Air Fryer or Oven-Baked Japanese Mussels Dynamite

AYCE (All You Can Eat) buffets – do you dig it? I certainly do, and I prepare for them by wearing loose sweatpants and an empty stomach. If you decide to walk in for unlimited eating with a belt, please loosen it up or remove it halfway through the meal. What is the purpose of paying a flat fee to stuff your face, like there is no tomorrow, only to find that you’ve been restricted by your belt?

I’d like to say that I have a specific routine down pat at AYCE buffets. First, I go straight for the protein. If there is a Japanese station, I’m loading my plate up with some sashimi (salmon, please!). Shrimp, raw oysters & clams and king crabs? Heck yeah, bring it on. And where are the JAPANESE MUSSELS DYNAMITE?

Having small children in the house has limited my opportunities to visit AYCE buffets. Hence, I make mussels dynamite at home, as a little appetizer treat for my family. My daughter LOVES them with tobiko and all. They can be expensive, compared to the black mussels that I shared a recipe for here, but boy are they plump and a mouthful! Even better, I cook them in my air fryer and have these yummy starters out in just 8 minutes.

Why Air Frying?

Air frying offers several advantages over baking and deep frying, which is why it has become such a popular choice for healthier cooking nowadays. Here are some of the key reasons why it is often considered a better alternative:

• OIL CONTENT: Air frying uses significantly less oil, with some recipes requiring absolutely no oil at all! This reduces fat content and calorie intake, making it a healthier cooking method.
• RESULTS: Air frying cooks food by circulating hot air around it, still creating a crispy exterior while retaining moisture inside. The fast air circulation also helps heat food more evenly and efficiently.
• MINIMAL PREHEATING: Preheating an oven may require 10–15 minutes. Because the cooking chambers of air fryers are small, preheating them happens almost instantly, allowing you to get cooking right away.
• CLEANUP: Cleanup after air frying simply requires washing the air fryer basket and wiping down the interior of the appliance, which is much easier cleanup!

FEAR YOU NOT, I have also BAKED mussels dynamite in the oven and shared my recipe for it below as well. Baking is the better alternative when you’re making a large batch, like pictured below, which is the method I opt for when I have guests over.

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