Are little neck clams and steamer clams the same?
The same holds true with littleneck clams, also known as steamer clams. When shoppers are choosing clams to eat, they should look for medium sized to small specimens, rather than going for the biggest clams they see. Clams should be alive at the time of purchase; this means that that their shells will snap shut when tapped.
How many little neck clams come in a bushel?
Little necks, the smallest hard shell clam also known as having the sweetest taste, usually have around 10 to 12 clams in a pound. Clams are generally sold in bushels, which vary in size depending on what kind of clam you are purchasing. Our guide shows how many clams you'll need per person (by pound or bushel) and purchasing the right amount!
What does littleneck clam mean?
Littleneck clams. Littleneck clams are members of the Veneridae family, a large family of mollusks that includes many commercially valuable species. “Littleneck” is not a taxonomic classification, and people use it in varying ways in different parts of the world to refer to several different clam species.
What is the shelf life of canned clams?
To maximize the shelf life of canned clams after opening, refrigerate in covered glass or plastic container. How long do opened canned clams last in the refrigerator? Canned clams that have been continuously refrigerated will keep for about 3 to 4 days.
How do you eat long neck clams?
Use your fingers to pull off the skin covering the siphon of the clam. Discard with the shells into the shell bowl. Grip the siphon with your fingers, swirl the clam around in the hot broth (it will help to warm up the clams and to dislodge any remaining grit or sand). Dip the clam into melted butter and eat!
What are those long clams called?
Razor, Atlantic Jackknife, and Bamboo Sometimes also called razor clams like those that grow on the West Coast of North America, Atlantic jackknife clams (Ensis directus) are long and skinny and burrow vertically into intertidal beach areas.
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 is the best clam for eating?
Cherrystone. Best Use: Grilled, stuffed and broiled, or served raw on the half-shell. Some consider topneck clams to be a size between littleneck and cherrystone, but the coveted cherrystone is more popular.
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)More items...•
Is a quahog a clam?
The hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria), also known as the round clam, hard-shell (or hard-shelled) clam, or the quahog, is an edible marine bivalve mollusk that is native to the eastern shores of North America and Central America from Prince Edward Island to the Yucatán Peninsula.
What are the best clams to eat raw?
The clam, sometimes seen as a poor cousin to the oyster, can also be enjoyed both raw and cooked. Best raw are tiny littlenecks or mid-sized cherrystones. Others, like quahogs or mahogany, are too chewy to be eaten raw, but are perfect for chowders and other cooked preparations.
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.
What is the sweetest clam?
Little necksLittle 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.
What type of clams are served in restaurants?
Types of ClamsLittleneck Clams. Littleneck clams are named after the beautiful Little Neck Bay on Long Island and are the smallest and most tender type of clam. ... Middleneck Clams. ... Topneck Clams. ... Cherrystone Clams. ... Quahogs.
What type of clams are steamers?
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 clams have pearls?
Natural pearls are made by certain types of bi-valve mollusc, such as clams or oysters. A bi-valve mollusc has a hard outer shell, made from calcium carbonate, which is joined by a hinge. Its soft body is protected from predators inside of this hard shell.
Etymology
The name geoduck is derived from a Lushootseed ( Nisqually) word gʷídəq either a word composed of a first element of unknown meaning and əq meaning "genitals" (referring to the shape of the clam), or a phrase meaning "dig deep", or perhaps both, as a double entendre.
Biology
Native to the west coast of Canada and the northwest coast of the United States (primarily Washington and British Columbia ), these marine bivalve mollusks are the largest burrowing clams in the world, weighing in at an average of 0.7 kilograms ( 1 + 1⁄2 lb) at maturity, but specimens weighing over 7 kilograms (15 lb) and as much as 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in length are not unheard of..
Industry
The world's first geoduck fishery was created in 1970, but demand for the half-forgotten clam was low at first due to its texture. As of 2011 [update] , these clams sell in China for over US$33 per kilogram or $15 per pound.
Culinary uses
The large, meaty siphon is prized for its savory flavor and crunchy texture. Geoduck is regarded by some as an aphrodisiac because of its phallic shape. It is very popular in China, where it is considered a delicacy, mostly eaten cooked in a fondue-style Chinese hot pot.
Chinese import ban
In December 2013, China imposed a ban on geoduck and other " double-shell aquatic animals "—such as clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops —that were imported from the west coast of the United States.
Popular culture
Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington has a geoduck named "Speedy" as mascot.
Types of Clams
Like so much seafood, clams have a lot of names that can be confusing. The same species can have different names depending on their size, for example. Another example is that different species are all called "steamers" because people like to steam them.
Hard-Shell, Quahog, and Round
Hard-shell clams ( Mercenaria mercenaria) go by many names. Littlenecks, topnecks, cherrystones, chowders—they are all the same clam, just different sizes (listed from smallest to biggest). They live in the Atlantic Ocean along the east coasts of the U.S. and Canada in intertidal areas burrowed in the sand.
