Are there carbs in steamed clams?

Quick Answer

Yes, there are carbohydrates in steamed clams. Clams contain a small amount of carbohydrates, with about 5-7 grams of carbs per 3 ounce serving. The exact carbohydrate content can vary slightly depending on the type and size of the clam.

Carb Content of Clams

Clams, like other shellfish, are low in carbohydrates and calories compared to many other foods. A 3 ounce serving of steamed clams contains:

• Calories: 84
• Protein: 14g
• Fat: 1g
• Carbohydrates: 5-7g

The carbs in clams come mostly from glycogen, the storage form of carbohydrates in shellfish. Different types of clams contain slightly different amounts of carbohydrates:

Type of Clam	Grams of Carbs per 3oz
Littleneck clams	5g
Cherrystone clams	6g
Chowder clams	7g

As you can see, chowder clams tend to be higher in carbs than smaller clams like littlenecks. But even chowder clams contain less than 10 grams of carbs per serving.

Net Carbs in Clams

The total carb count for clams includes fiber. Clams contain about 0.5-1 grams of fiber per serving. To calculate net carbs, you would subtract the grams of fiber from the total carbs.

So the net carb count comes out to:

• Littleneck clams: 4g net carbs
• Cherrystone clams: 5g net carbs
• Chowder clams: 6g net carbs

The net carb count is important for people following lower carb or ketogenic diets. Even though clams contain carbs, the amount of digestible net carbs is relatively low.

Clams Compared to Other Shellfish

Clams have a carb content that is similar to other types of shellfish:

Shellfish (3oz serving)	Grams of Carbs
Clams	5-7g
Oysters	5g
Scallops	6g
Mussels	7g
Shrimp	1-3g

Shrimp tends to be very low in carbs, while mussels and clams are a bit higher. But all types of shellfish are low carb compared to many other protein foods.

Factors Affecting Clams’ Carb Content

A few things can cause clams to have slightly more or less carbs:

• Type of clam: As shown earlier, chowder and cherrystone clams are higher in carbs than littlenecks.
• Size of clam: Bigger clams contain more total carbohydrate content than smaller clams.
• Preparation method: Raw clams have the same carb content as cooked clams. Frying or breading clams adds more carbs from oil, batter, etc.
• Parts of clam eaten: The glycogen is stored in the clam’s muscle, so clam bellies (the muscular foot) have more carbs than other parts.

In most cases, the differences are small, but if you are limiting carbs, pay attention to the type and size of clam.

Benefits of Clams

Here are some of the top health benefits that clams can provide:

• High in protein – Clams are an excellent source of lean protein, providing over 25g in a 6oz serving.
• Low in fat – Clams get less than 10% of calories from fat, and are low in saturated fat.
• Good source of B12 – Clams provide over 100% of the RDI of vitamin B12 in a 3oz serving.
• Contains iron – Clams provide a significant amount of dietary iron, with around 6mg per 3oz serving.
• Rich in selenium – Clams are one of the best food sources of the antioxidant mineral selenium.
• Contains omega-3s – Clams provide EPA and DHA, the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.

The protein, vitamin B12, iron and omega-3 content offer some great health benefits. So while clams do contain some carbs, they can be part of a healthy low carb lifestyle.

Tips for Serving Clams

Here are some tips for preparing steamed clams while minimizing carbs:

• Choose small clams like littlenecks or cherrystones, which are lower in carbs than large chowder clams.
• Steam the clams simply using water, garlic, onions and fresh herbs. Avoid breading or frying in batter.
• Use a small amount of butter or olive oil if needed; avoid tartar sauce or other high carb condiments.
• Serve clams with fresh lemon wedges, not lemon butter sauce (which has some carbs).
• Pair steamed clams with low carb sides like a garden salad or steamed green vegetables.

Preparing clams this way allows you to enjoy their delicious flavor and get their nutritional benefits while keeping carbs minimal.

Are Clams Keto-Friendly?

Clams can fit into a ketogenic diet, though portion size matters. A typical keto diet limits carbs to 50g net carbs or less per day.

Here is a keto-friendly 3oz serving of steamed littleneck clams:

• Total carbs: 5g
• Fiber: 1g
• Net carbs: 4g

Eating 4-8oz of clams would provide under 10g net carbs – an acceptable amount for most keto diets. Add a side salad and you still have carbs left for other foods.

