Add them to the heat at the last minute and cook gently over low heat. Hand packed in natural clam juice, water and salt, maintaining the sweet, briny flavor and tender, buttery texture of fresh clams. When keeping Freshwater Clams, it’s very important to be on the lookout for anything that suggests something is amiss. I can simmer the sauce as long as I want and use chopped and whole canned baby clams with good results. Aquarium water also needs to be well oxygenated, and moving at a moderate and continuous pace. Chicken of the Sea has over 90 years of experience in the … It's really not as difficult as it sounds. Once the clams grow to fingernail size they’re shipped to the growing areas - in this case, Willapa Bay, Washington. The bio-load processing capacity of small tanks are pretty limited and the margin for error is thin. On one level this may be true, but Freshwater Clams also add to the bio-load of a tank like other living organisms. And have extra crusty bread ready to soak up the delicious broth. Nutrition Facts. Fresh clams can be kept in the refrigerator for 2-3 days if you do it properly. Product Stats. A dead clam will have an unmistakable repugnant odor. But, you could certainly use fresh baby clams and clam juice. Oysters Clams Mussels Crab. If not removed quickly, their decomposing bodies can cause serious water quality issues including foul smells, milky-white cloudy water, ammonia spikes and death to tank mates. Buy live clams for wholesale. The smallest clams are the most desirable for eating raw. Properly-handled fresh live clams will last two days in the refrigerator under optimum conditions. Do not overcook clams or the meat will be like eating shoe leather. With aquarium pH, some hobbyists suggest that lower aquarium pH in the upper 6’s may also be acceptable to Freshwater Clams. Our clams are then prepared and packaged in Indonesia under the highest quality standards. You'll want to know how to prepare fresh clams, discover the secrets to shucking them, and learn how to properly cook these mollusks, so they don't end up tasting like shoe leather. Keeping Freshwater Clams can be easy in many ways. Cook only until the clams are heated through; do not boil. As with most types of seafood, it's important that you know some basic facts about clams and the many varieties of clams to choose from. Among the different kinds of canned clams, I really prefer … Cleaning Fresh Clams The first step is to clean your clams. A 29 gallon aquarium may be a safer choice for one clam. Bring clams and 4 cups water to a boil in a large pot over high heat. Cooking clams can be tricky, but it's quick and not a difficult task. Tridacna derasa clams are the best beginner options, as they are hearty and can handle a variety of changing conditions. Eating grains of sand will certainly diminish your dining enjoyment. These tasty and tender clams are great for classic chowder and pasta dishes. Shell Size, Texture & Color: Freshwater Clam shells can be between one and two inches in size. The first step is to clean your clams. In some cases the clams may be a larger. Make tasty clam dips or classic clam chowder with these Snow's chopped ocean clams! Freshwater Clam shells may also have areas that appear to be chalky-white. This is another reason why keeping Freshwater Clams in larger tanks may be a safer bet than small tanks. Fried clam fritters (also known as fannie daddies and boat-steerers) and clams casino with tempting ingredients like bacon, butter, and red bell pepper are two more American favorites. As the clams warm up, the muscles relax, and the shells will open slightly so you can get your clam knife inside. Hobbyists may see Freshwater Clams, like Asian Gold Clams, available as pets in stores.Some hobbyists think Freshwater Clams are easy to care for and are interesting pets to keep. Freshwater Clams like tanks that are not “too clean”. Others try to keep aquarium pH above 7. You can ground the skin and add it to chowder or creamed clam dishes. By continuing to use our site you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy. Under the right circumstances and in the best conditions, Freshwater Clam care can be as simple as placing the clam upright on the substrate. Fresh Clams Fresh Clams: Littleneck clams are the smallest and most flavorful hard shell clams available. Maybe it’s due to the shift in water parameters between the display tank and the home tank, the stress of being transported, hunger or other factors. Chicken of the Sea Whole Baby Clams. Freshwater Clams should have their shells closed or slightly open. Serving size: 142g. There needs to be enough water in the tank to hold sufficient edible matter to support the clam’s nutritional needs. Deep Frying Shuck the clams. For example, waters affected by red tide are usually at higher risk for carrying this deadly toxin. Note regarding overstocking: Its important to be mindful that keeping Freshwater Clams is like keeping other inhabitants in a tank. Water Temperature: 70 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit; slightly cooler possible Slit the skin lengthwise and remove it. As mentioned above, soft shell clams won’t close completely, but when you give