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Katra wrote:
>
> wrote:
>
>>On Sat, 06 Dec 2003 02:56:00 GMT, Richard Periut >
>>wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Katra wrote:
>>>
>>>>Donna Rose wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>In article >,
says...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 23:51:37 GMT, Donna Rose
> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I bought a batch of mussels recently and made a fantastic wine broth for
>>>>>>>them. They were delicious, but they were a bit gritty.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>How does one assure that all the sand is removed prior to serving? Does
>>>>>>>soaking them in sal****er for any length of time help? I seem to
>>>>>>>remember something about oatmeal, but maybe I'm confusing this with
>>>>>>>something else. Anybody have any ideas? And, would the same method work
>>>>>>>with clams as well?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Yes, but cornmeal is better. It also helps to plump them up nicely
>>>>>>for the kill. I leave mine to soak overnight, I would not consider
>>>>>>eating them without doing so first.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Sheena
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>How much cornmeal? Say for three dozen mussels/clams. Cover with water
>>>>>and add, what? A couple of tablespoons? A cup? TIA
>>>>>
>>>>>--
>>>>>Donna
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>To purge salt water mollusks, they have to be kept alive...
>>>>I just re-checked with dad since it's been a few years.
>>>>
>>>>Just keep them alive in sea water for 2 or 3 days and they will purge
>>>>the sand from their systems on their own. They are kept fasting (no
>>>>food) to do this.
>>>>
>>>>K.
>>>>
>>>
>>>As a sal****er fish/reef/coral keeper, here are my 2 cents:
>>>
>>>These mollusks need to be in a non tropical water temperature, with a SG
>>>which is similar to natural sea water; 1.020 to 1.023 (mind you these
>>>values are temp dependent.) So I would go with the higher end, since SG
>>>changes with higher and lower temp. Of course if you have a salinity
>>>meter, then you don't have to worry about temp control.
>>>
>>>The other thing this creatures need is water movement. Part of their
>>>extraction of O2 is through currents; let alone the fact that they are
>>>filter feeders, and need said current to obtain food (which I'm not
>>>going to get into, because it consists of a host of microscopic organisms.)
>>>
>>>So, it sounds not too practical to keep these creatures in the
>>>aforementioned conditions.
>>>
>>>My advice (and I've been doing this for years,) buy some sea salt (the
>>>synthetic one I use for my tanks is superfluous for this,) and a
>>>hydrometer. Mix with cold tap water, and measure the specific gravity so
>>>that it falls roughly with the aforementioned scale. DON'T add more
>>>water or salt to these creatures, because they are very sensitive to
>>>salinity fluctuations! Buy a cheap bubble stone and pump for your local
>>>pet store, and aerate them well. Keep them 24 to 48 hours, and they will
>>>purge their sand.
>>>
>>>When you rinse them in the end with cold fresh water (a shocking change
>>>in salinity), it doesn't matter because they are on their way to mussel
>>>heaven : )
>>>
>>>HTH,
>>>
>>>R
>>
>>That's very technical - I just put them in a large container of sea
>>water (clearly one could make it if not by the sea) sprinkle a
>>generous quantity of cornmeal on the top and leave them overnight. In
>>the morning they are quite a sight with all the funnels sticking out.
>>I shake the container while standing clear and when they are all done
>>squirting, I drain the water, wash them off and proceed.
>>
>>They don't seem to need more than overnight and it is very rare any
>>have been sandy after that. I have been doing this for at least 30
>>years and all is well.
>>
>>Sheena
>
>
>
> See, this is the first time anyone has said to stand them in sea water,
> THEN add the cornmeal! :-) Sounds similar to purging Escargot then.
>
> I'll have to give this a shot... Clams normally eat plankton, but I
> guess they LIKE cornmeal if they are sticking out there mouths to
> consume it???
>
> K.
>

Absolutely not! That's why they starve in inexperienced hands that keep
them. They are filter feeders, and they need the proper sized particles.

Richard

--
"..A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava
beans and a nice chianti..."

Hannibal "The Cannibal"

Silence Of The Lambs 1991

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