Maine Cherrystone Clams

Fish and seafood are excellent for your diet, but they can really put a dent in the budget, even if you go for frozen over fresh. For a little less wallet pain, I've been investigating the canned seafood shelf at Trader Joe's, where they have crab, clams, herring, and lots of different types of tuna, among other things. Although canned isn't as good as fresh, it's a lot easier to store and eat more regularly. First up, the Maine whole cherrystone clams ($1.99).

I had no idea what cherrystone clams were compared to "regular" clams (until doing internet research after that dinner), but I was attracted to this product since they said these were premium, wild clams that were hand picked and sorted in Maine. Sure, a lot of that could just be marketing speak, but it got me. I hoped these clams would be better than the ones I used to eat as a kid which would get kind of rubbery when cooked.

The clams in the can were indeed whole. TJ's advises that you rinse them before eating, which is probably a good idea, since who knows what else is in there. Not the most attractive tin of seafood, but who eats clams for their looks?

A chopped these up a little bit and then added them to a pasta dish for some protein. They were mostly good. We both found them a little tough and chewy in parts, but not as rubbery as they could be. I think I'm just not a huge fan of canned clams as a general matter. A was a touch disappointed with how this came out because of the texture. Overall they were tasty enough, but perhaps canned clams just aren't the greatest option.

Buy Again? Maybe. They weren't bad and they'll do in a pinch. Having a can in the pantry isn't a bad idea, but not running back to get another one anytime soon.