How to Get the Sand Out From a Razor Clam

Keep razor clams alive long enough for them to filter sand out of their shells.

Clamming is a frequent pursuit of beachgoers in certain parts of the country. Digging into the sand at the water's edge and finding the large brown shell of a razor clam is akin to finding buried treasure. Although found on both coasts, it is the Pacific razor clam, found from Alaska down to the central California coast, that is the most prized. Leaving the razor clams alive for a period of time after digging them up and putting them in cool water will allow them to remove most of the sand from their shells themselves, saving you effort. Does this Spark an idea?

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Cooler
Bowl
Colander
Pot
Knife
Scissors

Instructions

- 1
  
  As soon as you dig up the razor clams, put them into a cooler filled with water and a small amount of ice.
- 2
  
  Remove the clams once you have gotten to your destination. Place the clams in a large bowl filled with cool fresh water. Leave the clams in the water for about two hours; the clams will filter much of the sand in their shells out into the bowl.
- 3
  
  Place the razor clams in a colander in the sink. Fill a pan with water on the stove and turn on the burner set to high heat. Bring the water to a rolling boil. Pour the boiling water over the clams (which will cause them to open their shells). Run cool tap water over the clams to prevent them from cooking in the shell.
- 4
  
  Use a knife to shuck the clams from their shells. Cut the neck tip from the clam using scissors. Split the neck in half and rinse under cold water to remove any remaining sand.