The Trick to Get Sand Out of Clams, You Need One Ingredient

When we prepare to enjoy a nice seafood first course, we cannot help but add clams to the dish. This mollusk gives that extra touch of flavor to various dishes such as pasta, risotto, or soups. However, to prevent gritty sand in your meal, it’s essential to purge clams before cooking. Today, we’ll discover the most effective method for removing sand from clams.

As we well know, clams need a thorough cleansing before we can enjoy them. These shellfish live in the sea and can collect sand, mud, and other unwanted substances inside their shells. Not only can these particles affect the taste of the clams, but they may also lead to digestion problems if not properly removed. Most importantly, this process helps eliminate slime, a substance produced by clams. If not eliminated, this slime can impart a bitter aftertaste to the dish.

How to Remove Sand from Clams

The most common method for purging clams is to use water and salt. Just place the clams in a container of water with salt and let them soak for 1 to 2 hours. During this time, the clams will open up and expel any unwanted particles present inside them.

However, the most efficient and quickest method involves using flour. This ingredient, mistaken for food by mollusks, will cause them to open and expel impurities. To use this method, simply add a spoonful of flour to a container of water, submerge the clams, let them soak for about thirty minutes, and then rinse them thoroughly under running water.

A final method consists of using onions. Thanks to their acidic nature and strong flavor, onions can help eliminate sand and impurities inside the clam shells. Once cut, onions release enzymes that act as a natural detergent. To use this method, place the clams in a container with water and onion pieces, let them soak for approximately 30 minutes, and then rinse them thoroughly.