Content

• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

1 Inspect your clams before purchasing.

• The clams may already be peeled, but not as thoroughly as you might expect. Examine the bag of clams to determine if you will actually buy them.
• Some clams will be covered, while others may be slightly open. Touch them to see if they close automatically. If they react, then they are alive. Don't choose wide-open clams as they are most likely dead.

2 Check if the shellfish you choose are alive.

3 Examine the clams for cracks, chipped, or broken shells.

• Broken shells mean the clams are dead or unhealthy. Drop them.
• Make sure the clams are completely submerged. When soaked, shellfish naturally spit out salt, sand, and ocean particles, which they have absorbed to cleanse their insides.

4 Place the clams in a bowl of cold, fresh water, cover with a damp towel and refrigerate for about 20 minutes to an hour.

5 Remove the clams from the used container and transfer to another container with fresh water.

• You can repeat this process several times if you want the clams to be thoroughly cleaned.

6 Use a brush to remove sea ducks, coral, sand, or other debris that may crust over the outside of the shellfish.

7 Ready.

Tips

• Adding 2 tbsp to the water. l. cornmeal will help cleanse the stomach more thoroughly during steeping. Alternatively, you can use black pepper.
• In the store, shellfish are usually kept on ice to ensure freshness. If you are unsure about the freshness of the clams, you can ask your local grocer or other vendor.
• All shellfish must be alive when you prepare and cook them.
• You should always cook shellfish immediately after cleaning to avoid any potential health risks.
• If you see a visible "tongue" protruding from the shell of a clam, it can still be safely eaten. In fact, the "tongue" is the siphon of the clam, which it periodically uses to filter the water.

Warnings

• Never eat shellfish that are still closed after being cooked. This is a sign that the shellfish may be dead and contaminated with bacteria. Beware of the risk of food poisoning and throw them away.
• Do not strain the clams when moving them to another container, as sand and other particles will fall back onto them from the bottom of the bowl. If this happens, you may need to repeat the cleaning process again.

What do you need

• 2 bowls
• Kitchen scraper / brush
• Cool water
• Towel to cover the bowl