How to store clams
Clams are molluscs of which there are many varieties, they are tasty and much appreciated in Italian cuisine. They can be eaten alone or used as the main ingredient in numerous first course recipes, such as spaghetti with clams, risotto, or as a condiment.
Like all seafood, they have an extremely short shelf life, in fact the ideal would be to consume them fresh to fully savor the unmistakable and unique flavor of the sea.
If you are a gourmet and have bought plenty of them or don’t want to cook them straight away, in this article we will explain how to store clams.
There are several methods for correct conservation; knowing them is important because eating clams that are not fresh or poorly preserved, in addition to being unpleasant, can be dangerous for your health.
Instructions before storage
First of all, when you buy clams you must check the label to make sure that the CE health mark is present which guarantees their origin and hygienic-sanitary reliability. Nieddittas also offers and markets Italian farmed clams which follow the same purification and control process as all our products. Those who choose them always have the guarantee of quality, freshness and safety ensured by our company’s procedures.
Once purchased, you must check that there are no open or broken clams , otherwise they should be discarded because they could be dead and give an unpleasant aftertaste to the dish and be at risk of bacteria. The second thing to do is to make sure that the molluscs are alive, so the valves must be closed and must not give off a bad smell.
Before storing clams, they must be cleaned. Follow these simple steps:
- Rub them under water.
- Eliminate those that are already open or broken, tap them on the work surfaceto allow any empty shells or clams with sand to open.
Nieddittas clams are characterized not only by their freshness, but also by the almost total absence of mud and broken shells.
Cleaned clams can be preserved either in the shell or already shelled depending on the way you later want to cook them and both cooked and raw , let’s see how to proceed.
How to store fresh clams
The best way to keep shellfish fresh is to use the refrigerator. Wrap the clams in a damp cloth, making them stay tightly together, in this way they will avoid opening and will continue to live thanks to the sea water contained inside them. Place them in the refrigerator, in the coldest area.
With this technique the clams can be kept for 1 day , then they must be cooked. Cooking that lasts for 5 minutes starting from when the shells have opened allows you to avoid any microbiological danger.
How to store cooked clams
If you have cooked clams and want to keep them for longer, do this:
- Shell the molluscs.
- Store them in a glass jar.
- Add their filtered cooking sauceand let it rest a bit.
- Close the jar tightly and store in the refrigerator for a couple of days.
In the refrigerator, seafood will be preserved for 48 hours at a temperature between +4 and +6°C ±2°C.
Can cooked clams be stored in the freezer?
Nieddittas clams are a fresh product and should be consumed as such, within 24 hours of purchase; freezing is therefore not recommended.
However, if you need to store them for a long period, the clams should be cleaned, cooked and left to rest. You then need to place them in a glass container, shelled or not, and also add their filtered cooking sauce. Finally, close the container and place it in the freezer. Using the freezer you can store cooked clams for over 2 months.
