CLEANING CLAMS

Preparing shellfish can be scary for some people. It is expensive in most areas and you want to make sure that you are preparing it properly to get the best flavor. Preparing clams is quite simple.

When you purchase clams, make sure that they are “live”. To do this, select clams that are all tightly closed. If it appears that the clam is even slightly opened, leave it.

Once you get home, rinse the clams under cold running water, scrubbing the shells with a kitchen scrubber. Remove any loose debris or sand.

Place the clams in a large pot (8qt or so), and for every 24 clams add 4 cups of cold water and 1/3 cup salt. Stir well once to mix the salt, clams, and water then let sit for about 15 or 20 minutes. Dump the water and rinse the clams. Complete this process a total of 3 times.

This cleaning process will help clean any unwanted sand and debris from inside the shells. Now your clams are ready for use in any recipe.