Frozen Wild Clams

Small, hard-shelled bivalves with a banded shell and a plump, sweet body that gives up its liquor the moment it hits heat. That briny liquid is the point: it seasons a broth better than anything you can add from a jar.

What It Is

Wild hard-shell clams, sold whole in the shell. Purged in clean seawater before freezing to flush out sand, then graded so the shells in a box open at roughly the same time.

Where It Comes From

Raked from tidal flats and shallow coastal beds, then moved straight into a purification plant and blast-frozen the same day. Cold-water beds give a slower growth rate, which is why the meat is firm rather than watery.

Specifications

• Cut: whole, in shell, closed
• Net weight: 2 kg per box
• Grading: size-sorted, shells intact and unbroken
• Prep: purged of sand before freezing
• Shell: firm, no cracks, no open shells in a sealed box

Condition on Arrival

Raw and frozen hard, packed loose so you can take what you need. Arrives in a sealed box with gel ice inside an insulated liner. Discard any shell that is cracked through or already open before freezing.

Storage

Keep at -18 C or colder. Thaw in the refrigerator, covered, and use the same day. Never thaw at room temperature: the meat loses its liquor and turns rubbery before it is even cooked.

Shelf Life and Cold Chain

Best before 12 months from the production date printed on the box. Do not refreeze after thawing. Shipped frozen throughout, with no warm stage between the plant and your kitchen.

How to Cook It

Steam with ginger, spring onion and a splash of rice wine until the shells just open, and stop there. For a clear soup, simmer with soft tofu and a slice of ginger for four minutes. For garlic butter, soften garlic and chilli in butter, add the clams and a lid, and shake the pan until they pop. Drop them into a hot pot at the table and lift them out as they open. Any shell still shut after cooking should be thrown away, not forced.

Allergens and Compliance

Contains molluscs. Packed in a facility that also handles fish and crustaceans. Not suitable for anyone with a shellfish allergy. This is a food product and no health, medical or nutritional claim is made for it.