Which is the best way to de-grit clams and mussels? Salt, cornmeal, or salt + cornmeal?
What's the most effective way to de-grit clams and mussels? Apparently there are 3 possibilities.
Salt only.
Cornmeal only.
Salt and cornmeal.
Has any academic peer reviewed or researched this? This blog tested just with or without cornmeal:
After 24 hours and 4 water changes, I steamed them in separate pots. The first batch (sans cornmeal purge) had significantly more sand in their bellies and shells and the pot in which they were cooked than the second (with cornmeal purge) batch, but they still tasted of the sea. The clams in the second batch were lighter in color, plumper, and notably sweeter than the sea.
Best Answer
I think salty water is a given in purging, and the article you shared is no exception to this. Quoting directly
You need lots of water—about 1 gallon of water and 1/3 cup of kosher salt per 1 dozen clams—that should be changed several times over 48 hours in order for them to be squeaky clean
I think salt and cornmeal can be used complementarily. As it’s mentioned in the article cornmeal will alter the taste, but it will also expedite the purging (from 48h to 24h per the experiment in the article).
It looks like using both is a better option than just using salt. And assuming salt should always be present in the water, I would rule out the only cornmeal option.
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How do you get the sand out of clams and mussels?
Place all the clams in a bowl and fill it with cool tap water. We've also heard that adding cornmeal or black pepper to the water will encourage the clams to spit out more sand. Let the clams sit for 20 minutes to an hour. During this time, they will spit out the sand from inside their shells.How do you get the sand out of clams with cornmeal?
Put the clams in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Add the cornmeal to the water. Let clams sit for 20 minutes to 1 hour. The clams should filter the water through their systems and spit out their grit.Can you use cornmeal to clean clams?
Submerge the mollusks in a bowl of ice water. Stir in 1 teaspoon salt and 2 tablespoons of cornmeal for every quart of water. Refrigerate 1 to several hours. Drain, rinse and cook.What Are Effective Methods to Rid Clams of Sand? : Seafood \u0026 Fish
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Answer 2
I have always found that soaking them in a big bucket of water with oats. I find that this irritates them and makes them spit out the sand, while still retaining sea side flavour. The link is https://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/threads/porridge-treatment-for-mussels.129826/ I hope this helps.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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