Tell me more ×
Seasoned Advice is a question and answer site for professional and amateur chefs. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 6 down vote favorite

The price of one kilo of mussels (blue mussels) here in my town is around 60–70 SEK (9–11 USD). I think that makes a large enough portion for two people, but when checking if all of them are alive and when cleaning them, the price runs higher. I'm interested in what the price per kilo of the edible part (the muscle) of the mussels are. In one mussel, how much by weight is shell and how much is muscle?

share|improve this question
That's really expensive. In Toronto, Ontario,( where they have to be flown in), I regularly see them for 1.99/lb or 4.40/kg. – Chris Cudmore Sep 17 '12 at 21:45
1  
Please don't mark correct answer until a few days have passed or you may discourage others whom have other answers – TFD Sep 17 '12 at 22:42

2 Answers

up vote 2 down vote accepted

It depends on where you live, and what type of mussel you are eating

The blue mussel popular in Europe and North Pacific typically has an uncooked meat ratio of 25% to total weight, and 20% when cooked

The New Zealand Greenshell mussel (available flash frozen in Europe) typically has an uncooked meat ratio 55%, and 50% when cooked

New Zealand Greenshell mussel

Around US$2 per Kg. These will vary by season and supplier of course

share|improve this answer
Good answer, but a great one and the accepted one if you would also provide the source of your information. – citizen Sep 18 '12 at 10:34
Common knowledge in Greenshell NZ :-) seafoodito.co.nz/file/13354 , isite.mydns.net.nz/kbwarehouse.co.nz/pacifica/musselfacts.htm etc etc. – TFD Sep 18 '12 at 10:55
up vote 6 down vote

The Tourism PEI site says that one pound of mussels is 20-25 mussels, about one cup of meat, and that you can serve one person that for a main meal or two people for an appetizer.

The Food and Agriculure Organization of the United Nations says:

One bushel of whole mussels should yield from 6 to 9 pounds of cooked meats. Percentage yield by weight may range from about 8 per cent to as high as 20 per cent of the whole mussels.

Finally, this is 500g of mussels (my lunch in Brussels on a hot day - my companion has the same): cooked mussels

And this is how I can remember it was 500g:

enter image description here

share|improve this answer
+.5 for the answer and +.5 for the photo of Belgian fries <drools> – ElendilTheTall Sep 17 '12 at 15:17
Why if FAO using bushels and pounds when only one member country uses that unit? – TFD Sep 17 '12 at 23:02
@TFD, good question - the document is very UK-centric so perhaps the research group that produced it used the measuring system they felt like using? – Kate Gregory Sep 17 '12 at 23:35

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.