Sqwertz wrote:
>
> Gary wrote:
>
> > Anyway, I'm stuck with them so I'll process them all. I'll have some
> > fresh fried clams this afternoon. The rest I'll open and freeze in
> > pint containers. They might be fine to fry later on after thawed but
> > regardless they will be perfect for making clam chowder in the future.
>
> Purge them with cornmeal while they're still active. Nothing worse
> than sandy clams. I'd rather have no clams than clams with even a
> grain of sand.

I almost didn't answer this one. I just know it's going to set off an
argument that you always have to win. lol We could talk about this
more though without resorting to name calling. I can explain myself in
more detail.

But wth?
You don't need to purge clams (or oysters). The "sand" you might get
is pieces of the fragile shell when opening them live with a knife. I
realize the internet is full of 'need to purge' info. Do you always
believe the internet? Ask any water man. Ask me. I've never (to my
recollection) gotten a piece of ingested sand in a clam or oyster. The
only clams I've ever eaten (other than from a restaurant) are ones
that I dig up myself or ones purchased from the Eastern Shore of
Virginia...fresh off the boat. Those animals purge sand immediately
themselves. Sand is very irritating to their soft bodies.

I even looked on Snopes. Was surprised they didn't "myth bust" that
subject. Especially the using of cornmeal. Seriously? lol!