the shell a tap, the neck of the clam should retract to some degree. When selecting Freshwater Clams look for specimens resting on the tank bottom. In most cases, feeding a Freshwater Clam naturally occurring edible material is not enough. Cook until clams just open, 8 … This is a potentially fatal marine biotoxin (one clam is all it takes) that is present on both coasts of the United States. By lola. Amount per serving % Daily Value * Calories: Our site uses cookies. Add … Also, you need to know how to select the best clams and properly store them at home. Other hobbyists think keeping Freshwater Clams is a big mistake, as they can be challenging to keep alive and can quickly cause problems in a tank. Add in white wine, lemon juice, and 1 cup of reserved liquid from the canned clams. They may slowly burrow into the substrate until they are nearly covered, leaving only the slightest glimpse of their shell and siphon visible. Freshwater Clam shell color can range from dark brown to light brown or tan. This is important to keeping this a quick meal. Keep in mind that clams may be substituted in most oyster, scallop, and mussel recipes, and vice versa. A larger type of Freshwater Clam is the Asian Gold Clam. Freshwater Clams make good tank mates with other calm choices like Amano Shrimp, Red Cherry Shrimp, Ghost Shrimp, Bamboo Shrimp and Vampire Shrimp. I knew I’d be using them the next day, so I just placed this bag inside of … Calcium is important too. MW Polar Seafood Whole Baby Clams. Steamed clams are cooked together with wine wine, garlic, a touch of butter and loads of fresh herbs. How to Measure Clams and Other Bivalves for Cooking, Clam Measures, Equivalents, Weights and Substitutions, Pasta With Mixed Seafood (Pasta alla Posillipo), The 7 Best Oyster Delivery Services of 2021. You’ll find fresh clams on ice in the seafood case, either in breathable bags (mesh/perforated) or loose. Bumble Bee Snow's Chopped Clams in Clam Juice, 6.5 oz 4.7 out of 5 stars 367 Chicken of the Sea Whole Baby Clams, 10oz Cans (Pack of 12) – Gluten Free, High in Omega 3 Fatty Acids & Protein Scrub the outside of the clams thoroughly with a stiff brush. So make sure the substrate is fine enough and deep enough to allow the clam to bury itself. Freshwater Clams spend their time resting on the tank bottom. If the clams are still in their shells, remove them before frying them. And it’s not uncommon for Freshwater Clam shells to be covered with small patches of green algae. Use common sense and test tank water for ammonia levels often. Freshwater Clams need calcium for healthy shell growth, so it may be worth testing water for Calcium and supplement as necessary. This tells you that the clam was not alive and that it may be contaminated with bacteria or toxins (this also applies to oysters and mussels). Cons: Freshwater Clams can die soon after being placed in a tank. You may also want to remove the tough skin covering the neck of longneck clams. These came in a plastic bag, which I was told needed to be left open at the top before placing them in the refrigerator. If you are going to eat unshucked clams raw, be sure to serve them cold, so the shells are easier to open. Available Sizes: 10 oz. Grilled Seafood Paella. Resources. In large pot over high heat, bring 4 quarts of water and 2 tablespoons of kosher salt to a boil. The result: clean, delicious clam meat. Paella. Adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup of cornmeal helps expel the dark matter and sand from the clams' stomachs and can also whiten the meat. Freshwater Clams are filter feeders subsisting on a diet of tiny bits of floating edible matter in the water column. Freshwater Clams do not live very long if the environment and habitat are not able to meeting their needs. Also, be cautious with plant fertilizers. The longer the clams are on heat, the tougher the meat will become. If the shell does not open after cooking, discard the clam. Once the clams are scrubbed, it takes less than 15 … Keep in mind it’s important to avoid overfeeding as access organic matter in aquarium water will lead to water quality issues. Signature clam dishes include New England clam chowder and Manhattan clam chowder. Either steamed mussels or steamed clams… Once your clams are cleaned, you're ready to eat or cook them. Then, remove the clams from the freezer and let them sit for a few minutes before trying to pry open the shells. Serve with fresh lemons, Bloody Mary's, cold beer, crusty bread, and plenty of napkins. If you plan to shuck the clams yourself, the shells will be easier to open if you freeze them for 15 to 20 minutes. The bags will usually have a harvest tag attached, with location, date, and … Whole clams have finished cooking when the shell opens. Since clams naturally burrow in the sand, they need to be purged of grit. Her recipes range from Grandma’s favorites to the latest food trends. After you’ve chosen the perfect bag of mollusks, it’s best to keep the clams in a cold environment while transporting and storing them, and to cook them as soon as possible. If you enjoy digging for your own clams, make sure that you know how to avoid paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). A