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?
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.
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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