How to Cook and Dig For Razor Clams on the Beach

Embark on an unforgettable seaside adventure as you dive into the world of digging for razor clams and savor the culinary delight of cooking. Join us for a hands-on experience where you'll uncover the secrets hidden beneath the sandy shores and create a delectable dish that will tantalize your taste buds.
First, we'll equip you with the necessary tools-a sturdy clam shovel, a bucket, and a keen eye for spotting the telltale signs of clam presence. As you traverse the beach, you'll learn the art of clamming, honing your skills in locating and digging up these elusive mollusks. Feel the thrill of the chase as you spot small holes and evidence of clam "shows" in the sand, indicating their presence below.
With each successful dig, you'll unearth razor clams-a prized delicacy known for their unique flavor and tender meat. The excitement of the hunt will fuel your enthusiasm as you gather a bountiful harvest, connecting with nature and the coastal environment in a truly immersive way.
Cleaning razor clams can be a delicate process, but with the right technique, it can be relatively simple. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to clean razor clams:
Prepare your workspace: Start by setting up a clean and spacious area where you can comfortably work with the razor clams. It's essential to have a good source of light to see any sand or debris.
Gather the necessary tools: You'll need a sharp knife or a clam knife specifically designed for shucking razor clams. Additionally, have a bowl of fresh water nearby to rinse the clams.
Examine the clams: Look closely at each razor clam to ensure they are alive and healthy. Discard any clams that have broken shells, are cracked, or have an unpleasant odor.
Soak the clams: Place the live razor clams in a bowl or basin filled with clean, cold water. Let them soak for 20-30 minutes. This process helps the clams expel any sand or grit they may have ingested.
Shuck the clams: After soaking, take one clam at a time and hold it firmly in your hand. Using a clam knife or a sharp paring knife, carefully insert the blade into the small opening at the narrow end of the clam's shell. Gently wiggle the knife back and forth to cut through the muscle that holds the shell closed.
Separate the shells: Once you've cut through the muscle, open the shell like a book, exposing the clam's body. Use your fingers or the knife to separate the clam from the upper shell. Be cautious not to damage the clam's delicate meat.
Remove the digestive tract: Locate the dark-colored, tube-like digestive tract, also known as the "neck," running along the length of the clam's body. Using your fingers or the knife, carefully pull or scrape out the entire digestive tract. This step is crucial to eliminate any potential grit or sand that might be present.
Rinse the clam: Hold the cleaned razor clam under cold running water or immerse it in a bowl of fresh water. Gently rinse off any remaining sand, grit, or debris from the clam's body. Make sure to remove all traces of sand for a clean final product.
Repeat the process: Continue the shucking, cleaning, and rinsing process with the remaining clams until they are all cleaned and ready to use.
Store or cook the razor clams: If you're not planning to cook the razor clams immediately, store them in a bowl or container filled with clean, cold water in the refrigerator. Remember to change the water every 1-2 hours to keep them fresh. When ready to cook, use your favorite recipe or simply enjoy them pan-fried, steamed, or in a delicious seafood pasta dish.
Cleaning razor clams requires patience and attention to detail, but the effort is worth it for the tasty results. Enjoy your freshly cleaned razor clams!

[@PhilipFear]

I haven't eaten like that since I had to give up SCUBA Diving.... Your video made my mouth water‼️😉‼️

[@washingtonlife]

Thank you for watching 😃

[@ashleytailor4015]

Your guys cooking never disappoint! Waiting for the day you open up your restaurant

[@washingtonlife]

Maybe one day!

[@dougdodge8801]

I'm just letting you know I like your channel can't keep up good job😊

[@washingtonlife]

Thank you so much I really appreciate your feedback 🙏

[@ericcriteser4001]

I'd like to try this someday. Thanks for sharing.

