Clams appear to be boring and boring, but cooking or eating them can be an enjoyable experience. Clams are shellfish that can be found virtually anywhere across the globe. Even if you aren’t in a region with a coastline, it is worth giving them a go.
Clamsare delicious when eaten out from their shells, or in other ways there are many ways that clams can be cooked. Each has a distinct taste. So, if you’ve bought more clams than what you could consume in a week (or more), how can you keep them?
Can you freeze clams? Yes, you can. They can be frozen, and kept in the best condition for approximately 4 months. There are special procedures to guarantee the safety of clams when freezing them.
Cooked clams aren’t an ideal idea as the freezing process can damage the texture and can affect the flavor. But, clams that haven’t been cooked will be a joy to freeze.
The clams are frozen within the shell, or cut into shucks. When freezing the shellfish, it is important to follow the correct steps for handling and preparing them.
Shellfish are extremely perishable and are susceptible to spoiling. Should they happen, they could be contaminated with bacteria, which can cause health issues when consumed.
What kind of Clams Can You Freeze?
The majority of clams can be kept inside the freezer. Clams in shells as well as shucked clams are excellent to store in the freezer.
It is best to buy live clams that are fresh to keep in the freezer. They can be stored in their shells, or chop them up. This will help ensure that the meat stays fresh and juicy when it is thawed.
It is also possible to freeze cooked clams, however it is not advised. Once done cooking and are frozen they’ll turn out to be soft and brittle.
The safe handling of raw clams
Raw clams can be infected with bacteria called vibrio vulnificus. The bacterium is prevalent in shellfish like fresh clams, raw cockles and oysters.
What makes these bacteria risky is that they’re not easily visible by just watching them. If you ingest it, you’ll be sick because of it. This is the danger of eating raw shellfish.
To avoid the risk of the harmful bacteria, cook the clams in order to kill them. The cooking process kills bacteria, making it safe to eat.
Can you freeze dead Clams?
It’s dependent on the time and manner in which the clams perished. If you’ve purchased them or take them at the time they’re alive, and then they passed away, it does not necessarily mean they’re bad.
If it’s not been for a few hours of hot temperatures, it is safe to consider taking dead and frozen clams to freeze.
If you’re not sure what caused the clams to die it is advised not to put them in a freezer. As with other shellfish, they are perishable. And after they die, the clams will develop harmful bacteria within them very quickly.
How long can you freeze Clams?
The clams frozen in the freezer will remain fresh for up to 3 months if they are kept at an unchanging temperature of 0 ° F. When the refrigerator is open and shut frequently and the temperature fluctuates. This can result in the clams not to last as long like they ought to.
After three month, the clams that have been frozen may still be consumed. However, the quality of them may diminish a bit.
What is the best way to freeze Clams?
There are two ways of freezing the clams. They can be frozen in their shells, or you can freeze the meat.
Here are the steps on freezing the clams:
Clams Freezing In Their Shells
If you decide for clams that they remain inside their shells, ensure you seal the shell shut. A shell that is open means that the clams have died or they’re going to go bad.
Begin by washing the clams with cold water. If the clams have become dirty use a brush to gently rub the sand as well as other debris off.
Place the clams inside a colander, and allow it to run to dry.
Utilizing a paper towel gently and sand the clams with a paper towel to get rid of the excess liquid.
Place the clams inside an airtight bag or in a freezer bag.
If you’re using a freezer bag, push on it to take as much air out of the bag as is possible.
Make sure the bag is sealed tightly. If you are using an airtight container put the lid over it and make sure that the lid is sealed.
Label the container or bag with the date for freezing, and then put them in the freezer.
Clams inside shells can be stored frozen for up to 3 months.
Freezing clams shucked is a fantastic way to make space in the freezer.
Start by shucking the mussels.
In cold running water, rinse the clam meat thoroughly.
Place the clams’ meat in a colander, and allow it to sit for approximately 5 minutes.
