Razor clams were first found in Coal Harbor, Alaska in 1788, close to the Kenai Peninsula community of Homer. Razor clams are found in sandy, surf-swept beaches and coastal bays. Razor clams live their entire life in the same location as they are only able to dig themselves down deeper into the sand and the back to the surface again. They are not capable to move horizontally at all. They spend part of their time too deep in the sand, sometimes more than four feet, to be disturbed by clam diggers. Razor clam matures during their second year. The harvestable size is 3.5" and at the end of the second year they are about 4.5". Some of the old razor clams are know to have reached 7" size. After the second year their growth is minimal. Some razor clams in Alaska have attained the age of 18 years.
Razor clamming commercially has occurred in Alaska since 1916 in the Cordova area and 1919 in the Cook Inlet area. Annually some 600,000 pounds have been harvested in Cordova and 500,000 pounds in Cook Inlet. In 1964 the earthquake affected razor clam populations in the Cordova area. Swikshak Beach on the Alaska Peninsula is the only other beach certified for the human consumption. Harvesting there has occurred continually since 1929.
The outermost shell is brown when the razor clam is young. It gradually turns to yellowish shade of brown in medium-sized animals and changes again to brown with age. The inside is glossy white, sometimes with purple areas showing through.
In addition to the Pacific razor clam there are Arctic razor clams and Northern razor clams. The Arctic razor clams are found from the Cook Inlet all the way up to Siberia, Russia. The Pacific razor clams are found from Pismo, California all the way up to the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. The fourth type of razor clam is Atlantic razor clam and it is not the same genus and is not very similar to the Arctic nor the Pacific razor clams.
Alaskan Razor Clams are fat, sweet and tenderly chewy. We recommend tenderizing prior to cooking to discourage toughness that may form from cooking. Considered the best tasting clam by many, these versatile clams can be braised, poached, fried or deep fried. Let's not forget clam stew and chowder also.
Razor Clams get their name from a resemblance to old straight razors, and because their dark olive green or brown shells are razor sharp. Behind this sharp, dark shell is a white to purple-brown meat.
The highest concentration of Alaskan Razor Clams lies on the Alaska Peninsula from Cordova area and both sides of the Cook Inlet. Alaskan Harvest brings you clams straight from the clam diggers and from remote areas where small planes are necessary to collect fresh clams right off the beaches. Our Razor Clams are then de-shelled, cleaned, flash frozen and packed.
Total 4lbs Razor Clams
IMPORTANT NOTE:
We managed to get some Razor Clams from one wholesaler and have them in limited quantities. We are passing these to you at our cost - just as a service to you at this time. We pay $25 per bag of 1 lb.
Currently the North Pacific clamming is stopped due to the acid problem in the water. The Alaskan clamming is also on hold due to the COVID virus and travel restrictions.
You can check back by email: customerservice@alaskanharvest.com or by calling 888-824-4278. We have been able to source some Razor Clams from a few wholesalers but their prices have varied wildly.