[@washingtonlife]

Yes you will for sure enjoy it and thank you for visiting my channel

[@welcomier]

AMAZING VIDEO OF HOW YOU CACH THOSE CLAMS AND COOK THEM !!!😊😊

[@washingtonlife]

Thank you so much my friend! 🙏😃

[@welcomier]

@@washingtonlife 😀😀

[@robertbrowning8725]

I want some! Thank you for making this video I was always curious on how others cook them

[@washingtonlife]

Thank you for taking the time to watch

[@RN67POST]

Good stuff, I’m drooling for some!👍

[@washingtonlife]

Thank you so much and thank you for watching 😃🙏

[@PhilipFear]

Here in Rhode Island, Steamers have to be a minimum 1 inch to be taken and I've seen them as big as 3 or 4 inch but everyone here like the smaller the better as they say they are sweeter tasting.... But I like them all, the bigger ones I got the less work to clean them up to eat.... I remember fanning out a hole, 10 to 20 feet deep under water and as the hole would get 6 to 12 inches deep in the sandy bottom you start to see the tops of the clams uncover to show 1 dozen, 2 dozen poking up out of the bottom of the hole and eventually pull 100 to 200 Steamers from one hole to be plucked up and pull in my bag.... Then when I got them aboard the boat, I'd have to sort through my catch with my gage to insure they were big enough.... As I had been laid off because of 9/11, I would take an ice chest around to the bars and sell them by the quart for cash.... I was able to keep going after my unemployment ran out.... What I didn't sell I ate but by the end of that summer, I didn't want to see a clam for the next 6 months‼️😄‼️

[@washingtonlife]

Wow thank you so much for sharing 😃🙏

[@olyman63]

Great show as always thank you for sharing this with us. Have a wonderful day.

[@washingtonlife]

Thank you so much for always watching and commenting on my videos my friend 🙏

[@howleh]

Super big clams. Great video. Hungry now!

[@washingtonlife]

Thank you so much, I appreciate your support 😃🙏

[@MARSHALLESECHANNEL]

I like your cook 😀

[@washingtonlife]

Thank you so much 🙏

[@ollyos1119]

I don’t eat seafood but they make it look good 👍

[@washingtonlife]

Thank you so much for visiting my channel 😃🙏

[@zanthiel2009]

Damn that's huge!

[@washingtonlife]

Thank you for visiting my channel

[@Keepitgoinging]

Brilliant.

[@washingtonlife]

🙏🙏🙏

[@hosgs14]

🔥. Great vid as always!!

[@washingtonlife]

Thank you so much my friend! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the video 😃

[@sordamsklivelifestyle1048]

Very fun day

[@Jon-flowers]

You’ve just gained a subscriber my friend delicious looking food can’t wait to watch more videos

[@washingtonlife]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your support my new friend 😃🙏

[@Straycat733]

When I was going to school in Eureka Ca there were razor clam beds north of town. If the razor clams felt you coming up on them they immediately would start digging deeper so you had to run up and start digging fast. They are delicious deep fried and in Boston clam chowder

[@washingtonlife]

That sounds fun! Yes I agree with you for sure about deep frying and also making chowder. I have a video on me making chowder on the beach with them

[@sherryzmezzo]

You can't do that on the west coast. The kelp beds prevent it. I loved digging up the bubbles on the beach in North Carolina. We never caught them, but it was fun to dig.

[@washingtonlife]

What kind of clams do you have there?

[@Keepitgoinging]

If I was close I would defo go meet you. Thx. I'm in ireland.

[@washingtonlife]

Thank you so much for visiting and cheers! 🍻

[@BadBusiness.357]

Man those clams are huge. I used to harvest clams in ocean city Maryland and assateague island but they were nowhere near as big. I would always fry them up for a free and tasty dinner.

[@washingtonlife]

They are amazing fried and yes we are very lucky to have these huge ones on our coast. Thank you so much for watching and cheers to the good outdoor life

[@Keepitgoinging]

Mmmm mmmm Super Super.

[@washingtonlife]

Thank you so much 🙏

[@Straycat733]

Huge razor clams

[@washingtonlife]

Yes on this beach the razor clams were pretty darn huge and they are extremely fun to dig up.

[@SherriAnnSchanze-of5bu]

Looks great!!

[@washingtonlife]

Thank you so much sherry 😃

[@JakeTehCraka14]

Good stuff man!! Just moved to Astoria. Looking forward to trying this out sometime.

[@washingtonlife]

Astoria is beautiful! You will love it out there! So many things to do and yes clam digging is a must when living out there. Cheers! 🍻

[@Straycat733]

There was a cafe that used razor clams in their chowder that just had the best clam chowder

[@washingtonlife]

I heard a lot of clam chowders are made from geoducks but not sure how true that is

[@emtae3]

Are they deeper the further they are away from shore?

[@washingtonlife]

Yes the big ones are usually farther away from shore

[@Keepitgoinging]

OMG. OMG.

