Green Mussels vs. Black Mussels – What’s The Difference?

Mussels are the mollusks that are present in freshwater and seawater. These are scientifically called bivalve mollusks and are among the most commonly consumed seafood with many nutritional benefits. The mussels are a great source of proteins, iron, zinc and other vitamins.

Mussels are similar to oysters and contain shells. There are many kinds of mussels such as green, blue, black and Mediterranean. The most common mussels consumed are black and green mussels, which will be discussed in this topic.

Moving on towards the differences between the black and green mussels, which includes: Geen mussels and black mussels are different in appearance, which means green mussels have a grey shell and green hues on it while black mussel contains dark shell. The size green mussel is twice as big as a black mussel.

The texture of black mussel is soft and tender; on the other hand, the texture of green mussel is chewy. The taste of black mussel is intense and sweet, while the taste of green mussel is less intense, and the Black mussel is affordable while green mussel is expensive. Black mussel is readily available in every part of the world, while green mussel is most famed in New Zealand.

Below, we have mentioned all major details related to black and green mussels in detail.

Black Mussels

Black mussels are the most commonly consumed kind of mussels. These are mostly found and consumed in the U.S, and they have close relationships with blue mussels as they look identical and have similar shapes. The interesting fact about black mussels is that they thrive on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts as the water is cold.

Farming

Mussels are most commonly farmed in nature, which means they are grown and harvested naturally. In dense pack areas, ropes are suspended, and mussels are grown. This technique makes it easy to harvest the mussels.

Characteristics

Black mussels are clearer by name, black in color, and their size is about 2.5 inches long. The size of black mussels depends upon the region they are grown in.  on the other hand, the flavor of black mussels is intense, and the texture is soft and tender.

Availability

Black mussels are grown in every part of the world, so these are easily available. These are naturally present in many areas. Black mussels exist in many forms, such as fresh or frozen and are utilized as a whole, shelled or without a shell.

Green Mussels

Green mussel is also one of the common types of mussel, which is readily found in the U.S and sometimes called green-lipped mussel. Green mussels are originated from New Zealand and are found on pacific shores, while India started faring green mussels in open water.

Farming

Mainly New Zealand farms green mussels, but other countries farm it locally. There are regulations and restrictions for growing green mussels, and it is strictly monitored. This includes pure water quality and quality feed.

Characteristics

The size green mussel is twice as big as black mussels, about six inches long. Due to their greater size, the green mussels are a little expensive compared to black mussels. The taste and texture of green mussels are chewy, tender and firm, yet it has a slightly sweet touch.

Availability

 As green mussels are grown in New Zealand, it is higher in price than rest kinds of mussels, and you can’t even find them commonly everywhere. The larger size makes them expensive as well. It is hard to find them everywhere, so you can find them in the frozen form if the fresh form is unavailable.

How to Cook Mussels?

There exist many ways in which mussels can be cooked, out of which some are mentioned below:

Steaming is the most common way of cooking mussels in which nutrition properties are not lost. Black mussels are commonly steamed as compared to green mussels. Steaming preserves the flavor and texture of the mussels, and you can add other ingredients such as spices, butter etc., to enhance the taste.

Pan roasting is another unique way of consuming mussels which includes heating the skillet and adding little oil or butter in t. when the skillet is hot, add your mussel and some seasonings like salt and pepper. Stir fry the mussel until the shell is opened, and avoid overcooking.

Grilling is another fun method to cook mussels, including the addition of a BBQ touch to your mussels. Heat the grill until hot and place your marinated mussels on it. Grill them until the shell is opened and the meat softens, serve them hot along with some sauce.

Nutritional Facts and Health Benefits of Mussels

The serving size of three or 85 grams of mussels contain:

• 146 kcal Total Calories
• 8 g Fat
• 48 mg Cholesterol
• 314 mg Potassium
• 6 g Carbohydrate
• 20 g Proteins

Along with these basic calories, mussels also contain micronutrients such as vitamin C, Iron, Calcium, Vitamin B6 and Magnesium. Mussels are the greatest source of omega-three fatty acid, improving vision and providing good stamina.

Mussels, an excellent source of proteins, provide all essential amino acids that are easy to digest and provide the body with health benefits such as strengthening bones, boasting up immunity, and fast healing. Mussels are a great source of iron, preventing anemia, fatigue and weaknesses. The vitamin B12 content in mussels is good for producing red blood cells.

So, What’s The Difference Between Black Mussel and Green Mussel?

Summarizing the topic mentioned above into key points:

1. Geen mussels and black mussels are different in appearance, which means green mussels have a grey shell and green hues on them while black mussel contains a dark shell.
2. The size green mussel is twice as big as a black mussel.
3. The texture of black mussel is soft and tender; on the other hand, the texture of green mussel is chewy.
4. The taste of black mussel is intense and sweet, while green mussel is less intense.
5. Black mussel is readily available in every part of the world, while green mussel is most famed in New Zealand.
6. Black mussel is affordable, while green mussel is expensive.
7. Lastly, the size of the green mussel is six inches long, while the size of the black mussel is two and a half inches long.

Sources:

• Foodsguy
• Missvickie
• Boatbasincafe