HOW TO EAT MUSSELS

Our mess-free guide to eating this delicious summer seafood

1 Pick up the first mussel, using the shape of the shell to scoop up some of the juices. Prise the shell open and slurp the mussel and juice straight from the shell.

2 Using the now-empty shell as tweezers, pinch the remaining mussels from their shells, eating them one by one.

3 Have a separate bowl for the empty shells, or serve in a deep bowl and arrange them around the lip as you go.

4 Contrary to popular belief, if a cooked mussel hasn’t opened, it means either that it’s full of grit or that it’s the freshest of the bunch. Twisting it open with both hands, away from the rest, will reveal which seafood surprise awaits.