Clams are a delicious and nutritious food that can be enjoyed all year round. Their taste ranges from mild to salty, depending on the variety of clam and the method used to prepare them. They are low in calories, fat, cholesterol and sodium, making them an excellent choice for your next meal.
Whether you prefer clams raw or cooked, we have some great canned clam recipes for you to try out!
Here are our favorite canned clam recipes:
List of top Best Canned Clams
#1: Roland Foods Fancy Smoked Baby Clams
These clams are packed in delicious oil, so you can enjoy the flavor without worrying about any excess grease. They’re also specially imported from Europe, so you can rest assured that they’re the best quality available.
The tin contains 3 ounces of baby clams, which is the perfect amount for an appetizer or snack for one person. Each tin is sealed by hand and then shipped to your door, so you’ll have fresh-smoked clams in no time at all!
Highlighted features:
- Imported from Europe
- Tasty olive oil for an authentic, flavorful clam
- Flavorful and convenient for one person
#2: Chicken of the Sea Whole Baby Clams
These delicious clams are packed with vitamins and nutrients that are good for your body. They’re also low-calorie and sodium, so you can eat them without guilt!
Each can contains about 90 calories and 7 grams of protein. They’re a great source of iron as well, which helps keep your blood healthy.
The best thing? These clams are gluten-free! That means they’re perfect for those who have celiac disease or just want to avoid gluten whenever possible.
Highlighted features:
- Gluten-Free
- High in Omega 3 Fatty Acids & Protein
- Low Calories and Sodium
#3: Bar Harbor Chopped Clams
It takes a lot to make a delicious meal, but all it takes is one small bar of our chopped clam that you can mix into your favorite seafood recipe. Made with natural and simple ingredients, this is the perfect option as an easy to prepare a base for your favorite seafood recipe. This clam is made with wild-caught, sustainably harvested clam and packed from the cold North Atlantic that is hand sorted and hand packed to ensure it is of the highest quality.
Highlighted features:
- All natural clam
- Certified Kosher and gluten-free
- Made from sustainable clam
- Hand packed
#4: Chopped Sea Clams
If you’re looking for restaurant-quality clams, look no further. These chopped sea clams are shucked and ready to use, so all you have to do is heat them up.
The clams come from a sustainable fishery, so you can feel good about serving them to your family and friends. The clams are also suitable for vegetarians and vegans!
They’re perfect for making clam chowder or other soups, or even adding to casseroles or pasta dishes. You can also use them as an appetizer—just scoop some out of the can and serve with toothpicks!
Highlighted features:
- Shucked and ready to use
- Makes great clam chowder
- Vegetarian/vegan
- 12 cans per case
#5: Snow’s Ocean Chopped Clams Canned
These are the perfect addition to your seafood recipes, with just 7g of protein per serving. These canned clams will make it easy for you to whip up a tasty meal in no time at all.
They’re also fat-free and 99% fat free, which means they’re great for people who are looking to lose weight or maintain their weight while still enjoying delicious food. These canned clams are also perfect if you’re looking for a good source of protein without eating meat.
These chopped clams taste great on their own or mixed into pasta dishes, so they’re great for adding flavor without adding extra calories. They’re also great as an appetizer when served alongside other seafood or vegetables like tomatoes or carrots!
Highlighted features:
- Fat-free
- Gluten-free
- 7g protein per serving
#6: Crown Prince Natural Smoked Baby Clams
You’ll be prepared for any situation with our natural smoked clams. Whether you’re prepping for your next camping trip or a day at the beach, these convenient canned baby clams are sure to be your go-to seafood pack. They are naturally wood-smoked, hand-packed and cold-pressed.
They’re a non-GMO project verified and certified Paleo, which means they’re delicious and nutritious. One serving has 150 mg of Omega-3s, which is excellent for your health. The cans are BPA-free for a safe, convenient seafood treat! Our naturally smoked baby clams are perfect for your next camping trip or day at the beach.
Highlighted features:
- Naturally smoked, hand-packed and cold pressed
- Non-GMO project verified and certified Paleo
- One serving has 150 mg of Omega-3s
#7: Snow’s by Bumble Bee Chopped Clams Juice
With their juice, you’ll get a product that is not only high-quality and delicious, but also environmentally friendly: all of their cans are made from 100% recycled materials. They’re also certified sustainable by both the Marine Stewardship Council and the Forest Stewardship Council.
Their clams are sourced from the North Atlantic Ocean off New England and Canada—the same waters that have been providing tasty seafood for centuries. This means that they’re not just sustainably caught; they’re naturally delicious as well!
If you want something easy and convenient for your next clam bake or clam chowder, look no further than this product!
