PRO Courses Hot Guides Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade
QUIZZES All Quizzes Hot Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Trivia Quizzes Taylor Swift Quizzes
EDIT Edit this Article
EXPLORE Tech Help ProAbout UsRandom ArticleQuizzes Request a New ArticleCommunity DashboardTrendingForums Arts and EntertainmentArtworkBooksMoviesComputers and ElectronicsComputersPhone SkillsTechnology HacksHealthMen's HealthMental HealthWomen's HealthRelationshipsDatingLoveRelationship Issues Hobbies and CraftsCraftsDrawingGamesEducation & CommunicationCommunication SkillsPersonal DevelopmentStudyingPersonal Care and StyleFashionHair CarePersonal Hygiene Quizzes Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Fun Games Arts and EntertainmentFinance and BusinessHome and GardenRelationship Quizzes Cars & Other VehiclesFood and EntertainingPersonal Care and StyleSports and Fitness Computers and ElectronicsHealthPets and AnimalsTravel Education & CommunicationHobbies and CraftsPhilosophy and ReligionWork World Family LifeHolidays and TraditionsRelationshipsYouth
LOG IN
Log in
Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. FacebookGooglewikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account
RANDOM
Home
Random
Browse Articles
TrendingNew
Quizzes & Games
All QuizzesHot
Love Quizzes
Personality Quizzes
Fun Games
Dating Simulator
Learn Something New
Forums
Courses
Happiness Hub
Explore More
Support wikiHow
About wikiHow
Log in / Sign up
Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow
Categories
Food and Entertaining
Recipes
Fish and Seafood
How to Clean a Razor Clam Download Article Co-authored by Markeicha Dulaney and Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA
Last Updated: May 18, 2025
Download Article
Removing the Shell
|
Splitting the Clam Meat
|
Removing the Innards
|
Preparing Your Clams for Cooking
|
Tips
|
Warnings
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Markeicha Dulaney and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA. Chef Markeicha Dulaney is a Personal Chef and Founder of Sweet Monáe Personal Chef Services in 2015 in South Florida. She has over 22 years of experience in the kitchen and provides customizable menus to meet the dietary needs, taste preferences, style, and budget of each client. She also specializes in weekly in-home chef services, all-inclusive pro-chef services, boutique catering, and pantry organizing services. She was featured in The Knot's "Table for Two" YouTube episodes and has also been featured in Real Simple Magazine article on "What routines save you the most time.” Chef Markeicha Dulaney graduated with an Associate's Degree from the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute of Culinary Arts and is a longtime member of the USPCA (United States Personal Chef Association). This article has been viewed 54,481 times.
Razor clams are a delicious and popular dish, so it’s no surprise that people love to go clam digging for them. If you’ve recently brought home a clam haul, you’ll want to get them cleaned up so that you can cook them. While the clams look intimidating, they’re actually really easy to clean if you know the best technique.
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 4:
Removing the Shell
Download Article
1 Clean the sand off of your clams. Before you get started, give your clam shells a nice scrub so that you won’t transfer any sand onto your clam meat during the unshelling. You don’t need to use any soap or cleaning product to wash off the sand. All you need is water and friction.[1]XResearch source
2 Put your clams into a colander or steamer basket that fits into a pot. If you have too many clams to put them all into the colander or steamer basket, then you can split them into batches for cleaning.[2]XResearch source
Grab a few towels or oven mitts to help you safely handle your clams.
If you don’t have a pot that’s large enough, then you can use a heat proof bowl.
Advertisement
3 Boil a pot of water. Bring your water to a rolling boil. You can leave it in the pot for the next step, or you can pour it into your heat proof bowl if you’re using one.[3]XResearch source
While the amount of water doesn’t have to be exact, it’s best to use about 1 quart (1 liter) for every 15 clams.
4 Dip the colander or steamer basket into the pot. Completely submerge your clams to get them to open their shells. While they’re in the water, gently shift the colander back and forth to encourage the clams to open.[4]XResearch source
5 Wait 10 seconds, then remove the clams. The clams will have opened their shells with the meat exposed, but you need to cool them down quickly so that the meat doesn’t cook. Accidentally cooking the clam in the boiling water will ruin its texture and flavor.[5]XResearch source
Have a bowl of cold water prepared and waiting for use before you insert the clams into the boiling water.
