Is Fresh Clam Chowder Expected to Have Sand?

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SUMMARY

Fresh clam chowder is expected to contain a small amount of sand due to the nature of clams as filter feeders. Unlike canned versions, which often have sand, fresh clams can be purged of sand by keeping them alive in salted water and feeding them corn muffin mix for a couple of days. This technique effectively allows clams to expel sand while consuming the muffin mix. The discussion highlights the difference in preparation methods between fresh and canned clam chowder.

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Is fresh clam chowder expected to have a tiny bit of sand in it (from the clams)? I'm only familiar with the canned versions of clam chowder. Many of them contain a little sand.
 
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I would imagine that 'fresh clams' probably have grains of sand in them, since they are filter feeders.
 
Plenty of minerals in clam chowder!
 
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When I lived in Maine we would sometimes eat steamed mussels and steamer clams. To purge the sand I would keep them live in the fridge in salted water and feed them sprinkles of corn muffin mix for a couple of days. The critters would expell the sand and fill their tummies with sweet muffin mix. Yum.

As a midwesterner I can advise that the same technique does not work for "prairie oysters".
 
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