recipe of Italian-American heritage is clams posillipo in which clams and other seafood are cooked with garlic, red peppers, tomatoes, and seasoning. You'll want to understand how to adjust recipes and brush up on clam measurements, equivalents, and substitutions. Larger clam shells can be boiled and scrubbed to use as unique serving bowls. Aquarium water needs to have plenty of very tiny debris, detritus and decaying matter floating in it. Oysterology Farms. These are perfect recipes for those large clams you did not want to eat raw and great comfort food on colder nights. Gently lift the clam from the tank with a net for inspection. Freshwater Clams can die while buried and hobbyists may not notice until the tank water becomes extremely troubled and ammonia levels spike through the roof. If there is a suspicion the Freshwater Clam is dead, it’s important to remove it from the tank right away. Steam or grill clams in the shell to ensure the muscle is cooked safely. tub Phillips Gourmet Baby Clams are wild harvested from the warm seas of Southeast Asia, freshly hand-shucked, then pasteurized under the strictest quality control. The clam juice or liquor that you saved while shucking can be poured on top of the open clams. So extrapolating from the fact that frozen vegetables taste closer to fresh and produce better results than canned vegetables, I figured frozen clams would work better than canned. To this end, keeping Freshwater Clams in moderately or heavily planted tanks is a good idea. It may be necessary to supplement a clam’s diet with very finely ground Calcium enriched pellets or tablets, fish flakes or algae wafers. If you’re using a charcoal grill, you’ll want to actively … Some hobbyists think Freshwater Clams are easy to care for and are interesting pets to keep. 8 oz. Keeping Freshwater Clams with most community tank fish like Corys and Otocinclus Catfish can also work well. Clams are a delicious form of seafood, but cooking them at home can be a little intimidating at first. The small size of our clams make it perfect for pasta sauce and chowders First, check for any bad apples—er, clams. Other hobbyists think keeping Freshwater Clams is a big mistake, as they can be challenging to keep alive and can quickly cause problems in a tank. Get daily tips and expert advice to help you take your cooking skills to the next level. For hobbyists interested in keeping Freshwater Clams, here are a few things to keep in mind: Pros: Freshwater Clams are peaceful, friendly and non-aggressive filter feeders. When you're in the mood for a seafood stew, try cioppino, which originated in San Francisco. The larger the clams are, the tougher the meat will be. Cook your linguine according to package instructions. Our Baby clams are also called “Yellow Clams”, species scientific name “Paphia Undulata”. … Products. Either way, it’s something to be aware of. The canned clams are affordable, easy to find, and easy to just add right to the chowder -- no prep work necessary. Best clams for pasta: Like every clam I eat, I like the small clams the best, preferably New Zealand cockles, Manila clams, or little neck clams. Freshwater Clams may be sensitive to some of their ingredients. Clams are a very healthy food, and can be prepared in a variety of ways such as soups, stews or casseroles. New hobbyists may think that because Freshwater Clams are “filter feeders” they will make water “cleaner” overall. If the Freshwater Clam shell is open more than a bit, or the inner tissues cannot be seen, the Freshwater Clam may be unhealthy, dying or dead. Another important Freshwater Clam care issue relates to aquarium size and the amount of water it holds. But if circumstances and conditions are not right, Freshwater Clam care can be difficult. Saltwater clams go by the names T. (Tridacna) maxima, T. crocea, T. squamosa and T. derasa. They are salty and slightly chewy and are the clam of choice for most clam recipes. While the water is coming to a boil prep everything else. Telltale signs of trouble include: the clam shell opening wide, sudden ammonia spikes, deaths of tank mates, and tank water getting cloudy or developing a foul smell. Stuffed Clams With Bacon. Blog Library Oyster 101. Whether you're going for an all-out Paella or a scaled down version, you … Lighting: Standard community tank lighting. They’re sweeter than larger varieties. Freshwater Clams do best in established tanks with stable water parameters, and they seem to like water within the tropical fish range: Aquarium pH: 7.0 – 8.0; slightly lower is possible beer, garlic cloves, coriander, clams, salt, coconut milk, pepper and 3 more. Here they’re planted by sprinkling them over net panels on an incoming tide so that the baby clams then work their way through the mesh of the net into the sand where they’re then protected from predators such as crabs and ducks as they grow. That said, one of the issues with Freshwater Clams is that a quick death is possible. They are wild caught in the Eastern Indian and Western Central Pacific oceans. If you are making white clam chowder, to get tender clams, soak the clams in milk or cream (whichever is specified in the recipe) and add them last along