Help - Cleaning Gapper (Horse) Clams???

[brshooter]

Just got back from clamming and crabbing at T-Bay. Got our limits of gappers and cockles. I have a question on the gappers. No problem getting the clam from the shell. You got a neck, a digger and a couple of other meaty strips. How do you get the dark skin off of the neck area? I know on a goeduck, we would blanch the neck to remove the skin. Same method on the horse clams? Any suggestions?

[img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]

Thanks in advance.

[ClamdiggerMike]

Dear Brshooter
Cut open the necks,place them flat on a cookie sheet.
Put the necks in the freezer over night. In the morning thaw them in water. They peel so easy !

[Bait O' Eggs]

I have never froze or blanched them as described. I just put them in a bowl of water and leave them on the counter. In the morning the skin will peel off like it was never stuck at all.

Never had a problem with the clams spoiling. If you put them in the fridge in water, the skin doesnt peel well, something about the colder water.

I do cut the tip of the neck off, and split the neck when I clean them though.

[ 06-14-2002, 09:39 PM: Message edited by: Bait O' Eggs ]

[brshooter]

Thanks Guys,
Going to try the soak in water overnight trick. Already had the necks split, but will give it a go. Will let you know how it works.

The gaper (horse) clams are big, but what a pain to clean. Cockles are much easier and quicker.

[BUGLEMAN]

Just cut off that nasty tip and then drop the necks into boiling water for a min or two. Be careful not to cook them. Then immidiatly cool in a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking action. They peel easy then.

[ 06-14-2002, 11:26 PM: Message edited by: BUGLEMAN ]