Soft-Shell
Soft-shell clams, commonly called steamers or Ipswich clams, are the species Mya arenaria. You can tell them from hard clams by their lighter-colored, more oblong shells, which are also quite brittle and thus require some care when handling.
Manila
Manila clams ( Venerupis philippinarum) are, like Atlantic soft-shell clams, often called "steamers," since steaming them and pulling them from their shells to dip them in melted butter is a popular way to eat them.
Razor and Pacific
Razor clams ( Siliqua patula) are a local favorite in Oregon and Washington. They have long, thin shells and plant themselves in the sand vertically. Razors need proper cleaning to make sure they aren't sandy or gritty when cooked up. How to cook them? The most popular way is to coat them in bread crumbs and give them a quick dunk in the fryer.
Razor, Atlantic Jackknife, and Bamboo
Sometimes also called razor clams like those that grow on the West Coast of North America, Atlantic jackknife clams ( Ensis directus) are long and skinny and burrow vertically into intertidal beach areas.
Geoduck
Geoducks ( Panopea abrupta or Panopea generosa) are huge. Just huge. Pretty freakish, actually. To give you an idea of how big, the Chinese name for them translates as "elephant trunk clam." They burrow deep into the sand in tidal flats along the Northwest coast of the U.S. and Canada. They have become popular in different Asian cuisines.
What Are Clams?
Clams are part of the bivalve family. Being bivalve means that they have shells with two hinges. They are found in both saltwater and freshwater. The clams that people eat come from saltwater. You do not often eat freshwater clams.
Different Types of Clams
Hard shell clams have a short siphon, which is the part of the clam that filters through the seawater to allow them to feed. They like to bury themselves in the sand that is shallow. These types of clams are often farmed clams. These clams are ideal for steaming, grilling, chowder, and using in pasta.
FAQs
Just about all clams are edible, however, there are some clams that you cannot eat the shell. Even though steamers are considered a soft shell clam, you cannot eat the shell of a steamer.
Overview
The Pacific geoduck is a species of very large saltwater clam in the family Hiatellidae. The common name is derived from the Lushootseed (Nisqually) word gʷídəq.
The geoduck is native to the coastal waters of the eastern North Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Baja California. The shell of the clam ranges from 15 centimetr…
Etymology
The name geoduck is derived from a Lushootseed (Nisqually) word gʷídəq either a word composed of a first element of unknown meaning and əq meaning "genitals" (referring to the shape of the clam), or a phrase meaning "dig deep", or perhaps both, as a double entendre. It is sometimes known as a mud duck, king clam or, when translated literally from Chinese, an elephant-trunk clam (Chinese: …
Biology
Native to the west coast of Canada and the northwest coast of the United States (primarily Washington and British Columbia), these marine bivalve mollusks are the largest burrowing clams in the world, weighing in at an average of 0.7 kilograms (1+1⁄2 lb) at maturity, but specimens weighing over 7 kilograms (15 lb) and as much as 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in length are not unheard of.
A related species, Panopea zelandica, is found in New Zealand and has been harvested commer…
Industry
The world's first geoduck fishery was created in 1970, but demand for the half-forgotten clam was low at first due to its texture. As of 2011 , these clams sell in China for over US$33 per kilogram or $15 per pound.
The geoduck's high market value has created an $80-million industry, with harvesting occurring in the US states of Alaska, Washington, and Oregon and the Canadian …
Culinary uses
The large, meaty siphon is prized for its savory flavor and crunchy texture. Geoduck is regarded by some as an aphrodisiac because of its phallic shape. It is very popular in China, where it is considered a delicacy, mostly eaten cooked in a fondue-style Chinese hot pot. In Korean cuisine, geoducks are eaten raw with spicy chili sauce, sautéed, or in soups and stews. In Japan, geoduck is prepared as raw sashimi, dipped in soy sauce and wasabi. On Japanese menus in cheaper sushi …
Chinese import ban
In December 2013, China imposed a ban on geoduck and other "double-shell aquatic animals"—such as clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops—that were imported from the west coast of the United States. Chinese officials found in an Alaskan shipment high levels of saxitoxin, a natural product that certain shellfish can accumulate, which when eaten by humans, can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning resulting in severe illness or even death. A shipment from Washington state …
Popular culture
Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, has as its mascot a geoduck named Speedy.
Geoducks have also earned some internet infamy due to the phallic appearance of their siphons.
External links
• Man and Mollusc—Geoduck facts
• Geoduck.org; Underwater Harvester's Association
• Geoduck.org: UHA—BC Seafood Alliance,
• The Evergreen State College's Geoducks Page
Names
Varieties
Cuisine
Overview
Origin
Preparation
Miscellaneous
- Geoducks (Panopea abrupta or Panopea generosa) are huge. Just huge. Pretty freakish, actually. To give you an idea of how big, the Chinese name for them translates as \"elephant trunk clam.\" They burrow deep into the sand in tidal flats along the Northwest coast of the U.S. and Canada. They have become popular in different Asian cuisines. They are...
Terminology
Habitat
Uses