ITALIAN RECIPES TRADITIONAL AND CREATIVE  Characteritics and Italian cooking recipes for the mussels
 Razor Shells or Clams: characteritics and recipes
Razor clams are bivalve molluscs, which have the particularity of living in a vertical position in the sand, where they are able to dig a tunnel up to 3 feet (1 mt) of depth when they feel threatened. They filter the water,  as all their cousins, so it is important the origin: if the sea is polluted... Usually razor clams length is around 5,90 inches (15 cm), but some reach the 6,70 inches (17 cm). According to the subspecies the shell can be more or less thin and fragile. The colours go from beige up to a dark violet, depending from their habitat. In general razor clams are sold to "bundles": it is important to verify that razor shells are well alive (the shell opens and the animal protrudes or retracts to contact). Cleanse razor clams by leaving them purging in fresh and salted water for at least an hour. Then, according to the recipes, you can cook directly, in their open shell (being careful not to break them) or without shell. Razor clams must be cooked....few! Anyhow you prefer razor shells, cooking time must be short (5 minutes), or razor clams will become hard, rubbery and insipid. If you cook razor shells well you will obtain instead an intense and a delicate dish. Try razor clams also simply steamed, just sprinkled with extra virgin olive oil. Razor Shells recipes with picturessee also      
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