How to Care for Clams

Keep your clams healthy until you're ready to cook them.

There's nothing quite like a batch of ocean-fresh steamed clams in the warm summer sun. But even if you don't live steps from the ocean, you can enjoy these tasty morsels just about any time of year thanks to your local grocery store or fish monger. Proper care is of the utmost importance when it comes to dealing with shellfish, however. Clams must be alive and healthy when you cook them for the best-tasting dish. Does this Spark an idea?

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Insulated container
Large bowl
Kitchen towel

Instructions

- 1
  
  Purchase clams last while at the store to keep them fresh. Make sure the clams are not packed in an airtight container, otherwise they will suffocate. Transport them in an insulated container if you have a long journey between the grocery store and your home.
- 2
  
  Discard any clams with cracked shells or ones that do not close when they are tapped. This is an indication that the shellfish is dead.
- 3
  
  Store clams in a large bowl or pot in the refrigerator. Leave the bowl uncovered, but drape the clams themselves lightly with a damp kitchen cloth or paper towel.
- 4
  
  Drain any excess liquid that collects at the bottom of the bowl daily. The clams will die if they are immersed in liquid for an extended time.
- 5
  
  Keep the clams at a constant temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Although they are best eaten within a day or two of purchase, clams stored properly at this temperature can live for up to seven days.