On Fri, 20 May 2016 08:54:32 -0400, Gary > wrote:

>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!

I've eaten more clams than I can count, raw on the half shell, none
were purged, none contained even one grain of sand, but occasionally a
lemon pit would escape. My favorite clam bar was Nathan's Famous,
Coney Island... clams were always fresh, they shucked 24/7, shucked to
order right before your eyes.