How to Clean Clams in 5 Steps

Clams are bivalve mollusks belonging to the Bivalvia class—a group of sea- and freshwater invertebrate animals that have a two-part hinged shell, including mussels, oysters, and scallops. Clams have two adductor muscles that hold their shells together and a burrowing foot that allows them to dig. These shellfish live most of their lives buried under sand or mud in oceans or rivers. Live clams are usually for sale in the supermarket or the fishmonger. Popular types of clams that are commonly sold include littleneck clams, quahogs, and soft-shell clams.

Clams are an easy shellfish for homecooks to prepare. Popular clam recipes include steamed clams, linguine with clams, and New England clam chowder.

When buying fresh clams at the grocery store or the fishmonger, make sure the clams do not have cracked or broken shells. Ensure the clam shells are tightly closed—open clams or clams with damaged shells are indicators of dead clams and should not be eaten. The clams should also smell like the sea. If they smell fishy, it means they are not fresh.

After you buy clams, you must clean them to free them of any sand and grit that is stuck inside of the shells. Follow this cleaning method to make the clams grit-free:

1. 1. Prepare a large bowl. To purge clams of sand, fill up a large bowl with a mix of cold water and sea salt. In order to match the salinity of seawater, mix ⅓ cup salt with one gallon water.
2. 2. Soak the clams. Let the clams soak in the salted water for 20 minutes to an hour. The clams will purge sand from their shell.
3. 3. Remove the clams from the water. You should see sand in the bottom of the bowl. Do not run the clams through a strainer because you will cover the clams in sand.
4. 4. Scrub the clams clean. Using a stiff-bristle brush, clean the clams of any dirt or barnacles from their shells.
5. 5. Rinse the clams. After scrubbing, rinse the clams with cool water.

The quickest way to cook clams is by steaming them. You can also sauté the clams in olive oil and white wine for a quick clam sauce to pair with pasta. You will know they are done when the shells open up and the clam meat is visible.

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