Muscles

Misty Blue · 11-23-2011, 05:52 AM

Question?

Why do sea muscles taste so good and the muscles from the Lake taste like old rubber bands?

OK all of you gastromes, let me in on this.

Misty Blue

The Eagle · 11-23-2011, 08:38 AM

Hi Misty Blue..
Did you actually try to EAT mussels from the lake? I only use lake mussels for "Bait,"! I wouldn't even "Experiment" eating one from any lake!
The Eagle

Jonas Pilot · 11-23-2011, 09:06 AM

I tried one once. I thought the same as Misty. It shouldn't be too much different than a salt water muscle. I've had a lot of raw clams, oysters and muscles. Fresh water muscles rate right up there with all of them except for taste and texture. I'm guessing there must be a way to make fresh water muscles edible. Having one raw definitely isn't one of them.

TomC · 11-23-2011, 09:26 AM

People find the taste of salt appealing.. i imagine the first thing "wrong" with the taste of a freshwater mussel arises because they didn't live in and become infused with salt water. I find the same thing to be true about freshwater fish when i (rarely) eat it.

Jonas Pilot · 11-23-2011, 09:49 AM

Tom might be on to something. I agree with the muscles because they're a filter feeder. I'm not sure though that saltwater fish come "pre-brined". If you ever ate some of my white perch you might change your mind about freshwater fish.

Freshwater Mussels in New Hampshire: Hidden Treasures of Our Lakes

des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/factsheets/bb/.../bb-55.pdf

TOAD · 11-23-2011, 10:33 AM

Septic runnoff.

Just Sold · 11-23-2011, 10:59 AM

From the NHDES web site:

Throughout history, freshwater mussels have been used by humans as important components of tools and jewelry. Native Americans also used freshwater mussels as a supplemental food
source. Although most species are edible, freshwater mussels are not as tasty as their saltwater relatives. In addition, since they are long-lived filter feeders, pollutants can easily settle and buildup inside them, making them distasteful and potentially unhealthy for human consumption.
However, fresh-water mussels are eagerly consumed by other members of the food chain,
including raccoons, otters, and aquatic birds. Mussels also serve the aquatic ecosystem by
filtering debris out of water, making the aquatic environment more suitable for other freshwater

life.

This link should work for the full fact sheet:
http://des.nh.gov/organization/commi...ents/bb-55.pdf

Greene's Basin Girl · 11-23-2011, 07:13 PM

I only see old muscles in the lake that have been already been opened. Has anyone recently seen "fresh" muscles in L. Winnipesaukee?

Misty Blue · 11-23-2011, 08:44 PM

We have a family of mink that live at our (and our friends) shore line who eat them all Winter. They like the open water around my dock. In the Spring there are many empty shells all around the dock.

A few years ago we had some otters who would take them and break them open with rocks against their bellies and eat them. Way cool!

I was just curious. Do you think that Kraft Viva-Itailian would do the trick?

Misty Blue

AC2717 · 11-23-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green's Basin Girl

I only see old muscles in the lake that have been already been opened. Has anyone recently seen "fresh" muscles in L. Winnipesaukee?

the sand bar behind bear island has a lot of them, still closed. my daughter and i dive for them (you know that whole 2-6 feet) and examine them and then drop them back in.
She is 5, it is fun!

gtxrider · 11-23-2011, 11:46 PM

Many years ago (1969) a friend of Italian descent ate the muscles in tomato sauce. I did not eat any since I am not a fan of the little slimy things be from fresh or salt water.

P.S. there are live muscles off of Sandy Point.

NoRegrets · 11-28-2011, 08:00 AM

There are plenty of the living mussels that you can see in the Irwin Marina in Guilford. They "walk" on their "foot" and leave a crooked mark in the silt behind our boat. In the winter they become food for either otters or mink that fish them out and snack on them from swim platforms. You will see a consolidation of shells at the end of the boats in the spring.

Gavia immer · 11-28-2011, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misty Blue

We have a family of mink that live at our (and our friends) shore line who eat them all Winter. They like the open water around my dock. In the Spring there are many empty shells all around the dock.

A few years ago we had some otters who would take them and break them open with rocks against their bellies and eat them. Way cool!

I was just curious. Do you think that Kraft Viva-Itailian would do the trick?

Misty Blue

Decades ago, mink were probably restricted to natural open water areas after "Ice-In". Today, with circulators everywhere, mink have flourished on the lake's mussels.

