Air-Frying Clams: A Quick, Crispy Treat?

Clams are a delicious treat, and they can be cooked in an air fryer! Whether you're making stuffed clams, steamed clams, or fried clams, an air fryer can be a great option for a quick and easy meal. There are a variety of recipes available for cooking clams in an air fryer, and you can choose between using fresh or frozen clams, depending on your preference. With the right preparation and cooking time, you can enjoy a tasty dish of clams made right in your air fryer.

Air fryer frozen stuffed clams

Yes, you can cook clams in an air fryer! This includes frozen stuffed clams, which can be cooked from frozen in under 15 minutes.

How to Cook Frozen Stuffed Clams in an Air Fryer:

First, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes. Then, place the frozen stuffed clams into the air fryer basket, leaving some space between them. You don't need to add any oil or liner to the basket. Close the air fryer and cook the clams for about 10 minutes if they are premade, or 12-13 minutes if they are homemade. If your clams vary in size, keep cooking them until their internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

Serving Suggestions:

Frozen stuffed clams are a great, quick and easy appetizer, snack, lunch, or dinner. They can be served with a simple garden salad, pasta salad, or potato salad. They also go well with baby potatoes cooked in garlic butter and dill, or with a drop of mayonnaise and ketchup.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers:

If you have any leftovers, keep them covered in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. To reheat, simply place them back in the air fryer for a couple of minutes. It is not recommended to refreeze the stuffed clams, as the texture may change.

Air fryer fried clams

Air fryers are a great way to cook clams, whether you're making them from scratch or using frozen, pre-cooked clam strips. Here is a recipe for Air Fryer Fried Clams that you can make from scratch, followed by some tips for cooking frozen, pre-cooked clam strips in an air fryer.

This recipe will give you crispy, delicious fried clams, perfect for a snack, lunch, or quick dinner. You can serve them with tartar sauce and a wedge of lemon, or with French fries for a heartier meal.

Ingredients:

• Clams
• Flour
• Corn flour (or fine cornmeal)
• Cayenne pepper
• Salt
• Milk
• Buttermilk
• Egg
• Peanut oil for frying

Instructions:

• Clean the clams by washing them in saltwater.
• Combine flour, corn flour (or fine cornmeal), cayenne pepper, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk to combine.
• In a separate bowl, combine milk, buttermilk, and egg. Whisk until well blended.
• Heat 2-3 inches of peanut oil in a deep fryer to 375°F.
• Dip the clams into the egg mixture, then toss them in the corn flour blend to coat.
• Fry the clams in batches of no more than 8-10 clams per batch. Cook each batch for 1-2 minutes or until the clams are crispy and golden.
• Transfer the fried clams to a paper-lined sheet pan to drain and cool.
• Sprinkle with a pinch of salt.

Air Fryer Frozen Clam Strips

If you're short on time, you can also cook frozen, pre-cooked clam strips in your air fryer. This method is quick and easy, and the results are just as crispy and delicious as the homemade version.

Instructions:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
• Place the frozen clam strips directly into the air fryer basket (do not thaw them first, as this will make them watery).
• Set the timer for 5-7 minutes.
• Shake the basket several times during the cooking process to ensure even cooking.
• Check if the clam strips are fully cooked. If not, add another 2-4 minutes to the cooking time.
• Plate and serve. You can sprinkle some cajun seasoning or seasoned salt on top for extra flavor.

Enjoy your Air Fryer Fried Clams!

Air fryer steamed clams

Yes, you can cook clams in an air fryer! This method of cooking clams is not only quick and easy but also yields delicious results.

To make air fryer steamed clams, start by cleaning the clams with saltwater. You can also soak them in a bowl of clean water for an hour. Chop up some peppers, chives, and garlic to taste. Place the clams in a heat-resistant bowl and add half a cup of water, cooking wine, the chopped garlic, peppers, and chives. Sprinkle with salt and pepper powder. Put the bowl in the air fryer, set the temperature to 80 degrees Celsius, and let it cook for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, take the bowl out and stir the clams. Put the bowl back in the air fryer and cook for another 5 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.

If you want to make air fryer fried clams, you can use frozen, pre-cooked, and pre-breaded clam strips. Simply preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and place the frozen clam strips directly into the air fryer basket. No additional oil is needed. Air fry for 5 to 7 minutes, shaking the basket a few times during the cooking process. Check if the clam strips are fully cooked, and if not, add another 2 to 4 minutes to the timer. Serve immediately.

You can also use raw clam strips, but you will need to increase the cooking time and use cooking spray to help them crisp up. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and then set the temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the raw clam strips in the air fryer basket and air fry for 6 to 10 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally.

Air fryer clams with soup

Clams with soup are always a delicious combination. You can cook this in an air fryer with just a few simple steps. Here is a recipe for air fryer clams with soup that serves as a delightful snack, side dish, or appetizer.

Ingredients:

• Clams
• Salt
• Water
• Cooking wine
• Garlic
• Red pepper
• Salt/pepper powder

Optional Ingredients:

• Breadcrumbs
• Cooking spray

Steps:

• Prepare the clams by washing them with saltwater.
• Slice some garlic and chop some peppers and chives.
• Put the clams in a heat-resistant bowl with 1/2 cup (100ml) of water, cooking wine, garlic, and red pepper. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper powder.
• Place the bowl in the air fryer and set the temperature to 80 degrees Celsius for 5 minutes.
• After 5 minutes, mix the clams at the bottom of the bowl and turn the temperature up to 180 degrees Celsius for another 5 minutes.
• Serve the clams with your choice of soup.

Optional Steps for Breaded Clams:

• If you are using raw clam strips or bellies, ensure they are breaded.
• Spray some cooking spray on the clam strips to help them crisp up.
• Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Place the breaded clam strips into the air fryer basket and set the temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Air fry for 6 to 10 minutes, shaking the basket several times during the cooking process.
• Plate and serve with your chosen soup.

Air fryer raw clams

Yes, you can cook raw clams in an air fryer! Here is a recipe for air fryer raw clams:

Ingredients:

• Raw clam strips or bellies (these should already be cleaned and breaded by the store)
• Cooking spray
• Lemon wedges
• Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
• Spread your clam strips in the air fryer basket. Spray some cooking spray on the clam strips so that they crisp up.
• Air fry at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 to 10 minutes. Shake the basket several times during the cooking process.
• Check if the clams are fully cooked. If not, add another 2-4 minutes to the timer.
• Plate and serve with lemon wedges and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

Some additional tips:

• If you want to cook frozen stuffed clams, place them in the air fryer, leaving some space in between, and cook for 12-13 minutes at 370 degrees Fahrenheit.
• You can also cook homemade stuffed clams in the air fryer. Simply open and drain cans of clams, saving the juice. Melt butter in a pot over medium heat and add garlic. Then, remove from the heat and add the clam meat, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, parsley, chives, Worcestershire sauce, and red pepper flakes. Season and combine. Fill each half shell with the stuffing mixture and arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-8 minutes or until the filling is crispy and brown.
• If you want to cook steamed clams, wash the clams with saltwater and prepare your desired seasonings, such as garlic, peppers, and chives. Put the clams in a heat-resistant bowl with water, cooking wine, and seasonings. Place the bowl in the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes at 80 degrees Celsius. Then, mix the clams and cook for another 5 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.

Frequently asked questions