With a paper towel, gently rub the meat in order to get rid of the excess liquid.
On a clean tray lay a wax paper.
Place the clams on the tray, making sure they are separated from one another.
Place the tray with clam meat in the freezer for around 1 to 2 hours.
When it’s frozen completely the items should be immediately transferred into an airtight container or freezer bag.
To seal the bag for freezer use, press the bag to eliminate as much air from the bag as you can, then close it tightly.
Label the container or bag with the date of freezing and then put it in the freezer.
Shucked clams can be stored frozen for the duration of up to 3 months.
How To Defrost Clams?
Clams do not require a lot of chilling time. The shellfish freezes quickly because of their texture. If you shucked the clams prior to freezing the clams, there’s no need to defrost them. They can become part of the food that you’re making straight out of the freezer.
If the clams are frozen inside the shell, here are some suggestions to let them thaw.
Transfer the clams into the refrigerator to freeze over night or for at least 6-8 hours. This is the ideal method to defrost frozen clams since the loss of texture and flavor will be very minimal.
If you want to defrost the clams fast, put the clams in a bag and pass it through cool, running water. Another option is to put the clams’ bag in an ice-cold bowl. Change the water each 10 minutes to allow them to thaw them quicker. Do not apply hot water to the clams as it will ruin the taste and texture of it.
Can You Refreeze Clams?
It’s not recommended to refreeze the clams. This can harm the texture and cause an impact on the flavor.
Clams are delicate, and when they are frozen their meat expands somewhat, which makes them soft. Once they are thawed, they’ll become soft and lose some of their taste.
When you refreeze the clams the texture of the clams will be damaged and the taste will diminish significantly. When you defrost the clams, you’ll end having soft, chewy and tasteless clams.
Related Questions
Can you freeze clam chowder?
Clam chowder is able to be frozen. Because of their texture the chowder can be frozen and last long in the freezer too. To freeze clam chowders, place them in an airtight container. While freezing the chowder, it will expand slightly. Thus, you should leave one inch of room on the top of the bowl to allow the expansion of the Chowder.
Can you freeze clam sauce?
Yes, you can freeze clam sauce. The sauce can be frozen using either canned or fresh clams.
To clam the sauce put it in an airtight bag or container. After filling, leave around one inch of space in the bottom of the container. The sauce will expand a little when it begins to freeze. If not, it may cause damage to the bag or container and spill out all across the freezing.
Once you’re ready for clam sauce, you can thaw the sauce in hot water. The sauce will begin to melt and will be ready to cook pasta within one hour. It is possible to add additional garlic to enhance the flavor.
Can you freeze clam juice?
Yes, it is possible to freeze the clam juice. It is suggested to freeze the clam juice into an frozen ice cube. Simply add the clam juice to the tray with ice cubes. Then, place the tray in the freezer for around 2 hours.
When it’s fully frozen remove it from the freezer. Transfer the ice cubes and liquid in a freezer bag or container that is airtight. The bag should be labeled with the date of freezing and then put it back in the freezer.
If you require the juice of clams, just take as much ice clam juice cubes out of in the freezer. Add it onto the serving dish.
Wrapping up
Can you freeze clams? Yes, you can freeze clams inside the shell. Start with fresh clams, wash the shells thoroughly before placing them in a freezer bag. Press as much air out as you can, and then date the bags. Clams inside the shell will last when stored in the freezer, for around four months.
The best method of freezing shucked clams is to place them in an air-tight bag sealed with equal amounts of water and milk. This preserves the texture and taste of the meat of the clams for up to four months.
If you’ve cooked the clams, it’s best to consume them within three days, rather than freeze them. Cooked clams kept in the freezer can result in a tough, rubbery meat, but it’s safe to consume.
Cook your clams right from your freezer or defrost them in the fridge. Whatever you choose to do, the option of freezing extra clams allows you to enjoy delicious and fresh seafood all throughout the year.
