On Fri, 20 May 2016 07:48:24 -0700 (PDT), Helpful person
> wrote:

>On Friday, May 20, 2016 at 10:30:12 AM UTC-4, Gary wrote:
>> Helpful person wrote:
>> >
>> > On Friday, May 20, 2016 at 8:54:13 AM UTC-4, 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 agree with you. When eating steamers in New England, after removing the clam from its shell and pulling off the "skin" over the foot they are washed in broth, dipped in butter and then eaten. Any grit is left in the broth, it not being inside the clam flesh. I cannot ever remember having a gritty clam after it has been washed like this.
>>
>> I only wash the outside of the shells before cooking or opening.
>> You've got to watch for the shell edge crumbling a bit though when
>> opening live clams. Wash before cooking then steam open clams...never
>> a bit of grit, in my experience.
>
>Probably depends on the type of clam. New England steamers are particularly gritty if not washed after cooking.

Only when the shells aren't scrubbed prior to cooking.