So enjoying clams in moderation can definitely be part of a ketogenic eating pattern. They provide great nutrition and flavor while being low in carbs compared to many other foods.

Cooking Methods for Clams

Steaming is one of the healthiest ways to prepare fresh clams. Here are some other good options:

• Clams casino – Broiled with bacon and seasoning
• Clam bake – Steamed outdoors with seafood and vegetables
• Fried clams – Breaded and pan fried in olive oil
• Clams oreganata – Baked with oregano, breadcrumbs and olive oil
• Linguine with clam sauce – Served in tomato or white wine sauce

Frying adds more fat and carbs due to the breading or batter. Broiling, baking or steaming are healthier preparations. If enjoying pasta, choose a vegetable noodle instead of regular pasta to avoid extra carbs.

Low Carb Clam Recipes

Here are some tasty low carb recipe ideas featuring fresh clams:

Easy Garlic Steamed Clams

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs littleneck or cherrystone clams, scrubbed
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup dry white wine or broth
• 2 tbsp parsley, chopped
• Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
2. Add clams and wine/broth to pot. Cover and cook 5-8 minutes until clams open.
3. Remove clams to serving bowls. Add parsley to broth and pour over clams.
4. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over and enjoy!

Clams with Chorizo and Veggies Sheet Pan Meal

Ingredients:

• 24 littleneck or cherrystone clams
• 4 oz Spanish chorizo, sliced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 lemon, zested and cut into wedges

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment.
2. Place clams on half of pan. Toss chorizo, tomatoes, zucchini, oil and garlic on other half.
3. Roast 20 minutes until clams open and veggies soften.
4. Top clams and veggies with lemon zest. Squeeze lemon juice before serving.

Creamy Low Carb Clam Chowder

Ingredients:

• 1 lb clams, chopped (littlenecks or cherrystones)
• 4 slices bacon
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup half and half
• 1/4 tsp thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook bacon, remove, and chop. Reserve 1 tbsp bacon fat.
2. Add butter and bacon fat to pot. Cook onion and celery 5 min over medium heat.
3. Add garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in flour and cook 2 minutes.
4. Whisk in heavy cream, half and half, thyme and bay leaf. Simmer 10 minutes.
5. Add clams and bacon back to pot. Cook until clams open, about 5-7 minutes.
6. Remove bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Enjoy!

Where to Buy Clams

Fresh clams can be found at most seafood markets or well-stocked grocery stores. Here are some tips for buying:

• Look for tightly closed shells, which indicates freshness.
• Make sure shells are not cracked.
• Clams can be stored in the fridge 1-2 days.
• Canned or jarred clams work for chowders and recipes.
• Frozen clams are pre-shucked, so won’t work for steaming.

Some of the best places to find fresh clams include:

• Seafood markets
• Fishmongers
• Butcher counters at grocery stores
• Asian or Italian specialty markets
• Farmers markets (in coastal areas)

You may pay a little more for fresh seafood, but the quality and flavor make it worthwhile!

Price of Clams

Clam prices will vary based on the type, size and region. To give you a general idea, on average expect to pay:

• Littleneck clams – $4-8 per pound
• Cherrystone clams – $8-12 per pound
• Chowder clams – $5-10 per pound

Littlenecks and cherrystones are more expensive since it takes several to make a pound due to their smaller size. Chowder clams are larger so you get more per pound for a lower price.

Clams and shellfish tend to be pricier near coastal regions. Inland, prices may be a little lower if they were shipped farther. Buying in-season clams when locally harvested can save money too.

For most recipes you’ll mainly need a pound or two. Getting fresh local clams is worthwhile for quality, but you can buy canned for chowders to save money.

Conclusion

Clams offer a tasty low carb protein option. A 3-4oz serving of steamed littleneck or cherrystone clams provides under 5g net carbs and 16g of protein making them perfect for keto or low carb lifestyles.

While clams do contain some carbohydrates, the small amount of net digestible carbs is easy to fit into a low carb meal plan. Clams provide an abundance of nutrition with their protein, vitamins, minerals and omega-3 content.

For the healthiest preparation, buy fresh tightly closed clams and steam, bake or broil them simply seasoned. Pair with green veggies or a fresh salad for a delicious low carb meal. So enjoy clams for their stellar nutritional benefits as well as their wonderful briny flavor. Just be mindful of portion sizes if you are strictly limiting carbs and count the net carbs into your daily totals.