Steamers

[Gobble Doc]

Do many of you guys go get steamers?  I did a few times back in the 80's but that was a long time ago.  I remember it being fairly easy.  Anyone having some for Christmas? 

[lokidog]

Picked a half bucket full last weekend when Fishstiq visited.

[Gobble Doc]

lokidog,

Do you leave them a couple hours in some salt water or something to try to get the grit out before steaming? 

[lokidog]

Yes, some peope will also put cornmeal in there to help push the grit through.  If you don't have fresh salt water available, put about 1/3 cup of salt per gallon of fresh water on them.  Be sure to keep them cool so they don't use all the oxygen quickly.  Some ice cubes will help keep it cool as well. 

Not sure how long it takes for them to clear, overnight is prabably good.

[npaull]

My Dad and I get them all the time. For some reason the softshells (called steamers on the east coast) are not as popular out here as the manilas/littlenecks, but they are absolutely delicious none the less. Usually let them sit in a bucket for a few hours at least if not overnight, or as lokidog said some cornmeal can also work well, but I think if you just let em sit in water it's unnecessary.

[lokidog]

Those soft shells with the little curved tip on the shell taste good but they seem a lot grittier than the manillas.

[Gobble Doc]

Thanks.  I think we will end up with Manillas.  I'll try to let them sit overnight in the cold with some fresh saltwater.  If we get some sand I'll just consider it fiber.

[npaull]

I agree w/ you lokidog, they are grittier, I usually will eat manilas same day but I think softshells benefit from at least a night in the water.

[pjb3]

U guys get your own or buy them?

[WSU]

I do it pretty often.  Fun time at the beach with the dogs and get to have a delicious meal.  I let them sit overnight in cornmeal and salt water.  I've tried to rush it, but prefer not to chew sand.

[lokidog]

U guys get your own or buy them?

Dig'em.   

[Fishstiq]

lokidog,

Do you leave them a couple hours in some salt water or something to try to get the grit out before steaming?

Just saw this or I would have chimed in earlier...  I LOVE those little bastar...uh, guys!  I leave them in salt water, preferably sea water, for 24 hours.  They will be lethargic by then, but still alive and well as long as you keep them cool.  Ideally, at the 12ish hour mark, I'll change out the water.  It's amazing how much sand comes out of them after the water change.  I've never tried the cornmeal, and I've never had an issue with sand.  I froze about 2/3rds of what Lokidog sent me home with, and the others I got to eat fresh in a linguine pasta with crushed red pepper and a white wine sauce that April made me.  The rest I'll put in a chowder sometime.  Love 'em!!

[RifleRidge]

 ,  Love em, rake em, steam em...

Oregon Beaches are easy to rake and not much time to get your limits.

Long Beach, WA really difficult to find public areas for steamers, as the bay is locked up to private owners.

Would love to know where to rake them up in the Long Beach area....

[kisfish]

Over night in salt water and a water change is the only way to go. I have never used corn meal. I dug a bunch two days ago and had them for dinner tonight with razor clam fritters, fresh crab on sour dough bread with tillamook cheese baked in the oven. Very tasty

[PolarBear]

I dug them commercially for years.  Still have some of my beaches.  Can't stand to eat them.  Forget cornmeal, just wash them off real well, hang them in a mesh (clam or onion sack) in moving saltwater for 2-3 days, agitate them at least once or twice per day and all of the grit will be gone.   When I sold to restaurants and supermarkets I let them "spit" for at least 4 day to ensure that they were purged and clean. You can do it in a 5 gallon bucket of salt water but you really need to change it out every day and keep it cool or they will get mankey!  I use to freeze blocks of salt water and float them on top of the buckets to keep em cool.