How to Eat Mussels the Right Way

Have you ever wondered how are you supposed to eat mussels? They're often served in their shells, which leaves it up to the imagination to figure out how to get to the edible part and what to do with the empty shell.

As delicious as they are, they can be a challenge to eat. You can eat mussels with your fingers, fork, or spoon. You don't have to end up with sticky fingers and juice dripping down your shirt.

Here are a few tips on how to eat mussels the right way and the confidence to order them without worrying.

Break your first mussel in half and use one shell as a spoon. Although it's generally considered impolite in some fine dining restaurants, such as France, it's customary to use an empty mussel shell as a tool to scoop out the meat from other shells.

Use one half as a spoon and stick it into your next clam to scoop out the meat. If you don't break the shell of the first one, you can use it as a pair of tongs to grab the other mussels or pull out the meat.

Remove all of the meat from the shells before you start eating. Although this is often considered unusual, in most places it is acceptable to clean mussels at the beginning of the meal and enjoy them all at once.

If you are at a formal dinner, scoop out the meat with a fork. With your free hand, carefully remove the tender flesh from the opened shell. You will notice that the meat is still partially attached to the shell, so you may need to use your fork to scrape the bottom of the meat to get it out of the shell. Gently poke the meat and slowly pull it out of the shell.

For the empty shells, you will usually be served a separate bowl or plate for them. If you are not given a separate bowl or plate, place the empty shells back on your plate. Never put the shells on a shared plate if you are sharing.

You may be given a bowl to rinse your fingers in. If there is a bowl to rinse them in, it is perfectly acceptable to eat with your fingers. Bon appetit!

And to make sure you enjoy, don't miss these mouthwatering recipes for:

- Mussels in White Wine;

- Breaded Mussels;

- Coquilles Saint-Jacques.

Find out how to serve mussels and how long to boil mussels for.