Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: DoubleJ on July 18, 2012, 03:35:07 PM

Title: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: DoubleJ on July 18, 2012, 03:35:07 PM: 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?
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: NW-GSP on July 18, 2012, 03:37:15 PM: 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
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: h20hunter on July 18, 2012, 03:38:04 PM: 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.
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: sirmissalot on July 18, 2012, 03:49:13 PM: 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
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: johnnyaustin44 on July 18, 2012, 04:05:06 PM: Cornmeal Is what I use. Let em sit at least one day change water twice.
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: oldcamper on July 18, 2012, 04:12:54 PM: 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? :dunno:
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: superdown on July 18, 2012, 04:20:29 PM: 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.
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: SemperFidelis97 on July 18, 2012, 04:22:36 PM: I will second the cornmeal idea, also try to keep them in saltwater while they are spitting they seem to hold a better flavor.
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: Buckmark on July 18, 2012, 04:30:04 PM: 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....
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: Kola16 on July 18, 2012, 04:35:44 PM: 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.
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: DoubleJ on July 18, 2012, 05:52:44 PM: Quote from: sirmissalot on July 18, 2012, 03:49:13 PM
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
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: Jamieb on July 18, 2012, 06:25:42 PM: I've always soaked the clams n water, in the fridge overnight. I'm going to try the corn meal in the water.
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on July 18, 2012, 06:52:03 PM: No, but I barf my oysters! :chuckle:
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: DoubleJ on July 18, 2012, 07:02:31 PM: Quote from: Heredoggydoggy on July 18, 2012, 06:52:03 PM
No, but I barf my oysters! :chuckle:

I do that too :) I HATE oysters
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: rasbo on July 18, 2012, 07:18:55 PM: hung mine off a dock and purged them and in buckets of saltwater..
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: dscubame on July 18, 2012, 07:33:24 PM: Cornmeal for sure. And real men eat oysters.
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: Jamieb on July 18, 2012, 07:49:28 PM: Quote from: dscubame on July 18, 2012, 07:33:24 PM
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.
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: SemperFidelis97 on July 18, 2012, 09:11:46 PM: I am not a huge oyster fan, but they aren't bad pan fried in butter with garlic.
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on July 18, 2012, 09:41:14 PM: 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!
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: Ripper on July 18, 2012, 09:49:35 PM: Quote
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? :dunno:

:chuckle: :chuckle:

Cornmeal works great for sure.
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: runamuk on July 18, 2012, 09:50:12 PM: yes every time I get a stupid sandy clam I spit the damn thing out :dunno:

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 :dunno:
Title: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: iRem on July 18, 2012, 09:54:38 PM: Salt water all the way, never tried the cornmeal and I eat Raw Oysters from our sand bar!!
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: lokidog on July 18, 2012, 10:14:46 PM: 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.
Title: Re: do you "spit" your clams?
Post by: johnnyaustin44 on July 19, 2012, 04:08:13 PM: Quote from: iRem on July 18, 2012, 09:54:38 PM
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. :dunno: