Clam storing question

[duckmen1]

Went clam digging yesterday. Did well and got limits. As soon as they were dug put them on ice. For the remainder of day and night. As they were on ice,they started opening up. Is this normal. The meat feels firm and smells good but thoughts they were supposed to stay closed until after cooking opens them up. Thanks for any help

[CP]

That’s normal for iced clams, they are still good to eat and probably still alive.  I like to keep them in salt water for 12-24 hours so they can “spit” out any sand that might be in them.

[duckmen1]

Cool thanks. As far as storing them in saltwater I didn't bring any home with me for storing in so would making a saltwater solution work or putting in freshwater with cornbread.

[h20hunter]

Anyone ever put them in a bucket of clean saltwater with a healthy dose of cornmeal? I always heard that was a good way to cleam 'em out.

[superdown]

Anyone ever put them in a bucket of clean saltwater with a healthy dose of cornmeal? I always heard that was a good way to cleam 'em out.

That's what we have always done but use a bowl upside down in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket and start with the largest ones in the bottom and end with the small ones up top. Leave them like that over night in a cool place and you end up with a real nice ring of sand in the bottom of the bucket we add corn meal a couple of times over the course of the night.

[pianoman9701]

clams and mussels "relax". When you gently agitate them, they should close again.

[CP]

I’ve found cornmeal just makes a mess, clean saltwater from where you found them is best but since you don’t have any just keep them cool until you cook them.

[duckmen1]

The other question is with these clams do I need to clean them similar like I would razors or can you steam them whole and eat the whole clam like at a restaurant. Some are small some are quite large.

And when doing the cornmeal trick to get sand out if I don't have saltwater what's the best way?

Also if you don't want to cook for a week or two until family get together or something can you freeze prior to cooking.

This is a big help in teaching me and others ways of clam prepping
Thanks

[duckmen1]

The other thing is the ice started to melt over night and the clams were a bit submerged in water. Like I said they smell good so think these are good to go. I just don't know weather to clean them first or steam whole

[pianoman9701]

Make seawater by adding 1.25 ounces of sea salt to 1 liter of distilled or spring water. Take a cup of the water out and heat it in the microwave to dissolve the salt in it fast. Make sure the rest is cold.

[duckmen1]

Sounds good. Does anybody steam them whole?

[pianoman9701]

Sounds good. Does anybody steam them whole?

I do.  I also eat them raw.

[duckmen1]

I'll give it a shot and see how it goes.

[DoubleJ]

Cornmeal is not needed, just clean salt water

Fresh water will kill them.  Do not put them in fresh water

steam and eat.  Throw out any that don't open with a steaming

[magnanimous_j]

Went clam digging yesterday. Did well and got limits. As soon as they were dug put them on ice. For the remainder of day and night. As they were on ice,they started opening up. Is this normal. The meat feels firm and smells good but thoughts they were supposed to stay closed until after cooking opens them up. Thanks for any help

It's normal. Give the open ones a couple of taps and they should close up within a minute or two. Throw them out if they don't.

[superdown]

Some people may not find the cornmeal necessary but we like it. We find that the clams purge most of the green stuff out there stomachs and it becomes almost like a little bite of bread and you will notice a lot cleaner clams using it than if you don't. we have done cornmeal fed clams versus just water purged clams and there is enough of a difference that my whole family notices if it's not done.

[Igottanewknee]

Cornmeal is not needed, just clean salt water

Fresh water will kill them.  Do not put them in fresh water

steam and eat.  Throw out any that don't open with a steaming

If you got a old fridge, put them in there in salt water to get another day out of them.

[DoubleJ]

Cornmeal is not needed, just clean salt water

Fresh water will kill them.  Do not put them in fresh water

steam and eat.  Throw out any that don't open with a steaming

If you got a old fridge, put them in there in salt water to get another day out of them.

If you have a fridge, a bucket of clean Puget Sound water, and an air compressor that you can airate the water with for about 2 minutes twice a day, you can keep them upwards of 7 days.  I've done it a couple of times when I was taking them back east for friends or family and couldn't dig them fresh the day I was leaving.  After 7 days, almost 100% were still alive upon arrival in Eastern Washington.

[Fl0und3rz]

You've killed them.  You must deliver them to me, so I can give them a proper "burial."

[Bean Counter]

....
steam and eat.  Throw out any that don't open with a steaming

Why do you say this?

[scottcrb]

if they dont open after steaming they were already dead and could be bad. shellfish poisoning is no bueno

[DP]

We take clams off our beach on Hood Canal regularly. Bring them back in 5 gallon buckets, or cooler with salt water. We never bother with adding anything to the water to get them to purge. Never had a problem with sand. One thing I do to get several days, if not a week out of them, is to take some of the salt water out and freeze it. Big blocks that last several hours. Keep rotating in fresh ice. They stay real happy. Works the same just putting them in the fridge, but there isn't always room. As far as cooking them, we don't cook them in water. Just throw them in a pan, add anything you want for flavor, be it shallots, garlic, splash of white wine. They have plenty of liquid in them. Cook until all are open. Melted butter with a touch of cayenne pepper for heat.