how to clean & cook clams | ehow - can you get sick from washing dishs in restaurants

Cooking clams for the first time can be a bit scary.
When buying clams, look carefullyclosed shells.
Clams must be cooked alive.
If the shell is cut, broken or even opened slightly, clams are likely to die.
Eating dead clams can make you very uncomfortable.
Once you take the clams home, open them and store them in the refrigerator until you are ready to clean them.
It's best to use clams on the same angel you buy clams.
For the new chef, steaming is an easy way to learn how to cook clams.
Scrub the clams with a brush under cool tap water to remove any dirt or sand from the shells.
Place clams in a bowl and cover them with water.
Add about 1/3 cups of salt and stir well.
Soak clams for at least 20 minutes.
If you are going to use clams today, repeat the process 2 times.
If you're going to use clams tomorrow, you can have them soak in a bowl in the fridge for a night.
Heat olive oil with medium heat
It's hot but not smoking.
Add chopped garlic and cook for about 5 minutes and stir until the garlic is soft.
If not stirred, the garlic will soon burn out, which will ruin the dish.
Add water or clam juice and wine to the pan.
Turn up the heat and bring the broth to a boil.
When small bubbles are formed on the side of the pan, the broth is boiling.
Add the clams and cover the lid.
Steam the clams for 10 minutes.
Remove clams from the broth with pliers or slotted spoons.
Discard unopened clams.
Add parsley to the broth.
Add salt and pepper to the soup.
Place clams in separate bowls;
In their spoon broth.