Geoduck

Name: Geoduck, pronounced “gooey-duck” (Panopea generosa) — the world's largest burrowing clam, with a small shell that cannot hold its enormous, fleshy neck (the siphon), which can be longer than a forearm and is the part eaten. It is native to the Pacific North-west coast.

Description

Geoducks live buried deep in sand and mud in the waters of Washington State, British Columbia and Alaska, and can live for more than 150 years, among the longest-lived animals. They are harvested by divers, who use jets of water to loosen them, and farmed in Puget Sound. The name comes from a Lushootseed word for “dig deep.”

Geoducks are a delicacy in China, Japan and Korea, and a large share of the catch is exported live to Asia, where they sell for very high prices. The siphon is peeled, sliced thinly and eaten raw as sashimi, or quickly boiled or stir-fried in hot pot. It has a crisp, sweet, slightly briny flavour.

Main nutrition value

Geoduck is a very lean source of protein, with vitamin B12, iron, selenium and zinc, and low in fat.

How best to be consumed

Geoduck siphon is eaten raw or very briefly cooked.

1. Blanch the whole geoduck for 10 to 20 seconds, then plunge into ice water, to loosen the skin of the siphon, and peel it.
2. Slice thinly for sashimi, with soy sauce and wasabi, or for ceviche.
3. Dip slices in hot pot for a few seconds, or stir-fry briefly with vegetables.
4. Cook the body meat in chowder, or fry it.
5. Buy from regulated sources, and keep live ones in the fridge.

Overconsumption could cause…

Geoduck is healthy in food amounts, with shellfish risks.

1. Shellfish allergy, which can be severe and is usually lifelong, so anyone allergic must avoid shellfish and check labels.
2. Shellfish poisoning (paralytic, diarrhetic or amnesic) from toxins made by algae that bivalves filter from the water, which cooking does not destroy, so buy from regulated sources and follow local shellfish warnings.
3. Vibrio and norovirus infections from raw or undercooked shellfish, which can be serious in people with liver disease, diabetes or weak immunity. The raw siphon carries the same risks as other raw shellfish.
4. Heavy metals such as cadmium, which shellfish can concentrate, so vary your seafood and buy from clean waters.

GroupsShellfishMolluscsFresh

Related foodsAbaloneClamsCocklesMusselsOystersRazor Clams

Wikipedia — Geoduck, used for origin, naming and history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoduck