At what point (after clams die) are they ok to eat

I bought clams yesterday they were all closed.

I put them in room temperature water overnight (with 3% salt). Not in fridge.

Now 50% are open. 50% have their tongues hanging out.

The main question I have is once they are dead - what is the length of time in which they are ok to eat.

From what I read the ones with tongues hanging out are ok to eat. How about the ones that are open? Are they ok to eat? They have only been open for around 10 hours or so.

food-safety seafood

Best Answer

Clams are exceedingly perishable; there is no length of time after they are dead that you should eat them. They should always be killed as part of the cooking process.

They may open (they are naturally filter feeders, and open to try and feed and respire), but if tapped should close indicating they are still alive. If they don't close, discard.

Clams do not have tongues. They have a siphon, and a foot--not sure which you are referring to. The siphon is normally trimmed off if it is large, but the foot may be edible (although sometimes tough and not palatable) depending on the type of clam.

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Quick Answer about "At what point (after clams die) are they ok to eat"

Clams are exceedingly perishable; there is no length of time after they are dead that you should eat them. They should always be killed as part of the cooking process. They may open (they are naturally filter feeders, and open to try and feed and respire), but if tapped should close indicating they are still alive.

Can you eat a dead clam?

Do not cook or eat shellfish that have died during storage. Gaping shells indicate that the shellfish are dead and not edible. Dead shellfish spoil rapidly and develop off-flavor and off-odors.

How long are dead clams good for?

If the clams float in the water, they are dead, according to The Week. Again, throw them away and do not eat them. If you have fresh clams stored in the refrigerator, they should last between seven to 10 days. Shelled clams and frozen clams can both last four to five days in the fridge.

Can you get sick from eating a dead clam?

If you find a dead clam among your live specimens, don't tempt fate and eat it \u2014 if it died due to a disease it carried, it may easily pass the same illness on to you, and cooking won't destroy a virus (via the British Colombia Center for Disease Control). You won't want to put that clam anywhere near your mouth.

How do you know if clams are safe to eat?

Gently tap any open clams on the counter and see if they close. If they remain open, discard. If using soft shell clams (which won't fully close), tap or touch the side of the shell and/or siphon to check for movement. If the clam doesn't respond to the stimulus, it has perished and should be discarded.

Why We Eat Oysters Alive

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