How do clams spit out sand quickly? How do you clean the sand from clams?

We all know that clams are a popular delicacy with a variety of cooking methods, delicious taste, and rich nutrition. Many people cook clams to eat. After buying clams, you usually need to remove the sand, otherwise it will not be clean and the taste will not be good. So how to remove the sand from clams to make them cleaner? Let's take a closer look!

How to make clams spit out sand

1. Resting method

When I was a kid, I went to the market with my parents. I saw the clams in the basin with long tentacles, and from time to time they would spray out a small stream of water. I was very curious. I could squat beside the basin and watch for a long time. The buyers were also very careful when selecting them, as if they were afraid that they would break if they held them in their hands, and that they would melt if they held them in their mouths. In fact, clams are quite sensitive. If we stir them vigorously, their tentacles will retract into their shells, and they will close their shells tightly and remain motionless. So after we buy them, we try to keep them in water without disturbing them, so that they can quietly spit out the sand in their stomachs, and let them spit out the sand actively, so that the sand can be removed more cleanly.

(1) Salt method: When the clams are resting, we can put a few spoonfuls of salt in the water. The concentration should be slightly higher because the clams grow in seawater, and the concentration of seawater is about 3.5 parts per thousand. We confuse the clams from the external environment, making them think they are still living in the sea, and let them relax as much as they can, so that they will spit out all the mud and sand.

(2) Sea salt method: Now when I buy clams, I always ask the vendors to give me water along with the clams. Why? Because their water is not ordinary water, but sea salt water. In the past, when I went to the market to buy vegetables, after walking around, I was carrying a lot of vegetables, including meat, vegetables, seafood, etc. When I went to buy clams, the vendors would add a lot of water to the bag of clams for me. At that time, my hands were already heavy, and adding a bag of water was like the last straw that broke the camel's back. I was so angry at that time, but later I learned that the bag of water was sea salt water. Clams grow in the sea, and the environmental similarity of sea salt water is closer to that of salt water, which is conducive to clams spitting out sand. While I was shopping, clams were constantly spitting out mud and sand. If you think the sea salt water is too heavy, you can ask the vendors for some sea salt, which has the same effect. This method is the most reliable and effective.

2. Vibration method

You can also use the vibration method to remove sand from clams. Place another bowl upside down on the bowl where the clams are placed, and then shake the bowl to let the sand fall out of the clams. However, this passive method is less effective than the resting method.

3. Rest and vibration combination method

Both the resting method and the vibration method have their own advantages and disadvantages. The resting method takes a little longer and the sand is spit out cleanly, while the vibration method takes a short time and the sand is not removed thoroughly. I usually rest it first, and then vibrate it before cooking to completely remove the sand.

Specific method of clams spitting sand

Wash with clean water first and pick out the dead clams

Dead clams have the most sand and mud, and if you don't pick them out, it can really ruin a good dish. Use the shaking method to find out the dead open clams and throw them away.

Add more salt and a few drops of sesame oil

Then put the clams in a basin and add water just enough to cover them. Then add 2-3 times the amount of table salt depending on the number of clams, pour in a few drops of sesame oil, and wait for 3-5 hours, which is exactly one morning or afternoon. In this way, most of the clams will be able to spit out the sand in their stomachs.

The ultimate weapon for removing sand from clams: sea salt

If you find that there is a lot of sand and mud when you buy clams, you can ask the boss if he has sea salt, because clams live in seawater, and sea salt is more suitable for the living habits of clams, so the speed of spitting out sand and mud is also very fast. It is best to quietly ask the boss when there are few people, because if everyone wants it, the boss may have to open a sea salt supermarket to meet the demand.

Common methods of spitting sand from clams

1. If you just bought it, don't rinse it with fresh water, because it grows in salt water, and when it encounters fresh water, it will close its mouth, and it won't open its mouth when soaked. (I saw many friends say to wash it with fresh water, or soak it with a small amount of light salt water, but this is actually wrong) So it is recommended not to rinse it directly with water when you get it back.

2. Mix salt with fresh water. The concentration of salt must be high enough. If it is not high enough, the clams will not open their mouths and the sand removal effect will not be achieved. When the salinity is high enough, they will open their mouths quickly. At this time, we can stir them with chopsticks or other things. There is no need to change the water and wait for the clams to open their mouths again. Then stir them again. After that, you can rinse and rub them with fresh water, and the surface will be ok. (Remember to stir after they open their mouths).

3. Soaking in sea water is of course the best! Soaking in sea water before rinsing with fresh water will make the clams open their mouths quickly. Stir with chopsticks when the clams open their mouths. After opening their mouths twice and stirring twice, all the sand can be removed. Of course, if you are still worried about sand, you can wait for the clams to open their mouths for the third time and stir again. This way, the sand can be completely removed.

Note: The clam can stay open for a while before stirring it.