big mussels in the pub

[bushtank]

went to my local and had a big row about checking live mussels before cooking
i have always stuck to this law on shell fish if you get some mussels that are open give them a tap if they close up they are good and live my mate "pigeon" is saying i am totally wrong and that if you tap them they should open i know he is totally wrong so i am just WAITING FOR HIM TO DIE OF SHELLFISH POISONING am i wrong i dont think so

 

[waylander]

You know a nice friend would educate him, as far asI know the best way to learn something is by making mistakes so make him moules marinere that he has checked to make sure their 'alive'. Hmm I can be really nasty if I want to be lol

 

[janiepopps]

You will certainly win this argument Thomas

May be the 2 of you should have a game of 'Russian Mussel Roulette' just for sheer comedy value....!

He will SO regret it!!!!!

j

 

[stuartmac5]

I think your mate is thinking about a chocolate orange
I'm pretty sure all shelfish clam up (pun intended) when you touch em

 

[bushtank]

my mate pigeon is going to die cos he will not listen to me

 

[Bhod]

Likewise any that don't open during the cooking process disgard as inedible too.

 

[bushtank]

yes correct shame my mate is dim or just mis informed.hope his guts will ache one day haha

 

[Silverback]

Yup they definitely close when tapped and it's pretty obvious why when you think about it. It is a defensive response as the mussel thinks that something might be trying to eat it so it clamps shut. I have this hilarious image in my head of someone tapping on a closed mussel shell and a little voice coming from within "Who is it?"

 

[xylaria]

I can't get over how stupid some people are, and then how arrogant they can be about it. I collect fungi for a hobby, if I wasn't prepared to admit that I can make mistakes and have knowlegde gaps, I would be dead. Modern life cushions people who can't admit they are wrong from a early death.

I have stood in kitchen with someone who was holding a satans bolete insisting it was edible because it didn't make thier lips tingle when rubbed on it. She had to cook and then said it tasted bitter.