6 Submerge the clams in cold water. You can use either cool or ice water to chill your clams. The cold water will prevent the clams from cooking improperly.[6]XResearch source
Wait until your clams are completely cool before handling them to avoid burns.
7 Pull the clams from the shells. Use your hands to remove the clam meat. Place the clam meat into a clean container.
If the clam is not completely detached, cut its four abductor muscles with a sharp knife.
Advertisement Part 2 Part 2 of 4:
Splitting the Clam Meat
Download Article
1 Remove the tip of the neck (the siphon). This is the tough part of the clam, so most people choose to slice it off. You will want to remove it as close to the tip as possible to preserve the meat.[7]XResearch source
2 Cut a slit from the foot of the clam up to the tip of the neck. One side of the clam should have a sharp tooth-like texture that resembles a razor-blade or zipper. Follow along the razor-blade with your knife to open the meat.[8]XResearch source
3 Lay your clam flat. Spread the clam to reveal its inner parts. You can lay it on a cutting board or plate so that you can easily make your cuts as you remove the inedible parts of the clam.
If you are experienced in the kitchen, you may choose to hold the clam in your hand; however, doing so risks you cutting your hand. It’s best to use a hard surface instead.
Advertisement Part 3 Part 3 of 4:
Removing the Innards
Download Article
1 Cut off the gills. You will see the fleshy brown gills near the center of your clam. Use your knife to carefully detach them from the rest of the clam meat. Cut down below the gills and rinse thoroughly to remove any hidden sand.[9]XResearch source
The gills are not dangerous to eat, but most people prefer to remove them before cooking them.
The mouth of the clam, called the palp, is in the same place as the gills. You will be removing these parts together if you scrape away all of the fleshy brown area.[10]XResearch source
2 Squeeze near the digger (the foot) of the clam to reveal the stomach. Look for the dark sack-like part of your clam, which is the stomach. Press the meat below the stomach to make it easier to cut it away.[11]XResearch source Use your knife to remove the stomach, which may take several passes with your blade. Rinse the area to remove the gunk that seeps out.[12]XResearch source
Continue to cut and rinse until all of the dark stomach sludge is gone.
3 Locate and remove the clear rod that is inside the clam. Razor clams contain a crystalline style that allows them to break up their food, and you must remove it before eating the meat. While you’re cutting away the stomach, you should see the rod slide from inside the clam. If it doesn’t come away on it’s own, press the clam to push it out, then remove it with your fingers.[13]XResearch source
Don’t mistake the crystalline style for a worm. It’s a natural part of the clam.
It will look like a piece of plastic.[14]XResearch source
4 Slice the digger (the foot) and lay it open. The digger looks like a long rectangular piece that extends from around the center of your clam. You can choose to first cut it away from the rest of the meat or to leave it attached for cooking, depending on your personal preferences or the directions in your recipe.[15]XResearch source
5 Pull out the intestines. Inside the foot you will see what looks like dark sludge. These are the intestines, which need to be cleared away. You can pluck them out or run your knife beneath them. Rinse the area until all you see is clean, white clam meat.[16]XResearch source
Advertisement Part 4 Part 4 of 4:
Preparing Your Clams for Cooking
Download Article
1 Hold each clam under running water. Once you’ve cut away all of the innards, you’ll want to give your clams a final rinse. For best results, rinse them individually under your tap. Allow each clam a few seconds under the water.[17]XResearch source
2 Place the clams into a clean dish. As you finish washing each clam, transfer it into your preparation dish. Continue until all of the clams are clean.
3 Drain away any excess water. After you’re done washing the clams, drain off any water that has accumulated in your dish.
4 Cook or store your clams. Proceed with your recipe or freeze your clams for later.[18]X Expert Source Markeicha DulaneyPersonal ChefExpert Interview You can always prepare part of the batch and save the rest.