[@washingtonlife]

Thank you 🙏

[@p2kart]

Anyone know where this is? Do you know if you need some sort of licence to harvest these? Can you rent one of those shovels?

[@washingtonlife]

This was over at seaside and I believe you can rent the tools but not sure since I own all of my stuff. Thank you for visiting and good luck out there

[@marzsit9833]

@@washingtonlife some resorts do rent the gear and also sell the licenses. you can get a day license if you don't want to pay for an annual one.

[@washingtonlife]

@@marzsit9833 good to know thank you 😊

[@myview6852]

Are there any outfits that take you clamming in Oregon or Washington state like there are that take you to catch crab?

[@washingtonlife]

@@myview6852 I would check Facebook groups and see if there’s any 👍

[@Kermit_E_Frog]

Do they dig very fast? Like when you see them will they quickly disappear under the dirt if you don't dive for them?

[@washingtonlife]

No they move pretty slow depending on the soil. If the sand is wet and soft like quick sand they can move pretty quickly but if the sand is hard then they move pretty slow. Thank you for visiting my channel 😃

[@Kermit_E_Frog]

@@washingtonlife Thanks for the quick reply! Your channel is very therapeutic so I will definitely be a regular 😂

[@washingtonlife]

@@Kermit_E_Frog your welcome my friend and I appreciate your time 😃

[@sisronweasley2074]

Nice video! Are there any regulations when it comes to picking clams?

[@washingtonlife]

@@sisronweasley2074 yes there are a lot of regulations every digger has to follow by depending on your state of course.

[@agooyong6207]

Are you close to the beach area , where is that?

[@washingtonlife]

This was over on the Oregon coast and was a good 5 hour drive for me

[@docalexander2853]

Where is this?

[@ericn1487]

It's at seaside and it says in the description area too.

[@washingtonlife]

This was out at seaside and thank you for visiting

[@docalexander2853]

In TX, we don’t know where seaside is.

[@washingtonlife]

@@docalexander2853 oh wow you’re in Texas. Seaside is in Oregon and you can only find these razor clams on the west coast

[@Straycat733]

Dug razor clams in Northern California eureka

[@berkaykoclar4953]

Hey Man, i have few questions. So how is their taste like if you can describe it like fish or crap or idk damn i never seen anythnk like that you know. And also is mediterranean sea have those i really wonder wow you had great time and i had great time while watchng you !!!😊

[@washingtonlife]

Their taste is very sweet and a bit of saltiness from the ocean that I enjoy a lot. Their texture is more of a squid and your regular clams and some parts of them are extremely flavorful and melts in your mouth like butter. Thank you so much for watching and I appreciate your time to write me. If you have any other questions don’t hesitate to ask and cheers 🍻

[@berkaykoclar4953]

@@washingtonlife thanks for reply do you have ig acc ?

[@washingtonlife]

@@berkaykoclar4953 I do not I only do KZbin

[@Keepitgoinging]

Wonderful people.

[@washingtonlife]

@@Keepitgoinging yes thank you 🙏

[@Straycat733]

Chest waders look a lot different now then back then

[@washingtonlife]

What did back then look like?

[@Straycat733]

They were thick rubber all the way to your chest not the cloth like material that seems to be contemporary

[@washingtonlife]

@@Straycat733 they sound heavy since they are made of thick rubber right? I bet they were way cheaper back then for chest waders than nowadays that are 2 to 3 hundred dollars

[@Keepitgoinging]

Mmmmmmmm

[@washingtonlife]

😃😃😃

[@Straycat733]

I used a regular shovel

[@washingtonlife]

I used to use a clam shovel until I started using the clam gun and it’s a lot easier in my open. I like to start the hole at the beginning and once I hear the shell hitting the gun i immediately start digging with my hands

[@michaeldeneneo7486]

Brother I eat the hole clam I perg mine in saltwater overnight

[@washingtonlife]

Do you deep fry them?

[@michaeldeneneo7486]

@washingtonlife o yeah 😋 my mom and dad and I love hole belly fried clam I am 58 mom is 75 and dad is 81 we make are own beer batter

[@michaeldeneneo7486]

@@washingtonlife me I make a poor boy sandwich with the fried clams take a sub roll tater sauce home made toasted 😋

[@michaeldeneneo7486]

@washingtonlife that's the only way i will eat oysters deep fried

[@Bignoob1261]

ALASKAN BULLWORM?! 😰

[@washingtonlife]

Hmm 🤔. Thank you for visiting my channel 😃