Clams can be cooked in various ways, whether fresh or canned. Fresh clams can be steamed or prepared in a variety of ways, while canned clams are pre-cooked and ready to use. Clams are versatile and can be used in many dishes, and there are numerous varieties found in different habitats.
Clam meat can be cooked in various ways. Fresh clams can be cooked in the shell or out of the shell. Canned clams, whole, sliced or minced, are already pre-cooked. The cleaned and packaged clams are ready for immediate use.
There are several methods that can be used to prepare fresh clams, depending on whether the clams are cooked in the shell or the clam has been shucked and the meat removed from the shell. Fresh clams left in the shell can be steamed and then opened to remove the clam. Shelled clam meat can be prepared in a wok for a quick fish fry, breaded and deep-fried or fried, cooked in a casserole, sautéed in oil and butter, or lightly grilled.
Preprocessed clams can be left whole, sliced or diced, cooked the same way as fresh clams, and used in the same recipes. Canned or jarred clams are pre-cooked and edible from the package. Many varieties of fresh clams can also be eaten raw.
The benefits of cooking clams purchased from a seafood market or the seafood department of a grocery store are the superior flavor and freshness of the clam meat. Clams from a store or market have already been cleaned with the shell removed and ready to cook. If fresh clams are purchased in their shells, the shop or market employee must shell them prior to the purchase request.
Cooking with canned or jarred clam meat has its perks. Packaged clams offer the added convenience of not having to shell and clean fresh clams. Prepackaged clams are readily available in supermarkets and specialty stores all year round. Processed clams also have a much longer shelf life than fresh clams.
Fresh or processed clam meat is the star ingredient in many specialty dishes such as New England clam chowder, linguine with clam sauce, and red and white salsas. Clam meat is also used as a topping for pizza before cooking. Canned clams can be diced and mixed with assorted ingredients to make a creamy clam dip. Like raw or smoked oysters, clams are served on the half-shell or on a cracker as canapés.
There are numerous varieties of clams found throughout the world. Clams are considered hard-shelled or soft-shelled depending on the habitat and waters in which they are found. They can be found in freshwater lakes, rivers, sand, and muds, while saltwater clams are found in the cooler, deeper cold waters of the ocean.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
