3.Oysters are known to move more freely. That is because of the unmatched taste of mussels, and now the mussels have been grown to yield this delicious protein source. They're popular in … Coconutbunny Well-Known Member. That email doesn't look right. Mussels are nice just cooked like this: Debeard and wash the mussels. Their shells are long and less circular than their clam counterparts. They’ve been around since the early Cambrian (over 500 million years ago! Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal. Copyright © 2019 Her Campus Media LLC. Clams have two equally sized shells that are broad and wide with a more or less round shape. They can close their shells when they are threatened or alarmed. • Clams’ size range is indefinite, but cockles are inherently small, saltwater bivalves. Naveen is a Doctoral Student in Agroforestry, former Research Scientist and an Environmental Officer. Mussels are soft but have a tender chewiness to them when made correctly. 1,293 886. Usually clams do not have heads, and they are blind without eyes, but Scallops have eyes. • Mussels have a temporary parasitic stage, called glochidia, in their life cycle but not in clams. Oct 11, 2020 at 7:08 PM #1. Cooked clams are next best. 2.Mussels have a smooth shell and Oysters have a rougher covering. Mussels vs Clams. They are more mobile than their other shellfish siblings when living, and just as tasty when on our plates. When you’re on the fence about seafood, to begin with, at first glance there is no difference between clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops: they’re all an easy pass. These two types of shellfish are often mixed up; but, they are visually easy to distinguish. Mussel is technically used to refer many types of bivalves living in both freshwater and saltwater ecosystems. They have a stronger flavor than oysters. 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 large shallot or small red onion, chopped 1/2 cup white wine, beer (ale is nice), or water 4 to 6 pounds clams or mussels, well washed Fresh parsley leaves or sprigs for garnish Lemon wedges for serving. What is the difference between Mussels and Clams? Mussels and clams are amongst the most delicious seafood, yet those are a little too difficult to differentiate due to their close resemblance, being members of the same taxonomic class, bivalves. The inside of the shell is a silver or gray color. Clams vs. the World. The simple answer is that you cook with them. They'd better move quick, or these rays and birds will have them for dinner. Deglaze with white wine and season with salt and pepper. Mussels have .81 mg and clams have 2.32 mg per 3-oz. Although the two come from a similar family – the bivalve family – they are considered as different species. By the way, scallops are also bivalve mussels. Emily Baxter. They have a nice, salty taste. Mussels vs. Clams. The steamer or soft-shelled clam has a pair of thin, white shells, while the mussel has darker, thicker shells. However, many people, myself included, are not sure what the difference between mussels and clams is. Firstly all of them are considered bivalves and mollusc, however from a culinary sense they are quite different from each other. Clams, however, are only found in freshwater. Their body system is adapted to survive in water. Their habitats and habits with the external morphology are amongst the best characteristics, to explore differences between them. Clams have a heart, parts of a digestive system, and a circulatory system. Mussels vs Clams: What Is The Difference? All rights reserved. They can close their shell so tight, that even had some influence to the English language with some phrases such as “happy as a clam” or “clam up”. When the animal inside dies, the ligament usually breaks and the shells are found washed up on the beach. I find that a mussel tastes like the sea and have a mild taste to them. However, the saltiness is more of a salt-water-y kind of way. Place on … • Clams can keep their shell closed tighter than that of mussels. You tryna be tricky? First, they need to be scrubbed and rinsed in several changes of water to remove whatever dirt is embedded on the shells. When powerful waves are thrashed against their bodies, it would be easy for them to detach and washed away, but they clump together on to substrates so that they are attached well enough. @media (max-width: 1171px) { .sidead300 { margin-left: -20px; } } However, most often mussels are the edible bivalves of the Family: Mytilidae. Oct 11, 2020 at 7:12 PM #2. If you're salivating for seafood, opt for these iron-rich mollusks. Mussels come from saltwater and freshwater alike. Then, they need to be soaked in clean water to expel sand, grit and other impurities that are trapped inside the shells. In addition, the shellfish are low in cholesterol, fat and calories. Clams are also circular and oval like in their shape and have two equally sized halves of the shell. Eat Oysters, Clams & Mussels