Highlighted features:
- Certified sustainable by both the Marine Stewardship Council and the Forest Stewardship Council
- High-quality wild clam with rich, juicy clam meat
- No trans fats or artificial colors or flavorings
- Made from 100% recycled materials
- Rustproof cans are made of aluminum and copper alloy
- Guaranteed freshness, as they’re packed in a nitrogen flush facility
#8: Bumble Bee Whole Baby Canned Clams
These are delicious and nutritious. They’re great as a snack or part of any seafood recipe. That’s because they’re made with only the best ingredients, including 13g of protein per serving—more than half the recommended daily intake for adults.
They are also gluten-free, making them a great option for those who have dietary restrictions. And because they’re ready to eat, you can just pull the can out of the fridge and eat them straight from the can!
Each 10 oz can contain 3 servings of Bumble Bee Whole Baby Clams, so you’ll have plenty to share with your family or friends.
Highlighted features:
- Delicious and nutritious
- Gluten free
#9: Reese Smoked Baby Clams
These are the perfect addition to your next seafood dinner. They come in a convenient easy-open can and have been farm-raised so you know they’re fresh!
These clams have been cherrywood smoked for an extra smoky flavor that’s sure to please your palate. They’re made with cottonseed oil so they’re easy on your digestive system.
With 10 cans in this pack, you’ll be able to enjoy these delicious clams as often as you’d like!
Highlighted features:
- Farmed clams
- Easy-open can
- Smoked for extra flavor
#10: Crown Prince Baby Clams
It’s time to bring back the vernacular and salt. These are a celebration of the bivalve, sourced from managed fisheries and packed in soybean oil. Containing 1,230 mg omega-3 per serving, these clams are a great source of protein and iron.
And they’re naturally wood smoked and packed in soybean oil — not your typical canned seafood! They are an excellent appetizer on crackers or bread, or right out of the can.
Highlighted features:
- Made in the USA
- Excellent source of protein
- No processed additives or preservatives
- Naturally smoked and packed in soybean oil
- 100% cage-free egg production for your outdoor farm chicken business
Things to consider when buying canned clams
Canned clams are a convenient and tasty addition to many dishes. But before you buy, consider these factors.
Size
Canned clams come in different sizes, from tiny to huge. The size of the clams affects how they cook and what recipes they’re best suited for.
Small clams are perfect for pasta sauces, while larger ones are great for soups or casseroles. Some cans even contain clam juice that’s been strained to remove any bits of shell or grit. If you’re making a dish that calls for clam juice to be added at the end, this can be a good option.
Flavorings
Some canned clams have been flavored with other ingredients like garlic or spices before being canned; others are not flavored at all. If you want an unadulterated taste of fresh seafood, look for cans that don’t have added flavorings. Some people prefer adding their own seasonings after opening the can, while others prefer pre-seasoned clams so they don’t have to do any extra work themselves
Types of clam
In the US, most canned clams are hard-shell varieties, especially cherrystones and littlenecks. Softer-shelled clams, such as steamers and cockles, are not usually canned because they tend to fall apart during processing. They’re better suited for making chowders or other dishes that don’t require opening.
Hard-shell clams (called “bivalves”) have two shells joined by a hinge. They can be found in saltwater or freshwater, but commercial production is mostly concentrated on the Atlantic coast. Canned hard-shell clams are also known as “quahogs” (pronounced “co-hogs”).
FAQs
Which are better frozen or canned clams?
Frozen and canned clams are both good options for those who love to eat seafood. But which is better?
Canned clams are a great option if you’re looking for convenience. All you have to do is pop open the can, heat up the clams, and eat them. You can also use canned clams in recipes that call for fresh clams.
On the other hand, frozen clams are more expensive than canned ones but they tend to taste better because they’re flash-frozen instead of being canned. They are also more sustainable than canned clams because they don’t require any preservatives or additives that could be harmful to your health.
So which one should you choose? It depends on what matters most to you: convenience or taste!
Should you rinse canned clams?
Canned clams are a great addition to any meal, but do you need to rinse them before you use them?
Rinsing canned clams is not recommended, as the process can result in the loss of some of the clam’s flavor. This is because rinsing removes some of the salt and spices used in canning.
Additionally, rinsing can also cause the clams to lose flavor if done incorrectly. For example, if you leave clams out of their cans for too long before rinsing them, then they could begin to spoil.
If you want to remove any excess salt or spices from canned clams before using them in a recipe, then it’s best to simply drain off any liquid that may have accumulated at the bottom of the can.
Conclusion
The best-canned clams are those that offer a variety of flavors and textures, so you can find the perfect clam for your next meal.
If you’re looking for something light and easy to eat, we recommend Roland Foods Fancy. They’re a great choice if you just want to pop open a can and enjoy them in their own brine. If you want something with more flavor, try Chicken of the Sea Whole. They have an extra-rich sauce that will make your mouth water with each bite! If you’re feeling adventurous, try some Bar Harbor! Their unique blend of spices and herbs makes them unlike any other canned clam out there.