Cleaning Pacific Razor Clams (PIC HEAVY!)

[Hinotori]

This is my bad tutorial on how to prepare a razor clam for use. Pictures are from a few clams as I took pictures while cleaning.

WARNING! PICTURE HEAVY!


Clam gun and 1 days limit

This is a Pacific Razor Clam. They are wider than Atlantic Razor Clams.

Toss in high simmering water until the shell pops open. This has the added benefit of making it easy to remove the sand as well.

Into a cold water ice bath. Just cold well water for this picture to show it.

Ready to clean. Use scissors or a knife. I find scissors to be faster.

Cut from where the lips of the clam open at the foot and up the seam to the neck.

Cut tip of the siphon off. Then up first siphon hole.

Cut up through second siphon hole. (Yes I forgot to snip the tip first on this one)

Pull gills off base of neck.

You can just slide a fingernail in and pinch off the foot from neck base and from bottom of clam.

 

[Hinotori]

Part 2

Carefully trim off top around foot.

Squeeze out stile. It can be a nuisance otherwise.

Cut open foot and pull out guts.

Butterfly rest of foot lengthwise and rinse. Now have two good size pieces of clam meat to cook up.

Dig limit is 15 per person per day. This is 2 limits worth ready for the freezer.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

That's awesome! Thanks for that!

 

[wyoDreamer]

Same here, thanks for the instructions.

 

[Hinotori]

I'm assuming it should be similar for Atlantic razor clams, even with them being narrower.

I've heard they get really big ones up in Alaska.

 

[CrealCritter]

Great job

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[baymule]

Wow! Thanks for that. I may never go dig clams, but if I ever do, at least I’ll have a glimmer of an idea on what to do with them. Plus, now I really understand what you were talking about. Thanks!

 

[flowerbug]

it makes you really appreciate it when someone else is doing it for you. kudoes!

 

[Hinotori]

Hubby came over to watch when I was taking pictures. He'd never actually watched how to clean them.

 

[murphysranch]

I never knew this....Thanks.