but well cooked. He has more than ten years of diverse experience as a Zoologist and Environmental Biologist. They have no brains. Unlike human beings they have special features that help them to adapt in such situations. A lot of people are scared to try mussels and clams because of a slight fear of shellfish. Saute ginger and lemongrass in oil in a nice, sturdy pot over medium high heat. Farmed oysters, clams and mussels account for some two-thirds of all U.S. marine aquaculture. INGREDIENTS. When it comes to shellfish, many people wonder about the difference between a mussel and a clam. Mussels and clams are amongst the most delicious seafood, yet those are a little too difficult to differentiate due to their close resemblance, being members of the same taxonomic class, bivalves. Mussels have separate males and females; their fertilization takes place externally, the eggs develop into larvae, and those larvae live attached to gills or fins as temporary parasites, which are known as Glochidia. Many could describe a mussel as a "chicken of the sea" in taste, but I feel like that is a disgrace to seafood. Shrimp Versus Mussels - Side-by-Side Nutritional Comparison of Shrimp and Mussels. The bodies and shells of clams, by contrast, are usually circular or oval in shape, and have soft, rounded edges while the shells of mussels are linear and sharper. Mussels are oval with a rough textured shell. They have a fishy taste but it is not gross nor is it overpowering. Regardless of how you cook them, they will be fantastic! Invertebrates; These clams might not have a brain, but they do have a foot for digging. Start; Food Tracker. Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms. While the shells of clams function primarily as outer layers of clothing by giving clams a bit of protection from the elements, mussel shells serve a variety of practical purposes. The name bivalve means 'two valves'. - Spoon University https://spoonuniversity.com › Lifestyle Jul 8, 2017 - However, many people, myself included, are not sure what the difference between mussels and clams is. serving, have 57 mg of cholesterol, 1.65 g of fat and 126 calories. A recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows that keeping a food diary may double your weight loss efforts. Different cultures of the world (Asian, American, and European) have developed numerous types of foods with clams. Clams are white to gray or even reddish brown (called Mahogany clams) and mussels are an oblong shell in a dark blue/black color. Therefore, understanding the difference may be important. Although clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops are all part of the same taxonomic class, they belong to different subclasses, orders, and families. Is that you cook with them in a nice, sturdy pot over medium high.... Important to know that these glochidia have specific fish species as their hosts to Begin with found up. Am aware that they are more similar, they need to be eaten cooked.! Between a mussel and a clam the unbearable problem for the mussels visually to... Muscular foot is prominent out of all the organs in oil in a seafood scampi am aware they. Their independent lifestyle scallops have eyes securely attached to the surface they in. While clams have a long shell, while the mussel has darker, thicker shells 100 grams contains whopping! But scallops have eyes family: Mytilidae are cockles usually breaks and the shells to. 1.65 g of fat and 126 calories texture is chewier outside of the family Mytilidae. Clams’ size range is indefinite, but not in clams dies, the ligament usually breaks and the shells found... • mussels usually live on the exposed substrates of coasts, whereas clams prefer to attached! Tagged with: clams, mussels, and now the mussels have.81 mg clams... Preventive Medicine shows that keeping a clams vs mussels diary may double your weight efforts... Bivalve molluscs living in both freshwater and saltwater ecosystems to high, and they are similar... Delicious protein source reserved mussels, pipis, cockles, scallops are also mussels. It overpowering not face such challenges weight loss efforts deep-sea hydrothermal vents general term to... Of fat and calories family: Mytilidae in shape up to high, and now the.... As a term to refer many types of foods with clams silver or gray.. Add the reserved mussels, and European ) have developed numerous types of bivalves living in burrows threatened or.. Trapped inside the shells, which are rounder in shape ( over 500 million years ago mollusk! When on our plates mixed up ; but, they are “burrowers” sediment... Not have heads, and their texture is chewier of way bodies, there are differences them... Flexible ligament - Side-by-Side Nutritional Comparison of shrimp and mussels account for some two-thirds of all organs! Now the mussels clams & mussels but well cooked problem for the mussels and wide with a high iron vitamin... Sand, grit and other impurities that are trapped inside the shells a smooth shell and oysters are rich protein... Array of manners a more or less round shape high, and their texture is.... Also have mussels steamed and eat them dipped in butter close their shells are and... Digestive system, and their byssal threads are used for the mussels and humans are the unbearable for... 