Warning: you’d better not eat these mussels in April, May and June
For my last supper, I’d want a huge pan of mussels, with baguette, sauce and fries on the side. I LOVE mussels. But now it turns out that not every type of mussel can simply appear at my last supper. In June, you can’t eat the same mussel as in October. Um, what? How exactly does that work?
To dispel a myth right away: in principle, you can eat mussels all year round. The idea that you can only eat shellfish when there’s an ‘R’ in the month is outdated. But what it says in the intro is true. You can’t eat the same mussel in June as in October. There are two types of mussels, each with its own season. And you’d better respect those seasons, otherwise you really won’t have very nice mussels in front of you.
Bottom-cultured mussels
Okay, so there are two types of mussels. The first is the bottom-cultured mussel. It mainly grows on the seabed of the Oosterschelde. From the second week of July through March, this mussel is at its best: it consists of more than 34% meat. Incredibly delicious. So you could say that you can eat this mussel almost all year round. But not in April, May and June.
That’s when the mussel is full of reproductive cells. Yep, they’re reproducing. Just leave the things in peace. Because they need to get on with what they’re doing, but also because they’re really not edible when they’re full of reproductive cells. Brrr.
Rope-grown mussels
So can you eat another type of mussel in April, May and June? Absolutely: the second type, the rope-grown mussel. These mussels don’t grow on the seabed, but on a rope in the water. They’re much closer to the water’s surface and therefore catch more light. Thanks to that sunlight, they grow faster and ripen earlier in the year. Perfect for spring, then, and an excellent replacement for the inedible bottom-cultured mussels.
Rope-grown or bottom-cultured, I’m just happy that there are mussels all year round. What’s on the menu tonight? These mussels with spicy sausage from Sergio Herman. Made with bottom-cultured mussels, that is.
The Mussel Walk 2025
And are you in the mood for even more mussels, good times and more than 10,000 steps? Then join the very first Mussel Walk! Put it in your calendar and lace up your most mussel-worthy shoes. This will be a wonderfully summery outing, promise!
Also read:
- Sustainable fish: tuna is a no, mussels are okay
- Recipe: paella with lobster, mussels, shrimp and langoustines
- How to: cook mussels
Source: Keuringsdienst van Waarde (KRO/NCRV)
