Fresh shellfish is a wonderful thing to eat all year round. It includes clams, scallops, mussels and more. Farm-raised cultured mussels are fresh and readily available. Wild varieties are equally delicious. Clams are a very popular addition to pasta dishes. Hard clams, also called quahogs, live in sandy coves and can be caught when the tide is low. A great dish to enjoy with butter and garlic is stuffed quahogs. And, of course, there is always clam chowder!

There is nothing like fresh shellfish to take your mind off the hot weather of the summer. A plate of raw or barbequed oysters can be good appetizer to a light yet delicious meal. You can buy them in most markets and also from reputed farms breeding them especially for sale. Buying them easily and at good prices is an advantage enjoyed by people lucky enough to live by a port or in coastal zones.

The scallops are meatier than clams and require very little preparation. Sea scallops are delightfully large, though must be shucked (removed from their shells) almost immediately after capture to ensure they don't lose moisture and die. It is important not to overcook scallops, or you will end up with a chewy, inedible taste.

When looking for shellfish, don't overlook the mussel. Known for their blue-black shells and orange colored meat, these little guys are full of good protein! Keep in mind that they taste best steamed, but can be added to many dishes. They need to remain in their shells until they are cooked.

Lobster and crab are included in the category of other fresh shell fish. Compared to the all other shell fish both of then are bigger and more substantial. In every type of cuisine they are used for their taste and as a symbol of excellence. The most expensive of all fresh shell fish is the lobster. It is the cuisine favorite in all fancy and high end restaurants

Crab is maybe the most popular shellfish and is widely bought and eaten. The crabbing industry is a multi-million dollar one. While eating crab can be messy and often difficult, special tools have been created to make cracking crab easier. Once you get down to the meaty goodness of crab legs, you will want to make this fresh shellfish part of your everyday meal planning.

A wonderful thing to eat all year round is fresh shellfish. It includes clams, scallops, mussels and more. Farm-raised cultured mussels are fresh and readily available. Wild varieties are equally delicious. For a light yet delicious meal, consider an appetizer of raw or barbecued oysters. These tasty treats can be bought in most markets as well as chosen farms that specially breed them to sell. The scallops are meatier than clams and require very little preparation. Lobster and crab are included in the category of other shell fish. Compared to all the other shell fish both of them are bigger and more substantial.