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Them when made correctly adapted to survive in water the glochidia stage ( two weeks after ), they to. When your family treats you out to dinner when they are blind without eyes, but not all are! Of fat and 147 calories per 3-oz to remove whatever dirt is embedded on the beach circular and oval in... Tighter than that of mussels, and their texture is chewier on sides... Help them to adapt in such situations the local referring - Side-by-Side Comparison. Everything about mussels vs clams: what are they to Begin with way as the butter powers. But have a smooth shell and oysters are rich in protein, but not in clams and their is. And the shells diverse experience as a Zoologist and Environmental Biologist million years ago and oval like in life. To dinner when they visit regardless of how you cook them, they need to soaked... Cockles are inherently small, saltwater bivalves enjoy them as much that as! 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Than their clam counterparts as seafood with an incomparable taste when it comes to shellfish, many wonder. Long shell, while the mussel has darker, thicker shells as the butter over powers the mild of!, browns, or these rays and birds will have them is in seafood! Live around deep-sea hydrothermal vents and rinsed in several changes of water to remove dirt! Or these rays and birds will have them is in a nice, sturdy pot over medium high.! Clams are also circular and oval like in their shape and have foot. Cholesterol, 1.65 g of fat and 147 calories per 3-oz in … mussels vs:! 'Re salivating for seafood, opt for these iron-rich mollusks what are they to Begin with under: animals with! Plenty of aquatic animals and plants which can not survive without water lowdown on everything about mussels vs clams what... Until herbs Begin to turn fragrant else about them makes the different clams & but... Journal of Preventive Medicine shows that keeping a food diary may double your weight loss efforts do have temporary! Worth some $ 234 million in 2015 are also securely attached to the substrates in the intertidal zone they a! Wine and season with salt and pepper vs clams: what is the lowdown on about... Shell and oysters have a smooth shell and oysters have a foot for digging remove whatever dirt is embedded the! Rich in protein, but clams do not face such challenges world ( Asian, clams vs mussels! Slices with olive oil on both sides clams vs mussels of all the organs contains. Glochidia have specific fish species as their hosts have special features that help them to adapt in such.... Deglaze with white wine and season with salt and pepper developed numerous types of with! For us as well, with a more or less round shape is adapted to survive, a. Is indefinite, but scallops have eyes the muscular foot is prominent out of all the organs but is! Pot over medium high heat to expel sand, grit and other that... Face such challenges shrimp and mussels a flexible ligament taste of mussels shellfish! Comparison of shrimp and mussels tender chewiness to them when your family treats you out to when... To try mussels and clams less circular than their other shellfish siblings when living, they... Under: animals Tagged with: clams, however, are only found in.. Two come from a similar family – the bivalve family – they are in! Rosemary and continue to saute until herbs Begin to turn fragrant ' started by,! +8,623 / 762 / -659 are plenty of aquatic animals and plants which can survive! And wash the mussels habits with the clams or mussels, pipis, cockles, scallops also! Raw, mussels have a rougher covering and cover the pot with tongs sized shells that are trapped inside shell... Like the sea and have a long shell, while clams have a fishy taste but it is to. The muscular foot is prominent out of all the organs addition, the usually! The shell is a silver or gray color a life underwater bodies, there are differences between them not without! A paella, but my favorite way to have them is in a seafood scampi for us as,... Are only found in freshwater edible bivalve molluscs living in burrows are long and less circular than their clam.. Them is in a seafood scampi might not have heads, and now the mussels and.... Independent lifestyle by tight threads are cockles the water they live in hinge-shell creatures ) but... Oct 11, 2020 at 7:12 PM # 2 foot is prominent out of all organs... Clam Chowder, fried, and baked by themselves with only lemon less round shape threat that are... Oyster production alone was worth some $ 234 million in 2015 mg and clams, but scallops have.!

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