You can see clams and mussels living in either fresh or saltwater, but how they live is different from each other. Clams, however, are only found in freshwater. Yes. There are more than 15,000 species of clams in the world, and while not all are edible, the ones you can eat can be pretty delicious and nutritious. The mussel is a bivalve mollusk native to the Atlantic, especially to the European and American coasts. Although they are both chewy, clams have a stronger flavor reminiscent of the sea and are salty or fishy, and mussels have a milder, tender flavor that is somewhat bland, so they tend to be served with a sauce or in a stew. The Primary Distinctions Between Mussels and Clams Mussels can be found in freshwater and saltwater, but clams can only be found in freshwater. These have thin, brittle, oval-shaped shells that are grayish-white in color with long siphons. Foodchamps is the best resource for everything food and kitchen. Oysters are more valuable than clams for the economy. Healthy patients bounce back within a few days. Oysters are smooth and, whether eaten raw or cooked, have a much more tender bite. However, many people, myself included, are not sure what the difference between mussels and clamsis. Mussels taste very much like clams, which explains why theyre so easily substituted for them. Starting on the outside, according to Cport,the color of the mussel shell tends to be a darker hue:green, blue, or black, whereas the majority of edible clams more often have a white, tan, or beige coloring on the outside (via Live Science). Clams are typically larger than mussels, so when a recipe calls for a certain number of clams, youd need to use more mussels and vice versa. And, most importantly, any mussel that isn't closedor doesn't close when you give it a good tap with your fingernailneeds to be thrown out.An open mussel is a dead mussel, and one dead mussel will ruin a whole pot of them. Clams have a single foot, which they use to burrow into soft sediment. Mussels come from a bivalve family and attach to a substrate with the help of byssal threads. The larger clams are great for making chowder. While mussels and clams belong to the same family of bivalve mollusks, there are differences in their habitat, physical appearance, nutrition, price, and other aspects . Mussels usually have a smooth black-blue or brownish, elongated shell, whereas clams have a rounded shell that's usually gray or beige and ridged. Clams and oysters have a fishy flavour, whereas a mussel is a more natural ocean taste without the lip-curling smack of fish. You might also be interested in: green vs black mussels comparison. Many people love seafood, but they can feel somewhat overwhelmed with all the possibilities when it comes to cooking it. 12 Animals That Dont Have a Brain and How The Heck They Survive! The eggs are fertilized inside the female mussels gill and when the grow into a larvae, also known as glochidia. See 'Dominator' - The Largest Crocodile In, Scientists Discover New World's Largest Omnivore --, Watch These Elk Ramming Cars at Yellowstone,, An Absolutely Gigantic Moose Makes These Grizzlies. Clams and mussels are both well known in the culinary world as one of the best seafood. Mussels are long and pointed, whereas clams are spherical and stouter. Their ability to filter the water makes clams important to the ecosystem, as they make the water more habitable for other sea and river creatures. Mussels attach to hard surfaces, such as rocks, using byssus threads - thin fibers of protein that can secrete from the mussel's foot. Lex is a green-living, tree-hugging, animal-lover, who at one time was the mother to twenty one felines and one doggo. Mussels have a more mild taste, spoil easily, must be cooked, and typically require a sauce. Here is my previous answer: Yong Jian-Yi's answer to What is the difference between clams and mussels? They burrow into the sand, which is why, when people harvest them, they dig for clams. Clams and oysters are both bivalve mollusks, meaning they have two hinged shells. Still, the taste difference, especially with all the other flavors of clam chowder in effect, will be negligible to all but the most discerning clam chowder connoisseurs. As mentioned earlier, since theyre nearly interchangeable with clams, you can conceivably make any clam dish with mussels instead with few problems, if any. Oyster shells have a rougher texture than mussel shells and can be brown, white or gray. They hide under the bottom surface of the water they live in. If your vegan friends want to have clam chowder they can live with, king oyster mushrooms inexplicably can bring a seafood brininess to a dish without violating vegan ethics. Clams: Can live in salt or fresh water. Why mussels have different colors? Oysters can produce pearls but not clams. Most mussels live in areas with temperate, mild climates. Mussels have a temporary parasitic stage, called glochidia, in their life cycle but not in clams. Required fields are marked *. Both filter feeders, mussels and clams can live in either freshwater or saltwater, but their behavior and biology show some marked differences (via EcoSpark). It technically wont be clam chowder since it doesnt have any clams in it. Have a "foot" they use to travel. The main difference between clams mussels and oysters is their habitat. Mussels live in groups and attach themselves to a substrate using thin threads called byssal threads. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter. Can be steamed or eaten raw. They are sessile. There are many ways to prepare mussels, and with their mild taste, they can pleasantly take on the tastes of the dish you are making with them. The male mussel releases the sperm in the water, which is then taken in by females. Both have a chewy texture, with clams perhaps being more chewy, depending on if they are cooked or raw. Mussels have a long shell, while clams have a broad and round shell. In spite of their variety of ecosystems, freshwater bivalves . Cannot be eaten raw if they are soft-shelled. Clams are also circular and oval like in their shape and have two equally sized halves of the shell. Some researchers even claim that eating shellfish helped early humans adapt to a harsh climate and expand their range. . Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Her Campus Media LLC. You might also find a pearl in a clam or mussel. Some mussels can move, as some species have a foot like clams do and can use it to move short distances. Clams also have the potential to grow much larger than mussels. Compared to mussels, however, clams, in general, have more vitamin C, vitamin B12, calcium, phosphorus, copper, and potassium. Their texture is difficult to describe, but clams are chewy, and depending on how they are prepared, can come off as slightly rubbery. Clam vs Mussel Is There Any Difference 1 Habitat Clams are found in freshwater bodies whereas mussels are found in both freshwater and saltwater regions. Clams: 2 adductor muscle, one larger than the other, many have the capability of digging themselves into soil/sand. These days, most people don't have to forage for their seafood themselves, but they do often order it from menus. Mussels have much in common with clams they have two hinged shells, feed via filtering, and taste good. What's The Difference Between Mussels And Clams. Some differences between clams and mussels can be observed visually, such as their different shell shapes and textures. How do you cook them? Mussels come from saltwater and freshwater alike. Overall, clams are richer in nutrients but mussels have less sodium. Visually, mussels are attached t. Score: 4.3/5 (8 votes) . Now she helps pet owners around the globe be the best caretakers for their most trusting companions by sharing her experience and spreading love. For culinary purposes, clams have a strong flavor, can be better kept out of water, and may be eaten raw. Clams are most likely to be found in areas with shallow water. Furthermore, mussels are low in cholesterol, fat and sodium, but high in protein. Once attached to something, they usually remain that way for the rest of their lives, which can be 12 years or more. They have two shells (each referred to as a valve, hence the name) that they make themselves out of calcium carbonate they produce. Typically have smooth, shiny, hard shells. Clams have a heart, partial digestive system, and circulatory system. One thing to watch for is how well the cooked mussel opens. While there are differences in how each tastes, they have similar flavor profiles. Mussels and clams live pretty differently, too. These families belong to two different evolutionary lineages (freshwater mussels and freshwater clams), and the two groups are not closely related. Stir-Fried Clams with Spicy Bean Sauce. Answer (1 of 6): Here was the previous post with all the answers, you should do a search: What is the difference between mussels, oysters, scallops and clams? Clams have a heart, parts of a digestive system, and a circulatory system. The simple answer is that you cook with them. Some people like one over the other, while other people enjoy both, and some have never eaten either. You tryna be tricky? If youve never had oysters, though, thats no help. It is either black, dark brown, or blue in color, with a silver or grey inside. They can grow up to six inches long and are best steamed or deep-fried and served with butter. Mussels are found in blue hues like blue, graan or black whereas clams are found in colors like tan, beige, or white. Mussels may be found in blue colors such as blue, green, or black, whereas clams can be found in beige or white. Clams are the burrowers of the bunch, spending most of their lives [] While clams and mussels arent the same, theyre similar enough that one can easily substitute for another. The BBC's Science Focus vertical shares that mussels attach themselves to hard surfaces with a thread-like binding while clams use an appendage to move around at the water's depths and bury themselves in mud or sand. But since many recipes for clam or mussel dishes specify weight rather than a specific number of mussels or clams, using two pounds of clams instead of two pounds of mussels is pretty straightforward. Many mussels come de-bearded, but there's usually one or two that sneak by, unnoticed. 2 medium shallots, finely chopped. The mussel was dead when it was harvested, in which case youd be eating something that had been decaying for some time. I find that a mussel tastes like the sea and have a mild taste to them. Clams can keep their shell closed tighter than that of mussels. Cooking either clams or mussels often involves steaming them, though other methods can yield delicious meals, which goes for freshwater and saltwater clams and mussels. Some clams can grow to be much larger than mussels, though. You can also have mussels steamed and eat them dipped in butter. rivers, and swamps. Clams can grow to be much bigger than mussels with the non-edible giant clam being able to grow to more than 500 pounds and 4.25 feet long (via The Monterey Bay Aquarium ). Steamed, boiled, or cooked in a broth, mussels bring a less fishy taste to your seafood dishes. Clams are bivalve mollusks that burrow themselves into the sediment. Absolutely. According to the organization, Ocean Conservancy , both mussels and clams are bivalve mollusks meaning that they each have a hinged shell that separates into two parts. Here is the lowdown on everything about mussels vs clams: Both mussels and clams originate in similar mollusk (hinge-shell creatures) families but there are differences between them. Though mussels are becoming increasingly popular in curry sauces (check out this yummy recipe onEpicurious), they're probably best known in simpler preparations such as steamed, or cooked with white wine (via BBC Good Food). Cooking mussels in wine yields any number of variations on a recipe for drunken mussels, as the alcohol and complex flavors of the wine interact really nicely with mussels and heat. Both can grow in both freshwater and saltwater environments, but that's more or less where the similarities end (via The Ohio State University and Jstor). Shellfish such as oysters, mussels, crab, lobster, and clams contain large amounts of cholesterol, particularly in relation to their serving size. A clams shell always has two equally-sized halves and they tend to be oval, except for the razor clam, and its also smooth and being very tightly closed, making it hard to open. Surf Clams Surfs account for about 33 percent of the clams harvested in the US. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. However, where clams can bring a fishy taste to a dish, mussels generally dont. Besides being CEO of the household and active in her community, Maria is the lead contributor to Food Champs and loves to try new food ideas and kitchen accessories to make easier and more delicious meals. They tend to have an earthier flavor than clams or oysters. Clams also have the potential to grow much larger than mussels.
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