The ultimate easy guide on how to clean clams! Tips on choosing fresh clams, purging sand, and preparing them for your next seafood dish.
Fresh clams are a seafood delicacy, but they often come with an unwelcome surprise—gritty sand. If you ask me, just that one crunch is enough of an appetite killer. Cleaning clams properly is crucial to enjoying their briny, oceanic flavour without any unpleasant crunch.
If you’ve ever been intimidated by the process, fear not! This guide will walk you through an easy, effective way to clean clams, plus provide useful tips and essential equipment to make the task a breeze.
Why Cleaning Clams is Important
Clams filter-feed by siphoning water, which means they can accumulate sand, grit, and other debris inside their shells. If not cleaned properly, this grit remains in the clams, and can ruin an otherwise perfect dish.
The good news? Cleaning clams isn’t difficult; it just requires a bit more time and the right technique.
How to Choose Good Clams
The first step to a perfect clam dish starts at the market or seafood counter. Follow these tips to ensure you’re bringing home only the freshest clams:
1. Look for Closed Shells
- Fresh clams should have tightly closed shells. If a shell is slightly open, give it a gentle tap. If it closes, the clam is still alive and safe to eat. If it stays open, it’s likely dead—skip it.
2. Check for Cracks or Damage
- Avoid clams with cracked, broken, or chipped shells. Damaged shells can indicate the clam inside is compromised and may not be safe to eat.
3. Inspect for Freshness
- Fresh clams should smell briny, like the ocean. If they have a strong fishy or sour smell, they’re past their prime.
What About Pre-Packaged Clams?
I’ll be honest, I’m usually too unbothered to want to pick and choose my clams. I would always just ask my fishmonger (who always sells fresh anyway!) to get me a bag of how many grams I need.
If you’re buying clams in a bag or sealed container from the supermarket:
- Ensure there’s a sell-by date and that it hasn’t expired.
- Check for any cracked or broken shells in the package and remove them before cleaning.
Equipment You’ll Need
- Colander: To hold the clams and allow easy rinsing.
- Large bowl: To create a saltwater bath for the clams to purge sand.
- Salt: Essential for mimicking the natural salinity of seawater.
- Measuring spoon: For accurate salt-to-water ratio.
Optional: A soft brush for scrubbing shells, if they’re extra dirty. Personally, I would not purchase the clams if they are too dirty though.
Step-by-Step: How to Clean Clams
1. Rinse the Clams
- Place the clams in a colander and give them a good rinse under cold running water.
- This helps remove surface debris and any loose grit clinging to the shells.
2. Prepare the Saltwater Bath
- Fill a large bowl with enough cold water to fully submerge the clams.
- Add salt to the water—stir in about 1 tablespoon (15g) of salt per 2 cups (500ml) of water.
- Place the colander (with the clams inside) into a large bowl.
3. Soak and Purge
- Let the clams soak in the saltwater for at least 30 minutes. This allows them to naturally expel sand and grit.
- For extra sandy clams, extend the soaking time to 1–2 hours, refreshing the water if needed.
4. Final Rinse
- After soaking, lift the colander and drain the water, which should have a lot of discarded sand.
- Rinse the clams under cold water one last time to remove any remaining salt or debris.
Pro Tips for Cleaning Clams
- Inspect for Bad Clams: Tap any open clams gently on the counter. If they don’t close, discard them—they’re likely dead and unsafe to eat. Similarly, toss clams with cracked or broken shells.
- Timing is Key: Clean clams just before cooking. Storing them in freshwater for too long can kill them.
- Avoid Freshwater Soaking: Always use salted water! Freshwater can shock the clams and cause them to die before purging.
Bonus: A Quick Brush-Up
Personally, I wouldn’t purchase clams if they look too dirty; however, if you find your clams are extra gritty or have muddy shells, use a soft brush to scrub the shells gently before rinsing them.
This step is especially helpful if you’re serving dishes like steamed clams where the shells are part of the presentation.
Cleaning clams might take a little effort and extra time, but it’s well worth it for grit-free seafood dishes! If you follow the steps above, you’d find that it’s very easy too.
How do you clean clams? Do you have any tips or tricks? Let me know in the comments!
Recipes with Clams
Ready to put your clean clams to good use? Check out some of my favorite clam recipes:
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