Mussel

Mytilus galloprovincialis, Mytilus edulis

Mussels are molluscs that are sold canned. Cooks steam, grill, bake, or stuff them and pair them with garlic, onion, or olive oil.

Shellfish
Gluten-free
Allergen: molluscs

About the plain ingredient, not packaged products; general information, not medical advice. Details

Category: Fish & seafood
Family: Mytilidae
Cooked most in: Europe
Top country: Spain
Dishes: 7 in the catalogue
Energy: 86 kcal per 100 g

Photo: DaBler · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

In the kitchen

How to use mussel

Typical ways to cook or use it

Bake
Boil simmer
Grill
Roast
Smoke
Steam
Stuff

Preparing it

Rinse mussels thoroughly and remove their beards. The beard can also be removed after the mussel opens during cooking.

Cooking with it

A shell that stays closed during cooking does not necessarily mean the mussel is unsafe.

Goes well with

Shopping

Choosing and storing mussel

Choosing a good one

Unusually heavy wild-caught mussels with closed shells may contain mud or sand.

Sold as: Canned

Nutrition

What 100 g of mussel holds

Per 100 g, raw. Averages from USDA; real values vary by variety, season and growing conditions.

Protein 67%Fat 13%Carbohydrate 21%of the macronutrients by weight

Nutrition per 100 g of mussel, raw
Energy	86 kcal · 360 kJ
Protein	12 g
Fat	2.2 g
of which saturated	0.43 g
Carbohydrate	3.7 g
of which sugars	0 g
Fibre	0 g
Sodium	286 mg
Cholesterol	28 mg

Nutrition per 100 g of mussel, raw: minerals and vitamins
Potassium	320 mg
Calcium	26 mg
Iron	4 mg
Magnesium	34 mg
Zinc	1.6 mg
Vitamin C	8 mg
Vitamin A (RAE)	48 µg
Folate	42 µg
Vitamin B12	12 µg

Source: USDA FoodData Central (food 174216), public domain. Minerals and vitamins are listed only where USDA measured a non-zero amount.

Around the world

Where mussel is cooked

7 dishes in the catalogue use mussel. Here is where they come from.

Dishes by continent

Europe6

Countries whose dishes use it most

Counts are catalogued dishes from each country that list mussel among their ingredients.

On the table

Dishes made with mussel

5 of the 7 catalogued dishes that use it, spread across the countries they come from.

Fideuà
Spain
Moules farcies à la sétoise
France
Moules-frites
Belgium
Mussels marinière
Belgium, France
Lontong kupang

Dish lists come from Wikidata; a dish counts when its recorded ingredients include mussel.

Good to know

Diet and allergens: mussel in detail

These notes describe the plain ingredient. Packaged and prepared products vary, so read the label; for allergies and medical diets ask a doctor or dietitian.

Allergens: Contains: molluscsChecked and not found: soy, eggs, fish, milk, lupin, wheat, celery, sesame, mustard, peanuts, sulphites, tree nuts, crustaceans, gluten cereals.
Animal origin: From: shellfishChecked and not found: egg, fish, meat, dairy, honey, insect, gelatin, poultry, bone char, other animal, animal fining, animal rennet.
Gluten: None
Alcohol: None
Caffeine: None
Pork: None