Let them soak in a large bowl or bucket of salted water for 30 to 60 minutes to expel any extra sand, then rinse again. Clams are filter feeders and can actually improve the quality of the water in which they live. If … Raw or Cooked Raw or cooked, clams that sit out for two hours or more in temperatures … If you’re digging clams yourself (or buying from a small purveyor who may not clean them for you), soak them in a bowl of ocean water or cool, salted water for about 30 minutes. Clear a space at the back of your refrigerator where the temperature is around 36 degrees Fahrenheit. look them over to make sure the shells are closed. If you do purchase them several hours in advance, they should be kept cool and moist on ice or in the refrigerator. Add a bit of liquid to get things started, but just a splash. Read more about how to store and handle clams here.) Simple spaghetti and clams is perfect for beginners (and don’t be surprised if the kids like it, too). 4. Keep in mind, though, that many popular preparations of clams, from creamy chowders to clams with melted butter, mean added saturated fat and calories. Keep cooked clams in fridge 3 to 4 days. Throw out any that you don’t use within 1-2 days. I almost always cook my clams the day I buy them, when they’re at their absolute freshest. How to Cook Clams. Don’t add fresh water to the dish, as this will kill them. Wondering about the difference between littleneck clams and steamer clams? If they close up, they’re good to go. When you're ready to cook your clams give them a good rinse, paying special attention to their hinges-this is where grit will accumulate. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. How to properly store fresh mussels and clams Buying fresh shellfish means you intend to eat the produce within 1-2 days of purchasing it. Step 1 Thaw the clams in the refrigerator. Clams can be gritty creatures, full of the sand they filter for their food. Please review the Comment Policy. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Cover the grill grate with aluminum foil and pierce the foil with … We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Cooking frozen clams requires a few steps to ensure that the frozen seafood is thawed properly and prepared in a safe, healthy way. She is a writer, registered dietitian, and author of three cookbooks: PREP: The Essential College Cookbook, Rise & Shine: Better Breakfasts for Busy Mornings and Best Lunch Box Ever, which was nominated for an IACP award. Once you’ve got your clams in the kitchen, the options for how to cook them are endless. The golden rule is to eat your fresh shellfish on the day of purchasing and store it on a bed of ice on your way from the fish store to your kitchen. When stored in ideal conditions, steamer clams will stay fresh for about a week to 10 days. Soft-shell clams have a long neck, so they may not close completely. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Tap any open ones on the counter. Though fresh and live clams are best for cooking, freezing is a good way to preserve it. Refrigerate cooked clams in covered airtight containers. Fresh clams are alive, or at least they should be when you pick them up at the market. Conventional oven: from frozen, remove clams from packaging and place on a sheet pan. That said, with careful storage, you can refrigerate fresh clams for 24 hours (many sources say up to 48 hours, but I rarely hold them longer than a day).. To store, I like to transfer the clams from their bag to a mesh colander. If you aren’t cooking your clams right away, put them in a bowl covered with a wet towel in the fridge. Once a clam is fully cooked, the shell will open up wide, and you’ll want to remove it from the heat source as soon as possible after opening to avoid developing that dreaded rubbery texture. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b7\/Store-Clams-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Store-Clams-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b7\/Store-Clams-Step-1.jpg\/aid10361293-v4-728px-Store-Clams-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"