The Backyard Fire Cookbook by Linda Ly

Author:Linda Ly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harvard Common Press
Published: 2019-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

HOW OPEN IS OPEN?

Every recipe for live clams instructs you to cook until the clams are open—but how open is open? And what do you do with clams that start off slightly open? Here’s the lowdown on how to tell when your clams are safe to cook and eat.

Buy from a reputable fishmonger. It goes without saying that you should source your seafood from a fishmonger who knows their suppliers well and has a quick turnover. A good fishmonger is also knowledgeable about all the fish and shellfish they carry, so don’t be afraid to ask about differences in varieties or tips on preparing them.

Take a whiff. Once you have your clams in hand, stick your nose in the bag and take a good whiff. If the clams smell like anything other than the sea, give them back or try another fishmonger.

Do the tap test. While most clams are tightly shut when you buy them, some appear to “smile” at you—that is, their shells are slightly gaping. To determine whether they’re good, simply give them a light tap on the sink. Their muscles should close the shells in defense. If they don’t, toss ’em. You can also squeeze the shells together; if they spring open again, the clam is dead and must be discarded (because you don’t know how long it’s been dead).

Open wide? Quite the contrary. By the time you wait for the clams to open all the way, they’re likely overcooked. You’ll know they’re done when the shells just begin to open, at which point they can be removed from the pot and your fingers can do the rest of the work. Stirring the clams for about 5 minutes after you add them to the pot helps redistribute and cook them more evenly, as clams piled together may not be able to open fully.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.