In season, clams are plump and juicy. They have a chewy texture and are rich in nutrients, but if not cleaned properly, you will often hear a crunch from the sand. To properly clean clams that live in the mudflats and contain sand and mud, a black plastic bag is essential.
To clean clams, first prepare saltwater. The salinity of seawater is 2-3%. To create a similar environment, add 20-30g of salt to 1L of water. After placing the clams in the saltwater, you need to block out the light with a black plastic bag or towel. Once a dark environment similar to the mudflat is created, the clams will open their mouths and start to move, spitting out mud and sand.
It is good to change the water every 2 hours. By replacing it with new saltwater, the risk of the clams sucking in the sand they just spit out is reduced. It is also advisable to gently shake the saltwater once an hour to lift the sand that has settled at the bottom. If there is slight movement, the clams will think water is flowing, open their mouths, and start to spit out sand. However, be careful not to shake too hard, as this may cause them to close their mouths instead.
