Is a Steamer a Clam?

Steamers. Steamers are also known as soft-shells, and as that name implies, these clams have a brittle exterior, leaving shell crumbs behind in the mud of the Northeast, where they grow.

What type of clam is a steamer?

Also called “steamer clams” or “long-neck clams,” soft-shell clams are oval in shape with an often protruding dark neck, or siphon. Small and tender, soft-shell clams are what we use for frying, but they're also (as the name implies) fantastic steamed or in chowder.

Are steamers clams or mussels?

Steamers, littlenecks, and cherrystones are the best clams for steaming. There are two basic types of clams to choose from: soft and hard. Soft-shell clams—a misnomer because their shells aren't soft at all—have a small necklike siphon sticking out between their shells. They're also known as steamers.