All About Mollusks

ByLydia Lane, 08/26/2014

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Mollusks (also spelled molluscs) are creatures with soft bodies covered by a hard shell. The Mollusks are a group of very diverse creatures that can live in fresh and salt water.

types Mollusks

Some of our favorites

Squid

Squid must be cooked very quickly or stewed for a long time. Anything in between and your squid can turn out rubbery. When serving plan on allotting 1/4 to 1/2 lb. per person.

Popular ways to cook squid is fried in batter (calamari), grilled, tossed in paellas and pasta.

Try: Calamari Risotto

Octopus

Octopus has the reputation of being very chewy, but this can be avoided if cooked properly. A very simple way to cook octopus is by boiling it in flavored broth (stock or wine seasoned for about 1 ½ hours then grilled for a delightfully crisp texture.

Try: Octopus Rougail (Octopus in tomato sauce)

Escargot

Escargot are snails typically cooked inside their shells or specialize baking dish. Naturally high in protein and low in fat, escargot are typically served in wine, chicken stock or butter.

Try: Escargot and Maroilles Cheese Pastries

Mussels

Only purchase live mussles with tightly closed shells. When you are ready to prepare them rise under cold water and scrub, removing any dirt or seaweed. If you your mussels weren’t debearded removed the beard. Cook for 6-8 minutes making sure to discard any mussels that did not open during cooking.

Try: Mussels in White Wine Sauce

Oysters

When you are ready to eat your oyster scrub under cold water removing any excess dirt. Eat raw, steamed, roasted, grilled, fried or stuffed à la oyster rockafeller.

Try: Golden fried oysters

Clams

Try: Creamy New England Style Clam Chowder

Scallops

Try: Scallops, Asparagus with Capelli D’Angelo Minneola Tangelo Butter Cream Sauce

Honorable Mentions

Conch

Cuttlefish

How to pick it

Look for mollusks with a tightly closed out shell with oysters and fresh smell, not “fishy.” Make sure to purchase your ingredients from a reputable supplier.

How to store it

Mollusks are best purchased fresh and are highly perishable. Make sure to eat them within a couple days of purchasing depending on the mollusk and keep them refrigerated until ready to use.