Since crayfish are also on the mink's diet, I think the reason some lakefront proprty owners have "no crayfish" is that they have circulators/bubblers operating nearby.

Grant · 11-28-2011, 09:36 AM

Mussels are filters. So if you're looking for a good source of everything gross in the Lake, chow down.

If you wouldn't eat lake trout because of mercury levels, why would you eat a filter that soaks in all manner of septic runoff, animal scat, mercury, petroleum, phosphates, etc., etc., etc.?

(Not that I haven't been tempted many times over the years...and, yes, I have tried the crayfish -- not really comparable to the mudbugs so coveted in Louisiana...)

JTA · 11-28-2011, 08:59 PM

A number of years ago a friend of my son (who happened to be a dedicated Boy Scout), collected some muscles and decided to cook up a muscle stew. It was terrible but edible. Maybe in this economy ..... ?

DBreskin · 11-29-2011, 04:58 PM

Just for clarification:

Muscle - 1. a tissue composed of cells or fibers, the contraction of which produces movement in the body or 2. an organ, composed of muscle tissue, that contracts to produce a particular movement.

Mussel - any bivalve mollusk, especially an edible marine bivalve of the family Mytilidae and a freshwater clam of the family Unionidae. (shellfish)

Misty Blue · 11-29-2011, 06:06 PM

Gavia immer:

What a good point! My pals and I have noticed a real reduction in the crafish population in recent years. I was guessing that it was due to the increase of the loon population.

Years ago we had the only aquatherm in the neighborhood and had many crayfish. Now almost everyone has one and the crayfish are gone.

There are crayfish on Glines island. (Well, not exactly "on" the island) and they live in the loon sanctuary. Lot'sa loons, lot'sa crayfish and no aquatherms! I think that you hit the nail on the head! Thanks!

BTW, D Breskin: How right you are! Sorry, my phonex sux!

Misty Blue

11-23-2011, 05:52 AM	#1
Misty Blue Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 658 Thanks: 121 Thanked 283 Times in 98 Posts	Muscles Question? Why do sea muscles taste so good and the muscles from the Lake taste like old rubber bands? OK all of you gastromes, let me in on this. Misty Blue

11-23-2011, 08:38 AM	#2
The Eagle Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Burlington MA & Moultonboro NH Posts: 218 Thanks: 17 Thanked 141 Times in 33 Posts	Omg!!! Hi Misty Blue.. Did you actually try to EAT mussels from the lake? I only use lake mussels for "Bait,"! I wouldn't even "Experiment" eating one from any lake! The Eagle

11-23-2011, 09:26 AM	#4
TomC Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 662 Thanks: 21 Thanked 84 Times in 56 Posts	salt? People find the taste of salt appealing.. i imagine the first thing "wrong" with the taste of a freshwater mussel arises because they didn't live in and become infused with salt water. I find the same thing to be true about freshwater fish when i (rarely) eat it.

11-23-2011, 10:33 AM	#6
TOAD Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Soon to be Moultonboro Posts: 258 Thanks: 1 Thanked 81 Times in 34 Posts	Septic runnoff. __________________ "Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.....Unknown....but attributed to George Washington

11-23-2011, 10:59 AM	#7
Just Sold Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Suncook, NH, but at The Lake at Heart Posts: 2,615 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 434 Times in 210 Posts	From the NHDES web site: Throughout history, freshwater mussels have been used by humans as important components of tools and jewelry. Native Americans also used freshwater mussels as a supplemental food source. Although most species are edible, freshwater mussels are not as tasty as their saltwater relatives. In addition, since they are long-lived filter feeders, pollutants can easily settle and buildup inside them, making them distasteful and potentially unhealthy for human consumption. However, fresh-water mussels are eagerly consumed by other members of the food chain, including raccoons, otters, and aquatic birds. Mussels also serve the aquatic ecosystem by filtering debris out of water, making the aquatic environment more suitable for other freshwater life. This link should work for the full fact sheet: http://des.nh.gov/organization/commi...ents/bb-55.pdf __________________ Just Sold At the lake the stress of daily life just melts away. Pro Re Nata

11-23-2011, 09:06 AM	#3
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	I tried one once. I thought the same as Misty. It shouldn't be too much different than a salt water muscle. I've had a lot of raw clams, oysters and muscles. Fresh water muscles rate right up there with all of them except for taste and texture. I'm guessing there must be a way to make fresh water muscles edible. Having one raw definitely isn't one of them.

