How to Clean and Prepare Clams
Clams are one of the most beloved and delicious sea creatures, but they can be intimidating to cook. With their tightly closed shells and dark, dull colors, they often look like nothing more than a pile of grit. Fortunately, learning how to clean and prepare clams is much easier than you might think, and it’s a great way to enjoy this delicacy in the comfort of your own home!
Preparing clams
Before cooking any clams, they need to be cleaned thoroughly. This is important because grit can easily come into contact with your dish when you cook it and will diminish the flavor of the clams as well as cause them to become tough.
First, remove the clams from their packaging and rinse them under cold water. This helps prevent bacteria from growing on the clams, which can lead to illness and even death.
Next, scrub the clams with a brush to remove any dirt, grit or debris that may be stuck on the shells. This will ensure that your clams are free of any taints, so that you can enjoy them in their freshest form possible!
Soak clams in saltwater to remove sand
To keep sand from being a problem, soak your clams in salted water for 20 minutes before you start cooking them. During this time, the clams will naturally filter the saltwater and sand out of their shells as they breathe.
Once you’ve soaked them for 20 minutes, drain the clams and then rinse them again to get rid of any excess sand. This will make it easier for the clams to open and allow you to enjoy them.
Repeat this process a second time before cooking your clams to be sure that the clams are completely free of any sand or salt. If the clams still seem to have a lot of sand in their shells, set up a third bowl full of salt water and again, soak your clams in the saltwater for another 20 minutes.
After soaking, place the clams in a large bowl and add enough water to cover them by about an inch or so. Once the clams are re-hydrated, they will be ready to cook!
Steaming clams and mussels is a quick and easy way to prepare them. This method works best for clams that are not whole, but you can also use this cooking method to cook mussels as well!
If you’re preparing a recipe that calls for a bunch of clams, such as clam chowder, it is best to steam them together. This will help them to cook evenly, and you won’t end up with a bunch of overcooked clams that taste like shoe leather!
In this garlic butter clams recipe, a variety of clams are cooked in a creamy garlic white wine sauce. It can be served as a simple appetizer or can be used to add a touch of seafood to pasta for a quick meal.
If you’re looking for a new way to prepare your clams, try this recipe. This recipe is quick and easy to prepare, it’s tasty, and it’s the perfect seafood accompaniment for any dinner!
