Mussels
With a small knife, detach and discard any weed or “beard” from the mussels 1- With a small knife, detach and discard any weed or “beard” from the mussels. Scrape each mussel to remove any barnacles. TAKE CARE: Discard any mussels that have broken shells or that do not close when tapped.Scrub the mussels thoroughly under cold running water using a stiff brush 2- Scrub the mussels thoroughly under cold running water using a stiff brush.