If you want to freeze your clams, place them in a storage bag or container.[19]X Expert Source Markeicha DulaneyPersonal ChefExpert Interview Add a little water before putting it in the freezer.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search Add New Question Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Tips
You may find pea crabs or flatworms in your clam, but that does not mean that the clam is bad. You can still eat the meat after cleaning.[20]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
When cleaning away the innards, it helps to focus on cutting or cleaning away all of the dark areas. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Warnings
Razor clams must be cooked before you eat them. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
Be careful when handling hot water and dishes. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
Advertisement
You Might Also Like
How toShuck ClamsHow to Clean a Crab Before CookingHow toClean a Blue CrabHow toClean a LobsterHow toEat Dungeness CrabHow toEat PrawnsHow toClean ScallopsHow toCook Mud CrabHow toBoil ClamsHow toEat ClamsCleaning Shrimp for Beginners: Rinsing, Peeling, Deveining, & MoreHow toPeel a Cooked PrawnHow toFillet a SnapperHow toDig for Clams Advertisement
Co-authored by: Markeicha Dulaney Personal Chef This article was co-authored by Markeicha Dulaney and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA. Chef Markeicha Dulaney is a Personal Chef and Founder of Sweet Monáe Personal Chef Services in 2015 in South Florida. She has over 22 years of experience in the kitchen and provides customizable menus to meet the dietary needs, taste preferences, style, and budget of each client. She also specializes in weekly in-home chef services, all-inclusive pro-chef services, boutique catering, and pantry organizing services. She was featured in The Knot's "Table for Two" YouTube episodes and has also been featured in Real Simple Magazine article on "What routines save you the most time.” Chef Markeicha Dulaney graduated with an Associate's Degree from the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute of Culinary Arts and is a longtime member of the USPCA (United States Personal Chef Association). This article has been viewed 54,481 times. 9 votes - 78% Co-authors: 6Updated: May 18, 2025 Views: 54,481 Categories: Fish and SeafoodArticle SummaryX
To clean razor clams, scrub the sand off of them with your hands or a sturdy scrub brush. Next, open the shells by submerging them in boiling water, followed by cold water. Then, use your hands to pull the clam meat from the shell. Once you’ve removed the meat, slice off the tip of the neck, then cut a slit from the foot up to the neck. Afterwards, remove the gills, stomach, and the crystalline style, then slice the foot of the clam and pull out the intestines. Finally, rinse out the inside of the clam until all you see is clean, white meat. To learn how to prepare your razor clams for cooking, read on.Did this summary help you?YesNo
In other languagesSpanish
Print
Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 54,481 times.
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Markeicha Dulaney Personal Chef 9 votes - 78% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 6Updated: May 18, 2025 Views: 54,481
Quizzes & Games
How Disgusting Am I QuizTake QuizGuess Where I Grew Up Based On Food QuizTake QuizGuess the Food QuizTake QuizFinish the Phrase QuizTake QuizHow Good Are My Survival Instincts QuizTake QuizWhat Sea Creature Am I QuizTake Quiz
You Might Also Like
How toShuck ClamsHow to Clean a Crab Before CookingHow toClean a Blue CrabHow toClean a Lobster
Trending Articles
Am I Good at Flirting QuizHow Sexual Am I QuizHow Many Secret Admirers Do I Have QuizRank My Attractiveness Quiz5 Different Types of Butts: Find Your ShapeWhat Would My Nickname Be Quiz
Watch Articles
How toImpress a Girl on a First DateWhat Are Tear Burns on TikTok and What Causes Them?How toWear a HoodieHow toChiffonadeHow toMake a Fabric RoseHow toConfront a Bully
Trending Articles
210+ Shower Thoughts: Funny, Deep, Weird & Mind-Blowing140+ Wavelength Game Categories & Questions to Extend Your PlayThe Ultimate Collection of Funny, Cheesy, & Romantic Rizz LinesWhat 16 of the Most Common Hugs MeanThe Top Emojis Guys Use when They Like or Love YouWhat Emojis Mean Sex?
Quizzes & Games
Which SpongeBob Character Am I QuizTake QuizWhat Pasta Shape Am I QuizTake QuizDo I Have Brainrot QuizTake QuizWhat Kind of Reality Check Do I Need QuizTake QuizGuess the Animal Photo QuizTake QuizSpongeBob Trivia QuizTake Quiz
Categories
Food and Entertaining
Recipes
Fish and Seafood
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.
