Recommendation for Canned or Jarred Clams

[Shel_B]

I've only used Snow's once and was not impressed by them. I've recently decided to try a Linguine and Clam Sauce "weeknight" recipe, i.e., simple and quick. Are there any prepared clams that you'd recommend? Quality takes precedence over price. There's no need to suggest fresh clams, as I've got sources for them. I'm just looking for a good-quality pantry item. Thanks!

[Tropicalsenior]

31 minutes ago, Shel_B said:

good-quality pantry item.

In my experience, there is no such thing. Once you've tasted good fresh clams straight out of the ocean you just can't settle for canned.

[TdeV]

@Shel_B, I found these razor clams at Zingerman's.

 

I've got a lot of cookbooks for tinned fish!

[liuzhou]

9 hours ago, Tropicalsenior said:

In my experience, there is no such thing. Once you've tasted good fresh clams straight out of the ocean you just can't settle for canned.

 

I completely agree but when I can get fresh , live clams in about 12 different types from tiny to geoduck in almost every market or supermarket, why pass on them. Another but: very little canned food of any type here (other than pet food).  

 

But I realise  I'm lucky in that  respect.

 

 

[Shel_B]

9 hours ago, Tropicalsenior said:

In my experience, there is no such thing. Once you've tasted good fresh clams straight out of the ocean you just can't settle for canned.

Within five minutes of my home are two of the area's finest and most respected fish markets. I can get fresh clams of many varieties almost any time, but sometimes I want something readily available in my pantry. I don't always want a more time-consuming and complicated preparation method and am willing to settle for lesser quality for greater convenience. However, the differences between fresh and canned clams may be different enough to think of them as different ingredients, which is how I imagine them to be.

[JeanneCake]

When our local fishmonger closed his shop, he started a home delivery service.  One of the items he has (not always) is frozen clams meant for chowder or other recipes.  Maybe your local fish shop has something similar?

[Shel_B]

4 hours ago, TdeV said:

@Shel_B, I found these razor clams at Zingerman's.

 

I've got a lot of cookbooks for tinned fish!

Thanks.  I've not been a fan of Zingermans for many years.

 

If you have a lot of cookbooks for tinned fish, I'd imagine that there are a fair number of folks who use and enjoy the product for what it is.

[Shel_B]

2 minutes ago, JeanneCake said:

When our local fishmonger closed his shop, he started a home delivery service.  One of the items he has (not always) is frozen clams meant for chowder or other recipes.  Maybe your local fish shop has something similar?

Hadn't thought about frozen. That might be worth checking into. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Tropicalsenior]

30 minutes ago, Shel_B said:

Hadn't thought about frozen.

I was thinking of suggesting this because when we lived in Washington state we used to go clam digging all the time and I always put the extras in the freezer. I froze them in baggies with water in them and they always tasted perfectly fresh when they were thawed.