Expert: Greg Shreenan - 3/29/2009

Question
When purchasing fresh muscles if you are unable to eat them that day what is the best way to store them and for how long can you keep them refrigerated?  

Answer
Hi Cate,

The best answer I can give you is to not purchase more than you will need for 2 days.

Muscles do not hold up very well in refrigerators.  If the temperature remains constant and is cold than you will get a longer shelf life. Put them in a shallow pan and cover them with a damp dish towel or paper towels.  You could get 5-7 days but 2-4 is probably max.  These are live shellfish.  If they are open and they don't close up when you touch them they are dead.  Do not eat dead muscles.

What I do is to cook everything and what ever I don't eat right away I freeze after it is cooked and I use it for stock for soup.

I hope I was some help.

Have a great day,

Your friend, the fish Guy,

Greg