Avoiding gritty cockles
Is there any way I can identify whether or not a cockle is likely to contain grit before I bite down on it? I don't mean by cutting it open before hand, but a visual identification. General shade/darker areas don't seem to correlate with the amount of grit.
They're so tasty but I really don't like it when that happens...
For information, I buy them ready cooked but from the fish counter in the supermarket (not the ones in jars which are usually farmed and grit free).
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Why are my cockles gritty?
Clams are filter feeders. The reason they have sand and grit in them is because they live buried in sand or mud. This proximity to grit naturally gets the stuff into the clams, which filter with their shells partially open \u2014 which is how the sand or mud gets in.Should cockles be gritty?
Because cockles and clams live in sand, they can be very gritty if you don't \u201csoak\u201d (clean) them first. You do this by putting them into salt water for between 4 and 24 hours depending on their size. I tend to err on the side of \u201cI don't want to eat grit\u201d so I always leave them in salt water for 24 hours.Do you soak cockles before cooking?
Cockle shells are often full of sand so they should be soaked in fresh water for several hours before eating.How do you prepare cockles before cooking?
Before cooking, firstly give them a rinse to wash away any sand or dirt. To steam them, pick a large pan with a lid. Bring a cup of water to the boil and add a splash of lemon juice or white wine vinegar. Place the cockles in the pan, and cover.What Are Effective Methods to Rid Clams of Sand? : Seafood \u0026 Fish
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