My boyfriend bought me these mussels at some fancy store for 18$ about a year ago for my birthday since he knows how much I love seafood. I was hoarding them for the perfect night in and finally got to try them this weekend.
The sauce is very nice but fairly mild, so I felt like bringing out the truffles to get truly fancy. The texture of these mussels was so foul I was actually shocked. They didn’t taste like mussels, more like some kind of fish paste in crammed into the concept of a mussel. I was so sad as I had such high hopes for this since I love spicy mussels. The truffle helped mask some of the mushy texture, but ultimately the tin was a 3/10, and those points are exclusively for the sauce.
That being said I would love any recommendations for flavored tinned mussels (spicy, lemon, garlic sauce, etc).
by exaristo
16 Comments
Bummer. Was there a date on the can? Were they ancient?
Porto-Muñios Mussels with Sweet Kombu in Salsa Brava – 11
https://www.reddit.com/r/CannedSardines/s/5TgVMJRqUw
Wow – so unlike my experience. Maybe you got a tin behind its best by date?
I’ve found Patagonia mussels to be excellent –
Water-based/sauce tins don’t age as gracefully as oil-based tins. Should’ve eaten them sooner I’m afraid.
Honestly, after the ~$8 price range diminishing returns hit hard.
was this ur first time having tinned mussels? their texture is very different than fresh mussels
Not expensive but Trader Joe’s smoked mussels are my favorite
I have to admit I’ve tried a couple brands of tinned mussels and hated both of them. I love fresh but as noted the texture is very different.
Patagonia mussels are solid
Not a mussel but smoked oysters are epic!
Man same… I am not a fan of tinned Mussels. I tried to be but I just don’t like them at all.
I’m a big fan of this specific tin, but yeah, I don’t sit on them as they don’t age gracefully.
Hevva Cornish muscles in Nduja are my go to. Lovely.
Patagonia were the only ones I’ve liked so far any other easily found recommendations?
[These](https://shop.littlespain.com/products/mussels-in-escabeche-mercado-little-spain-m-se-204)
didn’t cost me $18 . I think maybe $10?
They are delicious. Maybe a little softer than fresh. Parts were still chewy. Some kinda just melted in my mouth. But the taste definitely made up for the texture. Eating it with a toothpick and a Kona Big Wave beer.
I have had that brand before, I remember liking it, but it’s been a few years.
I have had that issue with other canned mussels, and I’ve always wondered what causes it. Overcooked, ph level off, size or breed of mussel, time of year harvested. I have no idea.
I would say it wouldn’t be a bad idea to try them again, but for $18, I would have higher expectations of consistency since its not really in the “try again” price range.
One of my recent favorites had been the Fangst brand.
This happened to me too, fancy French tinned mussels, felt like mealy paste 🙁