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The clam, sometimes seen as a poor cousin totheoyster,can also be enjoyed both raw and cooked. Best rawaretinylittlenecks or mid-sized cherrystones.Others,likequahogs or mahogany, are too chewy to beeatenraw,but are perfect for chowders andothercookedpreparations.
In this regard, is it OK to eat raw clams?
You can become ill by eating raworundercookedoysters or clams. If the oysters orclamsare cookedthoroughly, the Vibrio vulnificus bacteriaare destroyedand thereis no risk of infection.
Similarly one may ask, how do you eat fresh clams?
Pick up a clam with your fingers. When eating raw hard-shell clams,thereisno need to use a shellfish fork or otherutensil.Theclams will already be open, on the half-shell.Simplypickclams up, one at a time,usingyourhands.
Healthy people are not at risk of seriousinfection.Ifyou at risk, raw or undercooked oystersorclamscontaining Vibrio vulnificus can make yousick.Youcan also become infected if these bacteria enteryourbodythrough an open wound while swimming.