11-23-2011, 09:49 AM	#5
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	Tom might be on to something. I agree with the muscles because they're a filter feeder. I'm not sure though that saltwater fish come "pre-brined". If you ever ate some of my white perch you might change your mind about freshwater fish. Freshwater Mussels in New Hampshire: Hidden Treasures of Our Lakes des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/factsheets/bb/.../bb-55.pdf

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Just Sold For This Useful Post:
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11-23-2011, 07:13 PM	#8
Greene's Basin Girl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 1,515 Thanks: 394 Thanked 527 Times in 269 Posts	I only see old muscles in the lake that have been already been opened. Has anyone recently seen "fresh" muscles in L. Winnipesaukee?

11-23-2011, 08:44 PM	#9
Misty Blue Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 658 Thanks: 121 Thanked 283 Times in 98 Posts	Yummy? We have a family of mink that live at our (and our friends) shore line who eat them all Winter. They like the open water around my dock. In the Spring there are many empty shells all around the dock. A few years ago we had some otters who would take them and break them open with rocks against their bellies and eat them. Way cool! I was just curious. Do you think that Kraft Viva-Itailian would do the trick? Misty Blue

The Following User Says Thank You to Misty Blue For This Useful Post:
Greene's Basin Girl (11-24-2011)

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Greene's Basin Girl (11-24-2011)

11-23-2011, 11:46 PM	#11
gtxrider Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Piscataway, NJ Posts: 1,030 Thanks: 2 Thanked 46 Times in 24 Posts	In sauce! Many years ago (1969) a friend of Italian descent ate the muscles in tomato sauce. I did not eat any since I am not a fan of the little slimy things be from fresh or salt water. P.S. there are live muscles off of Sandy Point.

11-28-2011, 08:00 AM	#12
NoRegrets Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hudson - NH Posts: 408 Thanks: 233 Thanked 212 Times in 88 Posts	There are plenty of the living mussels that you can see in the Irwin Marina in Guilford. They "walk" on their "foot" and leave a crooked mark in the silt behind our boat. In the winter they become food for either otters or mink that fish them out and snack on them from swim platforms. You will see a consolidation of shells at the end of the boats in the spring.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Gavia immer For This Useful Post:
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11-28-2011, 09:36 AM	#14
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,499 Thanks: 374 Thanked 229 Times in 123 Posts	Mussels are filters. So if you're looking for a good source of everything gross in the Lake, chow down. If you wouldn't eat lake trout because of mercury levels, why would you eat a filter that soaks in all manner of septic runoff, animal scat, mercury, petroleum, phosphates, etc., etc., etc.? (Not that I haven't been tempted many times over the years...and, yes, I have tried the crayfish -- not really comparable to the mudbugs so coveted in Louisiana...) __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

11-28-2011, 08:59 PM	#15
JTA Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fort Pierce, Florida Posts: 233 Thanks: 34 Thanked 25 Times in 21 Posts	Muscle Stew A number of years ago a friend of my son (who happened to be a dedicated Boy Scout), collected some muscles and decided to cook up a muscle stew. It was terrible but edible. Maybe in this economy ..... ?

11-29-2011, 04:58 PM	#16
DBreskin Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Wolfeboro NH Posts: 283 Thanks: 143 Thanked 121 Times in 76 Posts	Just for clarification: Muscle - 1. a tissue composed of cells or fibers, the contraction of which produces movement in the body or 2. an organ, composed of muscle tissue, that contracts to produce a particular movement. Mussel - any bivalve mollusk, especially an edible marine bivalve of the family Mytilidae and a freshwater clam of the family Unionidae. (shellfish)

The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to DBreskin For This Useful Post:
JanN (11-30-2011), Lakepilot (11-29-2011), RailroadJoe (11-29-2011), wolfegirl (11-30-2011)

11-29-2011, 06:06 PM	#17
Misty Blue Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 658 Thanks: 121 Thanked 283 Times in 98 Posts	Minks! Gavia immer: What a good point! My pals and I have noticed a real reduction in the crafish population in recent years. I was guessing that it was due to the increase of the loon population. Years ago we had the only aquatherm in the neighborhood and had many crayfish. Now almost everyone has one and the crayfish are gone. There are crayfish on Glines island. (Well, not exactly "on" the island) and they live in the loon sanctuary. Lot'sa loons, lot'sa crayfish and no aquatherms! I think that you hit the nail on the head! Thanks! BTW, D Breskin: How right you are! Sorry, my phonex sux! Misty Blue