What kind of clams do you use for steamers?
7 min read
Asked by: Sarah Paknikar
In the United States, steamed clams are usually made with small soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria) called steamers, and sometimes with other shellfish harvested and served along the East Coast and in New England.
Which clams are best for steaming?
Steamers, littlenecks, and cherrystones are the best clams for steaming. There are two basic types of clams to choose from: soft and hard. Soft-shell clams—a misnomer because their shells aren’t soft at all—have a small necklike siphon sticking out between their shells. They’re also known as steamers.
What is a steamer clams called?
Also called soft-shell, Ipswich, or Essex clams, the species Mya arenaria is mainly found in New England, where clams live buried in the sediment on tidal flats.
What kind of clams are New England steamers?
Also called “steamer clams” or “long-neck clams,” soft-shell clams are oval in shape with an often protruding dark neck, or siphon. Small and tender, soft-shell clams are what we use for frying, but they’re also (as the name implies) fantastic steamed or in chowder.
What’s the difference between Little Neck clams and steamers?
steamers. You might be wondering about the difference between littlenecks and steamers. While littlenecks have a hard shell, steamers have a soft shell. And soft-shell clams are often referred to as “steamers” or “fryers” because they’re never eaten raw.
What is the difference between top neck and little neck clams?
Little Neck: The smallest size of clam, amounting to 7-10 clams per pound. Cherry Stone: A little larger, you’ll get 6-10 cherry stone clams per pound. Top Neck: These are sometimes also labeled as count neck clams, and they equal roughly 4 clams per pound.
What are the best clams?
A Buyer’s Guide to the 7 Clams Everyone Should Know
- CHOWDER. (Mercenaria mercenaria) …
- STEAMER. (Mya arenaria) …
- CHERRYSTONE. (Mercenaria mercenaria) …
- NEW ZEALAND COCKLE. (Austrovenus stutchburyi) …
- RAZOR. (Ensis directus) …
- MANILA. (Ruditapes philippinarum)
What are different types of clams?
Below, he breaks down the seven major clam species that grow in the United States.
- Atlantic Hard-Shell Clams (Mercenaria mercenaria)
- Soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria)
- Manila clams (Venerupis philippinarum)
- Surf clams (Spisula solida)
- Pacific razor clams (Siliqua patula)
- Atlantic Jackknife clam (Ensis leei)
What clams are not edible?
Unlike crabs, you won’t be able to eat the entirety of a soft shell clam. The clamshell is thinner and more brittle than its hard shell cousins, but not edible. Shell colors are typically shades of white and gray, with a chalky appearance.
Do you eat the black part of steamers?
Holding the clam by its black “neck,” dip it several times in the clam broth. The “broth” is strictly for dipping, by the way, not for sipping. The dipping washes sand off the clam and imparts the tang of the sea. Dip the clam in the melted butter and pop the whole thing in your mouth.
What is the difference between steamers and steamed clams?
In the United States, steamed clams are usually made with small soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria) called steamers, and sometimes with other shellfish harvested and served along the East Coast and in New England. Hard shell clams, sometimes known as quahogs, can also be steamed.
What is the sweetest clam?
Also known by its Japanese name, asari, this is what many on the West Coast know as a steamer clam, and is one of the most widely cultivated clams in the world. Unlike East Coast steamers, though, these are hard-shell clams, perhaps the smallest and sweetest you’ll find on a table in the US.
Are softshell clams good?
They are a good option for clammers wanting to explore upriver in less saline areas. Features: Unlike gaper clams, softshell clams have no gape on their neck end.
What is the difference between Little Neck clams and cherrystone clams?
If you order littleneck or cherrystone clams in a restaurant, you’re eating the same species. The difference between the two is simply a matter of size. Mercenaria mercenaria, the hard shell clam, also is known as the quahog. Native Americans used the shells as wampum.
How do softshell clams avoid being eaten?
This byssal thread keeps them from being swept away by waves. Once mature, the foot reduces in size, and each animal releases from the substrate to burrow into the sediment where it will remain for life. The moon snail is the primary predator of the soft-shelled clam.
What’s the difference between ocean clams and sea clams?
Both sea and ocean clams are considered high-quality products, but Simmons likened their difference to white and dark meat chicken. Sea clams, he says, “are light, tender and sweet or mild,” while their ocean counterpart “is darker, firmer and has a more robust flavor.”
Can you eat clams from the beach?
No it is not safe to collect shellfish especially bivalves (mussels, oysters, clams, razor etc) from the seashore to take home and eat.
What makes steamed clams tough?
Overcooking clams will make them tough and rubbery so the sooner you can get them out the better. Just put them in a bowl to catch any liquid that might run out of them. “Use a small knife to open any clams that may have remained closed; as long as they were alive to begin with, they are perfectly safe.”
What are littleneck clams?
Littleneck clams, Leukoma staminea, also known as “rock cockle” or “bay cockle”, are a widespread mollusk harvested by commercial and sport/personal fisheries. They are found along the Aleutian Islands, throughout parts of Alaska, south to Cape San Lucas, and Baja California.
Do you soak little neck clams?
Add the washed clams in salt water and soak the clams in the refrigerator for a minimum of 20 minutes or up to 2 hours. Soaking in salt water helps to draw out the sand.
Why is it called Little Neck clams?
Little Necks: The name “little neck” comes from Little Neck Bay Long Island. Little Neck is the smallest and most expensive Eastern hard shell, averaging about 10 to 12 clams per pound. Little necks are best served on the half-shell (raw) because they are the most tender and have the sweetest flavor.
How much is a bushel of little neck clams?
If you are buying littlenecks, there are approximately 400 clams per bushel. If you are buying topnecks, there are approximately 200 clams per bushel. If you are buying cherrystones, there will be 150 clams per bushel. If you are buying chowders, there are 100 clams in a bushel.
How many steamers are in a pound?
As soft-shell clam size varies from 2 inches in length or greater, a good estimate is generally 12-15 clams per pound.
How much is a pound of steamers?
LIVE Clam Prices
| LIVE Clams | Quantity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Steamers (Ipswich) Clams | 1 to 4 pounds | $6.99/pound |
| Maine Steamers (Ipswich) Clams | 5+ pounds | $6.79/pound |
| Wild Maine Mussels | per pound | $2.99/pound |
| Rhode Island Wild Oysters | each | $1.49 each |
Why are steamers so expensive?
Changes In the Steamer Market
The steamer market is a textbook example of Economics 101 — prices go up because demand outpaces supply, and this season, it was no different. However, a number of key market changes put more pressure on supply than usual, which drove prices abnormally higher than expected.
Can you eat steamer clams raw?
The two most popular types of clam to eat are steamed soft-shell clams (otherwise called “steamers”) and hard-shell clams eaten raw.
How are steamer clams harvested?
Dry digging, the more commonly used technique, is pretty basic, and almost prehistoric. A short-handled rake is a good way to start out, but if you don’t have one, you can simply use your hands to gather these shellfish.