with the cream. If the water current is adequate, Freshwater Clams will be better able to filter enough edible material to stay healthy. Peggy Trowbridge Filippone is a writer who develops approachable recipes for home cooks. Since clams naturally burrow in the sand, they need to be purged of grit. We carry many varieties of hard shell, soft shell, and seasonal clams including quahogs, steamers, razors, and more. If the water current is inadequate, Freshwater Clams may be unable to filter enough edible matter to survive, even if the water holds a lot of food. A Freshwater Clam’s inner tissues should be white or off-white with hints of light beige and pink. If slightly open, the clam’s inner tissues should be visible to the eye. Live aquarium plants continuously shed edible plant matter into the water column. Clams, such as Manila or baby clams, taste great cooked in oyster sauce, and make a great Filipino appetizer. Measuring from one to two inches across, the littleneck is the smallest quahog. Remember to shuck over a bowl to save all that wonderful juice—the clam liquor. Water on the acidic side may not be best for the clam’s shell over the long term. Scrub the outside of the clams thoroughly with a stiff brush. Enjoy in the summertime or pull this recipe out on Christmas and take time to relax with the family. Clams are best in well-established aquariums that have had several weeks or months to cycle. how to select the best clams and properly store them. Freshwater Clams can also do well with snails such as Nerite Snails, Mystery Snails, Gold Inca Snails, Ivory Snails, Trumpet Snails, Japanese Trapdoor Snails, Rabbit Snails and Red Ramshorn Snails. Their filter feeding helps remove debris from tank water, and they are great conversation starters. Ammonia and Nitrites should be 0 ppm, and Nitrate levels should be kept in check with regular partial water changes. Also look for shells that are free from cracks, splits, pits and other deformities. Getting the clams cooked and out of the shell can intimidate those unfamiliar with cooking this shellfish. Serve fried and crispy, paired with mussels, or make a traditional Mediterranean clam salad with onion, peppers, olives, and feta cheese. Product Description. This should open up a great variety of cooking options with your new found knowledge of preparing clams. As these supplements dissolve, a Freshwater Clam will begin filter feeding them out. There’s a short handful of meals I’ll ask for on big celebratory dinner nights. While commercially sold clams and seafood are inspected, you need to take proper safety precautions before clamming on your own—the best advice is to check with your local marine fishery government agency. Shucked Shellfish Specialty Shellfish Oyster Knives. Clam shells often have black stripes or other subtle designs. Let the clams sit in the water for several hours. Like chowder and cherrystone Fresh Ideas Whole Baby Clams. The source of this “floating food” can be naturally occurring and from supplements. Learn all you need to know about cooking fresh clams and check out some popular clam dish recipes. Fresh clams are eaten as appetizers on their own or as part of other seafood dishes. Be sure to check with the store clerk before adding any plant fertilizers and medications to a tank when keeping Freshwater Clams. How to Clean Clams. Hobbyists may see Freshwater Clams, like Asian Gold Clams, available as pets in stores. And while you can make surely it with canned clams, fresh baby clams … Therefore, its important to avoid overstocking. Look for Freshwater Clam shells that appear thick with a ridged texture on the exterior. Many people prefer to squeeze fresh lemon juice, a dash of Tabasco sauce, cocktail sauce, and horseradish as additional condiments. Tap the top shell of any open clams, and if any of them don’t close themselves back up, discard them, as they’re dead. Some suggest one Freshwater Clam can be kept in small tanks like a 10 gallon aquarium. It’s a good idea to keep Freshwater Clams in spots where tank water is really moving, like under a power filter return. When purchasing clams from your local fishmonger or grocery store, look for clams that smell fresh, not fishy, and show minimal signs of cracks, damage, or open shells. Small tanks may suffice, but in general, the bigger the tank the better. Sauté the onion and garlic in oil. To make sophisticated "deviled" stuffed clams as an … To remove the sand before cooking, cover the clams with a saltwater solution of 1/3 cup salt to 1 gallon of water. With a little luck, a Freshwater Clam can live 6 months or more. Combine four pounds of clams, a little butter and thyme, and a pint of beer or water to make enough for a party. Of course, if you do have access to fresh clams that you'd like to use, they … A healthy Freshwater Clam will likely slam shut if touched with a net, so look for slight shell movements before selecting. Take care to avoid medications with copper, as copper can be fatal to Freshwater Clams even in very small amounts. This does not mean that the tank cannot be “aesthetically clean”, it simply means that aquarium water needs to contain sufficient levels of edible matter for the clam to eat.