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Can You Freeze Clams? [Tested & Detailed Guide]

Clam consists of a general name for numerous types of bivalve mollusks.

This term usually applies to the ones who live like infauna and are edible.

They spend the majority of their lives burying themselves halfway in the sand of riverbeds and seafloor.

They possess two equal-sized shells linked by the two adductor types of muscles.

Clams tend to have a strong burrowing foot, and they reside in both marine and freshwater environments.

North America has the most significant diversity of clams.

We come to know through The Spruce Eats that clams make excellent dips for homemade pita chips or sauce for your spaghetti.

You can even make some tasty Japanese clam soup or whip up some classic clam chowder.

You can also deep fry them or make some salsa verde with them.

Can you freeze clams? Yes.

You can freeze your clams without any hassle. It would be best if you froze them to maintain their freshness and plumpness.

So, when you cook them in the future, it will be like you just bought them from the market.

Does Freezing Affect Clams?

does freezing affect clams

Freezing your clams won’t affect their flavor and quality at all.

Why? Well, because when you freeze it, the freshness of your clams remains intact at all times.

So, when you unfreeze and cook your frozen clams in the future, the clams will still be just as delicious as the fresh ones in the market.

Here, you can also take the example of other frozen food items such as peas, prawns, and fish fingers.

Have you ever wondered why these edibles still taste amazing even when you freeze them for months? In the same way, you can be confident that any clam type can be preserved in the same manner.

You need to immediately store them inside the freezer once you come back from the market.

We advise you to avoid letting your clams sit in your hot car for tons of hours.

A warm temperature will invite room for bacteria, causing its growth and contamination.

If you fail to do so, your clams will get spoiled and give off a bad smell.

Since the clams are very delicate, it needs you to be extra careful in handling them.

Ensure that you discard clams with open shells because they are dead and spoiled.

How To Freeze Clams?

how to freeze clams

There are two methods of freezing your clams, i.e., “With Shells” or “Shucked.”.

For Shelled Clams.

Step 1 – Begin by unpacking your clams in a bowl or strainer. Begin rinsing your clams using nothing but clean cold water.

Step 2 – Proceed to drain out all the excess water from your clams that are in shells. Ensure that you are doing it thoroughly and not casually.

Step 3 – Take out a bag or container that is airtight and also resistant to moisture. You can carefully start placing your clams in the bag or container.

Step 4 – Lastly, you need to release all the excess air to avoid spoiling your clams. Proceed in closing your storage bag or container and put it inside your freezer.

For Shucked Clams.

Step 1 – You need to shuck your clams, which involves removing their shell.

Step 2 – Now, you need to use running cold water to thoroughly cleaning your clam meat.

Step 3 – Proceed to drain all the excess water. After that, you need to put your meat inside a storage bag, airtight and freezer-safe.

Step 4 – Ensure that you are leaving a headspace of ½ inch.

Step 5 – Lastly, you need to close your storage bag to freeze it.

The Fridge Method.

Step 1 – Take out an open container accompanied by a moist cloth or paper towels. Proceed in placing your live clams in it.

Step 2 – Ensure that your fridge’s temperature is at 32⁰.

Step 3 – Avoid putting freshwater inside your container.

Step 4 – In this method, you need to avoid using an airtight container.

Step 5 – Now, you can store it in your fridge. Frozen clams can last a good three months inside your freezer.

If you can store it properly, then it can even go up to 12 months.

It all depends on the way you store it. However, with live clams in your fridge, it is best to consume them at the earliest.

How To Thaw Frozen Clams?

how to thaw frozen clams

Scenario 1.

For thawing your frozen clams, it is always best to transfer them to your fridge 24 hours before you cook them.

You can even start thawing it the night before.

However, if you are in a rush, you can always place it under cold running water for about 30 minutes.

After thawing it, you should also clean it using some clean cold water.

Scenario 2.

Sometimes you don’t end up thawing your clams entirely. You might also forget to remove the clams the night before from your freezer.

In such cases, put your frozen clams inside a waterproof package.

Here, you need to run this sealed package using cold running water.

Ensure that you continue to do this until they become entirely defrosted.

Thawing Tips.

While you clean your clams, ensure that you use a sieve in the process.

You will start to notice that the clams will begin closing their shells firmly.

The clams do when they come in contact with cold water.

It is also advisable to avoid refreezing your clams once you take them out.

We also recommend you never wash your frozen clams with warm-hot water.

It will create an unhealthy mechanism when you cook it, accompanied by an unpleasant texture.

You should also remember to handle your clams carefully, especially the shucked ones.

Their meat is quite delicate, and you don’t want to ruin your platter by handling it roughly.

And if your clams are spoiled, then you need to avoid eating them.

Conclusion

There is a variety of shellfish out there, and clams are one of them.

According to Healthline, clams can offer numerous micronutrients, rich lean protein, and healthy fats.

They form a healthy part of our diet and are celebrated in many cultures across the globe.

Clams are found in multiple cuisines and are super prevalent in Asian countries such as China, Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea, Bangladesh, etc.

You can easily purchase clams in bulk from the supermarket and store them in the freezer for future use.

Ensure that you are cleaning and cooking them thoroughly before you eat them.

can you freeze clams

Can You Freeze Clams? Easy Guide to Freeze Clams

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Storage u0026amp; Organization

Ingredients
  

  • Clams
  • Air-tight containers or Ziplock bags
  • Labels and markers

Instructions
 

  • Prepare all the mentioned equipment and ingredients in the article.
  • Follow the steps for proper freezing.
  • Label the container with the date and contents.Depending on the recipe, thawing time may vary.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @EatDelights or tag #eatdelights!

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