Cherrystone Clam
Mercenaria mercenaria
A mid-sized hard clam on the East Coast size scale, Cherrystones are bigger than littlenecks but smaller than quahogs. They’re meaty, briny, and slightly sweet, great for grilling, baking, steaming, and chopping into chowders and pasta.
Range
Virginia to Prince Edward Island
Method of Capture
Farmed and Dredged with hydraulics
Seasonality
Year-round
Size Range
(1 inch= count neck ) (1.5 inches= little neck ) (2 inches= top neck ) (2.5 inches= cherry stone ) (3 inches= quahog)
Sustainability Consideration:
Hard clam aquaculture is widely considered one of the more sustainable forms of shellfish farming:
- Clams are filter feeders that help clean and clarify the water.
- Farming typically uses no feed, fertilizer, or chemicals.
- When managed properly, both farmed and wild harvests can maintain healthy beds over the long term.
As always, Monterey Fish focuses on reputable growers and harvesters that follow local water-quality testing and shellfish safety regulations.
Flavor & Texture:
- Flavor: Briny, slightly sweet, and full-flavored—more clam character than littlenecks but not as intense as big chowder clams
- Texture: Firm, chewy, and meaty, especially suited to cooked and chopped uses
If you like a clam with some “bite” and a strong, clean ocean flavor, Cherrystones are a great fit.
Seafood Cooking Tips
Because Cherrystones are bigger and meatier, they’re especially good cooked:
- Grill – Open on the grill or place trimmed meats back in the half shell with butter, herbs, or breadcrumbs; cook just until plump.
- Bake – Classic stuffies or baked clams: chop the meat and mix with breadcrumbs, herbs, and aromatics, then bake in the shells.
- Steam – Steam in wine, garlic, and herbs until the shells open; great with pasta or crusty bread.
- Chowders & stews – Chop the meats and use in New England-style chowder or tomato-based stews.
- Pasta & rice dishes – Their firm texture holds up beautifully in linguine with clams or seafood risotto.
As with other clams, discard any that don’t open during cooking.
Want This On Your Menu or Table?
For current availability, pricing, and prep ideas, get in touch with our team. We’re happy to help you decide what will work best for your menu or home kitchen.
