Learn how to clean clams before cooking so you might enjoy restaurant-worthy clams at home.
And the results are worth every single (simple) step.
Here’s how to clean clams, including tips so there’s no sand!
Credit:Grant Webster
The most popular are hard clams, which include little neck clams.
Likemusselsandoysters, clams are sold live, with tightly closed shells to guarantee freshness.
Avoid any clams that have broken or cracked shells.
Credit:Grant Webster
Refrigerate live clams, covered with a moist cloth, in an open container up to 2 days.
Test Kitchen Tip
Razor clams require a different kind of cleaning than hard clams, which is described here.
For details, check out thetips from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Credit:Grant Webster
How to Clean Clams for Cooking
The shells of clams need to be scrubbed before preparation.
Clams also need to be soaked to remove grit and other bits that are in the clams system.
The goal here is to remove any sand, barnacles, or other oceanic cling-ons.
Credit:Grant Webster
If the shell is gaping slightly, tap it gently on the counter.
The clam should react by shutting its shell.
If it doesnt (which means its already died and is possibly spoiled), throw it away.
Credit:Grant Webster
Soak for 15 minutes.
As they soak, the clams will filter out sand and much of the salt from their systems.
The sand will sink to the bottom of the pan.
Credit:Grant Webster
Discard the soaking water.
Repeat the soaking, draining, and rinsing steps twice.
Your clams are now ready to cook in recipes that call for fresh clams in the shell.
Once youve learned how to clean a clam, youll be hard-pressed to buy canned clams again!
And maybe youll be ready to tackle other great shellfish, too, such aslobster.
Or how about other bivalves, such as oysters andmussels?
And now you know how easy those are!
