CANNED MUSSELS
Canned mussels have become one of the essential products on the shopping list of most Spanish households [ https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/alimentacion/temas/consumo-tendencias/informe2019_v2_tcm30-540250.pdf ].
And its flavor, versatility, and price are just some of the reasons why mussels have become a staple in our cuisine.
Mussels provide a rich variety of nutrients and vitamins to our bodies, while being low in fat. This food is a source of potassium, protein, selenium, sodium, zinc, and phosphorus. It also contains vitamins A, C, B-12, and omega-3.
But the prominent place this type of preserves occupies in our pantry makes it necessary to have a basic understanding of the product we're going to buy so that the purchase becomes a sure success.
Knowing the origin of the raw materials and knowing exactly what we're going to find when we open the can can turn a tapa of mussels into a success.
- A quality origin: Galician mussels
- What size mussel is best?
- How many mussels are in a can?
1.- A quality origin: Galician mussels
Spain is the leading producer of mussels in the European Union and one of the three largest producers worldwide. More than 90% of Spain's mussel production volume, and almost 50% of the world's total, comes from the 3,300 mussel rafts located off the Galician coast.
But the quality of Galician mussels isn't just a matter of numbers. This success is due to a series of environmental factors that make Galicia an optimal location for the growth of high-quality mussels. These natural characteristics include a suitable temperature, a significant concentration of phytoplankton, and the strong currents in the area.
Protected Designation of Origin
The mussels in Galicia's estuaries feed on the organic matter found in coastal waters, a source of food that plays a vital role in the quality of Galician mussels. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has classified these waters as one of the richest reservoirs of phytoplankton on the planet.
Furthermore, this diet not only gives the mussels farmed in this area their distinctive flavor, but also directly influences the orange color of these bivalves compared to mussels from other regions. This color is more pronounced in females during the laying season and fades in males when they reach their most fertile stage.
On the other hand, the Galician mussel is the only one that has a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) recognized in 2007.
2.- What size mussel is best?
The quality of the waters in which they grow means that Galician mussels take less time to reach a larger size than other bivalve families. Thus, the entire farming process for Galician mussels, known as Mytilus galloprovincialis, is completed in about 17 months. At this point, they reach between 5 and 10 centimeters in length.
The size of Galician mussels depends on numerous factors, including maturation time and the growing area. Thus, mussels living in areas with strong water currents or on the upper part of raft ropes tend to grow larger.
- Selection process
The size selection process varies depending on the mussel's destination, whether it's sold fresh or packaged. For fresh seafood, the reference size is the shell size, while mussels intended for packaging are sized according to the size of their meat.
When we refer to preserves, the size of the specimens is divided into giant, large, medium or small.
- Giant – the larger the caliber, the more in demand.
- Big – contains less than 26 pieces per kilo
- Medium – between 26 and 31 pieces per kilo
- Small – between 32 and 42 units per kilo.
In most cases, the size is indicated on the canned food packaging. If not, we can use the number of pieces and the size of the can or jar as a guide.
3.- How many mussels are in a can?
A common mistake when choosing canned mussels is confusing the number of pieces with the size of the mussels inside. We tend to associate a larger number of pieces with a smaller size of the meat.
However, the number of units is more closely linked to the format of the cans than to the size of the pieces.
In our store, you can see the size of all our mussels, specified in the product name. However, the size and number of pieces also give you an approximate idea of their size, so your only concern is enjoying the flavor of a delicious plate of Galician mussels of the size you like best.