How to Steam Mussels

Mussels are delicious. With pretty black shells they are easy to cook easy to eat and taste great.
Get a bag off fresh mussels from the fish department.

You want to open the bag and wash all the mussels under cold water.You also want to discard any beard or grit. Often slicing the beards off with a sharp paring knife is the easiest way.  Discard any mussels that have broken shells.

Broken shell to be discarded

If a mussel is open tap it gently a few times on the counter-top. If it does not close discard the mussel.

Would not close so discarded.

Then open a bottle of dry white wine. Put two glasses into a large pan with a tight fitting lid and one glass into your wine glass. Then add one pat of butter to the wine in the pan. Cover with lid and bring to a boil. When boiling add the clean mussels.

Just as you add the mussels

Cover with tight fitting lid and let the wine steam for 2-3 minutes  Then shake the pan briefly and let steam again another 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat. 

Mussels open

The mussels should now all be open. Any mussel that did not open do not try to eat.

Serve in a bowl with crusty bread for dipping and extra napkins.