Fresh cultured blue mussels are delicious, easy to prepare, good for you and good for the environment, but if they’re new to you we’ve got some information to help you buy this great food.

Where to Find Mussels?

You can enjoy fresh blue mussels at many restaurants as a delicious appetizer or main course, or pick them up at your local grocery store or seafood market to enjoy a great meal at home. Mussels are sold in mesh bags or can be found loose on the ice at the seafood counter.

Cultivated blue mussels are harvested year round – even through the winter – so they’re always fresh when you see them in the store.

How to Choose?

Fresh cultivated blue mussels often come with a tag that tells you when the mussels were harvested , a best by date as well as the nutritional information. This tag will be attached to the mesh bag, or you can ask for it at the seafood counter if buying them loose. An easy way to tell if they are fresh is to use your nose – they should smell like the ocean, fresh and salty.

You don’t have to eat them as soon as you get home, depending on the date you usually can buy and store them in your fridge at home for a few days before eating.

How many?

An easy rule of thumb is one pound per person or 450 grams (in the shell).