Download Article Co-authored by Markeicha Dulaney and Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA 
How toEat Prawns 
Cleaning Shrimp for Beginners: Rinsing, Peeling, Deveining, & More 
How toPeel a Cooked Prawn 
Advertisement 
Co-authored by: Markeicha Dulaney Personal Chef This article was co-authored by Markeicha Dulaney and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA. Chef Markeicha Dulaney is a Personal Chef and Founder of Sweet Monáe Personal Chef Services in 2015 in South Florida. She has over 22 years of experience in the kitchen and provides customizable menus to meet the dietary needs, taste preferences, style, and budget of each client. She also specializes in weekly in-home chef services, all-inclusive pro-chef services, boutique catering, and pantry organizing services. She was featured in The Knot's "Table for Two" YouTube episodes and has also been featured in Real Simple Magazine article on "What routines save you the most time.” Chef Markeicha Dulaney graduated with an Associate's Degree from the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute of Culinary Arts and is a longtime member of the USPCA (United States Personal Chef Association). This article has been viewed 54,481 times. 9 votes - 78% Co-authors: 6 Updated: May 18, 2025 Views: 54,481 Categories: Fish and Seafood Article SummaryX
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz 
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz 
691 
1 Clean the sand off of your clams. Before you get started, give your clam shells a nice scrub so that you won’t transfer any sand onto your clam meat during the unshelling. You don’t need to use any soap or cleaning product to wash off the sand. All you need is water and friction.[1] 
2 Put your clams into a colander or steamer basket that fits into a pot. If you have too many clams to put them all into the colander or steamer basket, then you can split them into batches for cleaning.[2] 
3 Boil a pot of water. Bring your water to a rolling boil. You can leave it in the pot for the next step, or you can pour it into your heat proof bowl if you’re using one.[3] 
4 Dip the colander or steamer basket into the pot. Completely submerge your clams to get them to open their shells. While they’re in the water, gently shift the colander back and forth to encourage the clams to open.[4] 
5 Wait 10 seconds, then remove the clams. The clams will have opened their shells with the meat exposed, but you need to cool them down quickly so that the meat doesn’t cook. Accidentally cooking the clam in the boiling water will ruin its texture and flavor.[5] 
6 Submerge the clams in cold water. You can use either cool or ice water to chill your clams. The cold water will prevent the clams from cooking improperly.[6] 
7 Pull the clams from the shells. Use your hands to remove the clam meat. Place the clam meat into a clean container. 
1 Remove the tip of the neck (the siphon). This is the tough part of the clam, so most people choose to slice it off. You will want to remove it as close to the tip as possible to preserve the meat.[7] 
2 Cut a slit from the foot of the clam up to the tip of the neck. One side of the clam should have a sharp tooth-like texture that resembles a razor-blade or zipper. Follow along the razor-blade with your knife to open the meat.[8] 
3 Lay your clam flat. Spread the clam to reveal its inner parts. You can lay it on a cutting board or plate so that you can easily make your cuts as you remove the inedible parts of the clam. 
1 Cut off the gills. You will see the fleshy brown gills near the center of your clam. Use your knife to carefully detach them from the rest of the clam meat. Cut down below the gills and rinse thoroughly to remove any hidden sand.[9] 
2 Squeeze near the digger (the foot) of the clam to reveal the stomach. Look for the dark sack-like part of your clam, which is the stomach. Press the meat below the stomach to make it easier to cut it away.[11] Use your knife to remove the stomach, which may take several passes with your blade. Rinse the area to remove the gunk that seeps out.[12] 
3 Locate and remove the clear rod that is inside the clam. Razor clams contain a crystalline style that allows them to break up their food, and you must remove it before eating the meat. While you’re cutting away the stomach, you should see the rod slide from inside the clam. If it doesn’t come away on it’s own, press the clam to push it out, then remove it with your fingers.[13] 
4 Slice the digger (the foot) and lay it open. The digger looks like a long rectangular piece that extends from around the center of your clam. You can choose to first cut it away from the rest of the meat or to leave it attached for cooking, depending on your personal preferences or the directions in your recipe.[15] 
5 Pull out the intestines. Inside the foot you will see what looks like dark sludge. These are the intestines, which need to be cleared away. You can pluck them out or run your knife beneath them. Rinse the area until all you see is clean, white clam meat.[16] Advertisement 
1 Hold each clam under running water. Once you’ve cut away all of the innards, you’ll want to give your clams a final rinse. For best results, rinse them individually under your tap. Allow each clam a few seconds under the water.[17] 
2 Place the clams into a clean dish. As you finish washing each clam, transfer it into your preparation dish. Continue until all of the clams are clean. 
3 Drain away any excess water. After you’re done washing the clams, drain off any water that has accumulated in your dish. 
4 Cook or store your clams. Proceed with your recipe or freeze your clams for later.[18] You can always prepare part of the batch and save the rest.