Yes, you can freeze live mussels for up to three months (although they won’t be alive after freezing).  Frozen mussels should be used within 2 days of thawing.  We’ve given you directions for freezing them in the shell below, although you can easily adapt this to freeze them out of the shell (ignore step 2 below) or on the half-shell.

How to Freeze Live Mussels:

1. Test the mussels for signs of life: First discard any that are cracked or more than slightly open.  Then tap any open mussels firmly…if they do not slowly close, they’re dead and should be discarded.  Finally, hold each closed mussel in your hand separately.  If any feel significantly heavier than the others, they are probably filled with mud and should also be discarded.

2.  Clean the mussels: Scrub the surface of the mussels with a tough wire brush.  Pull off their “beards” (clear tendrils on the outside of the mussel).  Ordinarily we do not recommend removing beards until just before cooking, as it quickly kills the mussels and reduces their shelf life, but as you’ll be freezing them anyway, you might as well do it now.

3.  Lay out the mussels individually on a sheet pan in your freezer: You can also just throw them in an air-tight container if you don’t mind your mussels freezing into a clump, but freezing individually can also reduce their freezing time, leading to a better texture/flavor later (read How to Freeze Better at Home for more info). 

If you’re worried about the mussels sticking to the pan, put a sheet of wax paper between them and the metal.

4.  Once the mussels have frozen, place them in a freezer bag for storage.  Make sure to get as much air out as possible, and clearly label them with the date frozen.

How to Thaw Frozen Mussels:

At any point in three months you can easily thaw your mussels by moving them to the fridge from your freezer (if you’ve frozen them individually, they’ll be easier to thaw a few at a time) and letting them thaw slowly.  If you’re in a hurry, you can use the running water thawing method, but because shellfish are so perishable, we recommend the fridge if you have the time.  Use your thawed mussels within two days.

Related Posts:

Mussels Mariniere Recipe (aka Moules Mariniere)

- Question submitted by David