Are you wondering, “can you reheat mussels?”
Whether it’s marine toxins or other infectious agents, seafood borne illness is not uncommon. Unless suppliers, restaurants, and consumers take necessary precautions, it’s easier than you think to suffer from food poisoning than you might think.
One of the biggest causes of illness is eating day old seafood that’s been left out. Bacteria, viruses, and parasites can quickly start to multiply in improperly treated and tested seafood.
With proper steps, it’s possible to eat mussels, clams, and other mollusks without much risk. No one wants to suffer from an upset stomach or a two day bout of nausea after eating seafood.
For those who are unaware, mussel is a general term for members of the mollusk family. They’re generally collected from both salt and freshwater habitats, treated, and then immediately frozen until cooked.
Below, we’ll discuss some of the best ways to determine whether or not it’s safe to eat older mussels.
Can You Reheat Mussels?
Yes, in some cases, it is safe to reheat already cooked mussels.
As a rule of thumb, you’ll always want to avoid old mussels that are open, meaning that the mussel is only covered by one half of the shell. Before cooking, discard any uncooked mussels that have been left open for longer than one hour.
Within two hours of cooking, you’ll need to refrigerate cooked mussels. If you’d like to maximize the shelf life of the mussel, place it wrapped in an airtight container and into the freezer.
Alternatively, you can wrap it in several tight layers of heavy duty aluminum foil before placing in the freezer. This is required to reduce any potential cross contamination with other foods.
Frozen cooked mussels will retain their quality for two to three months. However, they’re generally safe to eat for much longer. In fact, mussels continuously frozen below 0 degrees Fahrenheit can last indefinitely.
How to Reheat Mussels?
For frozen mussels, you can either thaw them in the microwave or cold water for immediate consumption. Otherwise, you can thaw them over the course of three days in the refrigerator, which will allow them to last an additional few days.
It’s best to reheat mussels with broth so that it doesn’t get overly dried out. First, bring the broth to a full boil on a saucepan before putting the mussel in.
After a minute of sitting in the broth, you can consume the mussel.
Alternatively, you can reheat a mussel with no broth; however, you risk over-drying it. If you must eat the mussel alone, it’s recommended that you microwave it for fifteen second intervals until its reached the desired temperature.
Signs of a Bad Mussel
You can tell a mussel has gone bad by its sight and coloration. Bad mussels feature a sour smell and slimy texture.
If you’re concerned the mussel has gone bad, it’s best not to eat it, since this will leave you open to seafood borne illnesses.
Bacteria can grow on mussels when they’re exposed to temperatures between 40 to 140 degrees F. Cooked mussels should be disposed of after more than two hours of room temperature exposure.