What is the difference between mussels and steamers

Clams have a powerful burrowing foot as well. They always hide away in the sediments. Clams are generally consumed in a dish called clam chowder. Most of the edible clams are oval in shape. However, the razor clams, which are also edible, have an elongated shape. Mussels refer to any of bivalve mollusks with a brown or purplish-black shell. They live in both freshwater and marine water. Most of the edible, marine mussels belong to the family Mytilidae.

The shell of the mussels is asymmetric when compared to the shell of the clams. The outline of the shell is elongated. The shell is less oval or circular in shape as well. Get our Linguine with Clams and Chorizo recipe. Larger clams are perfect for stuffing—steam them, chop the meat, and mix it with delicious things like spicy sausage, onions, and breadcrumbs, then spoon the mixture back into the shells and bake until golden brown.

Get the Rhode Island Stuffed Clam recipe. Steamed mussels are topped with freshly made breadcrumbs use white bread or half of a leftover baguette and garlic with freshly chopped parsley. Get our Mussels with Garlic and Breadcrumbs recipe. Be sure to thoroughly soak the clams in cold water before stir-frying. Scallions, red pepper flakes, fresh ginger, garlic, shallots, soy sauce, and Chinese bean sauce make for a zesty stir-fry that is perfect served over rice.

A simple grain salad made with farro and served with baby arugula is the perfect base for a perfectly seared scallop. Make sure not to turn the heat up too high in the first few minutes.

A Belgian-style ale is a perfectly paired ingredient to offset the brininess of the mussels, along with some grated lemon zest. These creative holiday gift ideas are perfect for the food-loving fams in your life. Clams can grow to be much bigger than mussels with the non-edible giant clam being able to grow to more than pounds and 4. Clams are often eaten raw, and it's not uncommon to see them on the raw bar menu at restaurants — in fact, millions of Americans eat raw clams and oysters each year.

It's worth pointing out that eating cooked clams is safer, and will lessen your chances of contracting a food-borne illness via ISSC. There are roughly different types of edible clams that exist, but only a handful of them are commercially available. They have a chewy, almost crunchy texture and a delicious briny flavor. The two common species of geoduck clams are the Pacific geoducks and the Atlantic geoducks. The two are virtually indistinguishable, with shells measuring between seven and nine inches in length and siphons that grow up to four feet long.

This makes them the largest burrowing clams in existence. Also known as quahogs, two main varieties exist. There are the Northern quahogs that live in the intertidal zones of the Atlantic coast between the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of St. These have shells that measure anywhere between 1. There are also the Southern quahogs found in the intertidal zones between the West Indies and the Chesapeake Bay. These can grow up to six inches long.

Also known as ocean quahogs, these clams are found in the North Atlantic region, particularly around Maine. Their shell shape is round and is typically dark brown or black. They reach maturity after six years and can live for up to They have a much stronger flavor compared to their hard clam cousins and are well suited to making pasta dishes.

Also known as steamer clams on the West Coast, these mollusks are a type of small, hard-shell clam found in the Pacific Ocean.

They have a sweet flavor and are less briny compared to other clam varieties. These have brittle shells that gape open.