do you "spit" your clams?

[DoubleJ]

I learned from my father to spit clams before cooking them and therefore i do it myself but now, i'm wondering if i need to.

The way i learned was to rinse your catch and fill a bucket with clean fresh water and put the clams in.  Then put the bucket in the fridge for 12-24 hrs.  I never get sandy clams but i also can't say for sure doing what i do is the reason why.  What do all of you say?

[NW-GSP]

I have always hated getting a mouthfull of sand. but as a kid we would just let them sit in a bucket full of water to try to get the sand out of them, did not work that well

[h20hunter]

We did something similiar with some family in Alaska.........they would put them in a bucket and pour in cornmeal. the clams would suck it in and spit it out and be clean as a whistle.

[sirmissalot]

You definitely want to rinse, wash, or "spit" them. Sandy clams is the worst. I let them soak in fresh clean saltwater for at least a day, usually requires one change out on the water. I have heard the cornmeal trick works awesome, never tried it though. If you have access to a dock on the saltwater, put the clams in a clam net for a day thats the best way but not usually an option for me.

Have you found a good beach yet? I read your thread about clamming/scouting for crabs, I don't mind sharing where I go for clams and oysters if you need a suggestion. Its no secret but good pickins

[johnnyaustin44]

Cornmeal Is what I use. Let em sit at least one day change water twice.

[oldcamper]

never heard of the cornmeal method, always left them in a bucket of fresh water for a couple days. How much cornmeal you use and what steps? 

[superdown]

The cornmeal method is what we use but we a put bowl upside down in the bottom of the bucket and put the biggest clams in  first so they can't get to any of the sand again. for 4 limits of clams we use about a cup of cornmeal and leave them for 24hours in fresh clean salt water.

[SemperFidelis97]

I will second the cornmeal idea, also try to keep them in saltwater while they are spitting they seem to hold a better flavor. 

[Buckmark]

We never have them long enough to do this, usually shore to pot quickly...
I have been told though to not put them fresh water, it kills them and can make them spoil and make you sick.
Only put them in salt water....

[Kola16]

I have always put them in a bucket of saltwater for twelve hours, and then switch out the water for another twelve hours. 95% effective. I will definitely try the cornmeal.

[DoubleJ]

You definitely want to rinse, wash, or "spit" them. Sandy clams is the worst. I let them soak in fresh clean saltwater for at least a day, usually requires one change out on the water. I have heard the cornmeal trick works awesome, never tried it though. If you have access to a dock on the saltwater, put the clams in a clam net for a day thats the best way but not usually an option for me.

Have you found a good beach yet? I read your thread about clamming/scouting for crabs, I don't mind sharing where I go for clams and oysters if you need a suggestion. Its no secret but good pickins

I got a good one.  The scouting trip was done at the saltwater property our HOA owns.  Not very good for clams.  CRAZY good for mussels though.  We do have another beach we go to for clams that's really good

[Jamieb]

I've always soaked the clams n water, in the fridge overnight. I'm going to try the corn meal in the water.

[Heredoggydoggy]

No, but I barf my oysters! 

[DoubleJ]

No, but I barf my oysters! 

I do that too   I HATE oysters

[rasbo]

hung mine off a dock and purged them and in buckets of saltwater..

[dscubame]

Cornmeal for sure.  And real men eat oysters.

[Jamieb]

Cornmeal for sure.  And real men eat oysters.

The first guy to eat a oyster must have been real frigen hungry to look at that big loogy and eat it.

[SemperFidelis97]

I am not a huge oyster fan, but they aren't bad pan fried in butter with garlic.

[Heredoggydoggy]

Put the clams in the water where you took them out of.  Any saltwater critter will die in fresh water. After they purge, tap the shell on each one.  If they don't squeeze shut, they're dead--don't eat the dead ones!

[Ripper]

I am not a huge oyster fan, but they aren't bad pan fried in butter with garlic.

What's not good fried in butter with garlic?

 


Cornmeal works great for sure.

[runamuk]

yes every time I get a stupid sandy clam I spit the damn thing out 

I dunno I dislike clams they always have sand, big ones fried on the halfshell are tolerable but steamers no frickin way......have used fresh water with corn meal, oatmeal, plain water, salt water, and I think a few other weird tricks to get them to unsand.....I always ended up with a clam with sand so I quit eating the dumb things.....besides they are mushy rubbery sqwishy and taste like chewed seaweed never did understand the whole clam cult, even after drowning in wine and butter and garlic they are still mushy, rubbery and sandy

[iRem]

Salt water all the way, never tried the cornmeal and I eat Raw Oysters from our sand bar!!

[lokidog]

You can make "saltwater" for a second rinse once you get home, 1/4 - 1/3 cup salt per gallon of water.  I used to just put them in a cooler, no need for the fridge as you can toss some ice cubes in as well.  I have had mixed results with the corn meal.  The warmer the water the more frequently it needs to be changed though as they can run out of oxygen

When I do clams now, I steam them, pop the meat out, pinch off the stomach, rinse, toss back in a bowl, add garlic and butter, microwave, and eat.  No grit at all.

[johnnyaustin44]

Salt water all the way, never tried the cornmeal and I eat Raw Oysters from our sand bar!!

for some reason I love raw oysters but not to hot on the whole cooked ones.