I bought some razor clams today and all of them were open with their "tongue" or meat coming out of the shell. When I got home I noticed they had a really strong smell to them. This is the first time I've bought razor clams....so how do I know if they are safe to eat?
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1 Answer
There are two types of razor clams. Since you are in the US according to your profile, I am guessing you have the type from the Pacific Northwest, which look like this (picture from Washington Fish and Wildlife):
It is normal for the razor clam to not completely fit into its shell; in particular, the digger or "foot" will extend from the shell.
According to Piscatorial Pursuits (I couldn't make that name up):
The neck tips are very tough and give off a very strong scent.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has a detailed page on cleaning and preparing the clams, with pictures. Note that they indicate (emphasis original):
During cleaning, you may find small "pea crabs" or flatworms inside the body of the clam. NEITHER OF THESE AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF THE RAZOR CLAM MEAT.
answered Jun 8, 2013 at 22:20
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1Interesting. I'm from the east coast of the US, and to me, this is a razor clam.– JoeFishJun 10, 2013 at 21:04
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1@JoeFish That is the kind that my research indicated was common in England.– SAJ14SAJJun 10, 2013 at 21:11