Clams vs. Oysters: What Sets Them Apart?

At first glance, it's hard to imagine that clams and oysters could be so tasty. Their tough, rock-like shells don’t exactly scream ‘delicious,’ and the creatures inside aren’t the most visually appealing either.

However, once you overcome their appearance, you'll discover some of the most flavorful seafood the ocean offers. Both clams and oysters carry a distinct briny, salty taste. While different varieties offer subtle flavor variations, if you enjoy one, you'll likely appreciate others. Their generally mild flavors make them incredibly versatile and perfect for a wide range of dishes.

Clams vs. Oysters

Here’s a breakdown of the main differences between clams and oysters:

• Clams have soft, textured shells, while oysters have rough, bumpy shells.
• Clamshells are more rounded, but oysters are more oval.
• Clams have a mild flavor, and oysters are known for their bold, salty, briny flavor.
• Oysters are most often served raw, but clams are usually served cooked.
• Oysters can make pearls, but clams do not.
• Clams can come from both fresh and saltwater, but oysters are saltwater-only shellfish.

What Are Clams?

Clams are bivalve mollusks, with over 15,000 different species found in both freshwater and saltwater. These shellfish have a hard, inedible shell that encases the soft, slightly chewy meat inside, which carries a salty, briny flavor.

Different Varieties of Clams

Popular Clam Varieties for Eating

The most common edible clams include soft shells (also known as steamers), Atlantic hard shells, little necks, razor clams, manilas, cockles, Cherrystones, and Quahogs. Availability depends on your location, as different regions produce different types of clams.

How to Prepare Clams for Cooking

Cleaning clams is crucial before cooking. Since they live in sandy or muddy environments, they can carry debris into your dish. Discard any clams that remain open, rinse in lukewarm water, and scrub off any dirt. Though many clams are pre-cleaned, a quick soak in salted water for 30 minutes ensures you're free from grit.

If you’re not following a specific recipe, steaming or boiling are simple methods to prepare clams. For added flavor, cook them in a tasty liquid like seafood stock, white wine, or coconut milk, and enhance with ingredients like chopped onions, garlic, and fresh herbs such as parsley or tarragon.

• To steam, place clams in a large pot with about an inch of your liquid, place a lid firmly on top, and cook over medium-high heat for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the size. 
• To boil, fully submerge the clams in boiling water or broth for 5 to 7 minutes until they’re opened.

Clams and Butter: A Perfect Pairing

Clam Recipes

Clams are incredibly versatile and can be featured in a wide range of dishes. With so many different varieties, some are better suited to specific recipes than others. Experiment with different types to discover your favorites. If you’re new to cooking clams, start with our recommended clam recipes, and soon you’ll be a clam pro.

• Scott Ure's Clams and Garlic
• The Best Clam Sauce
• Clam Sauce with Linguine
• My Best Clam Chowder

What Are Oysters?

Oysters, like clams, are bivalve mollusks. They’re enclosed in a tough, rough shell that needs to be opened before eating. Unlike clams, oysters are commonly enjoyed raw.

Oysters thrive in saltwater and prefer rocky or pebbly environments over sandy or muddy ones. They attach themselves to large rocks and are typically farmed rather than gathered from the wild, providing a more sustainable way to harvest them and reduce the risk of overfishing.

Types of Oysters

Oyster varieties are often named after their growing regions. On the West Coast, Pacific oysters are most common. Within this group, different subtypes are distinguished by location, with Olympia oysters from Olympia, Washington being especially popular. Pacific oysters have a savory, meaty texture with a strong salty flavor, which can vary depending on where they’re farmed.

Atlantic oysters, found on the East Coast, include varieties like Blue Points from Long Island, Wellfleets from Cape Cod, and Cape May Salts from New Jersey. Known for their bold, briny taste, Atlantic oysters are the saltiest. European flats are another famous variety, typically found in Europe.

The Bélon oyster, hailing from the Bélon River in France, is one of the most coveted varieties. European flats, known for their mineral taste, are best enjoyed raw. Another favorite is the Kumamoto oyster, which closely resembles Pacific oysters. Native to Japan, they are now grown along the West Coast, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Kumamotos are known for their mild, clean flavor, making them an ideal choice for oyster beginners.

How to Cook Oysters

The best way to enjoy oysters is by keeping them raw, as this preserves their delicate, nuanced flavors. To prepare raw oysters, you'll need to shuck them—this involves carefully prying open the shell to remove the oyster. After shucking, the oyster and its natural juices remain in the bottom shell, ready to be served raw with a tangy mignonette sauce. Be sure to store and serve them on ice to maintain their safety for raw consumption.

If you plan to cook your oysters, remove them from their shells and refrigerate them for no more than 24 hours. For the best flavor and texture, cook them immediately after shucking.

Oyster Recipes

If you're craving cooked oysters, you may have already come across classic dishes like Oysters Rockefeller, oyster stew, and the iconic oyster po'boy. Oysters are also excellent for frying and, like most seafood, pair wonderfully with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon. Here are some of our favorite oyster recipes to try:

• Deep-Fried Oysters
• Oyster Stew
• Rockin Oysters Rockefeller

Can Clams Be Used as a Substitute for Oysters?

The short answer is no—clams and oysters are not interchangeable. Although they might look similar from the outside, they have distinct differences in flavor and texture. Each requires its own specific cooking methods, and particularly with raw oysters, substituting clams will not give you the same experience.