Reviews You Can Trust.
See Why.

Clam Juice

When there's no time to shuck fresh littlenecks for a homemade seafood base, we reach for a jug of their juice.

Published Nov. 1, 2008.

Save

Saved

Top Pick

WinnerBar Harbor Clam Juice

“Fresh,” “bright,” and “clean,” this clam juice amplified seafood flavor in our shrimp pasta.

Price at Time of Testing: $2.49 for 8 oz.

Learn More

“Fresh,” “bright,” and “clean,” this clam juice amplified seafood flavor in our shrimp pasta.

Price at Time of Testing: $2.49 for 8 oz.

Learn More

See Everything We Tested

What You Need to Know

When there’s no time to shuck fresh littlenecks and cherrystones for a homemade seafood base, we reach for a jug of their juice. Clam juice is made by briefly steaming fresh clams in salted water and filtering the resulting broth before bottling. Of the three brands we tried adding to our Garlicky Shrimp Pasta, only one sample garnered criticism for tasting “too strong” and “too clammy”—perhaps because its sodium content was more than double that of the other brands. Both the top two brands—in fact the same product bearing two different labels—hail from the shores of clam country in Maine, are available nationwide, and bring a “bright” and “mineral-y” flavor to seafood dishes.

Everything We Tested

Highly Recommended

WinnerBar Harbor Clam Juice

“Fresh,” “bright,” and “clean,” this clam juice amplified seafood flavor in our shrimp pasta.

Price at Time of Testing: $2.49 for 8 oz.

“Fresh,” “bright,” and “clean,” this clam juice amplified seafood flavor in our shrimp pasta.

Price at Time of Testing: $2.49 for 8 oz.

Look's Atlantic Clam Juice

Same stuff, same bottle, different label. Tasters considered this a “seafood-y,” savory addition to our pasta.

Price at Time of Testing: $1.89 for 8 oz.

Same stuff, same bottle, different label. Tasters considered this a “seafood-y,” savory addition to our pasta.

Price at Time of Testing: $1.89 for 8 oz.

Recommended with reservations

Snow's Clam Juice

Most tasters found this acceptable, but a few felt its heavily salted clam flavor was “too strong” and even tasted “bitter.”

Price at Time of Testing: $3.02 for 8 oz.

Most tasters found this acceptable, but a few felt its heavily salted clam flavor was “too strong” and even tasted “bitter.”

Price at Time of Testing: $3.02 for 8 oz.

*All products reviewed by America’s Test Kitchen are independently chosen, researched, and reviewed by our editors. We buy products for testing at retail locations and do not accept unsolicited samples for testing. We list suggested sources for recommended products as a convenience to our readers but do not endorse specific retailers. When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices are subject to change.

Reviews You Can Trust

The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. Have a question or suggestion? Send us an email at atkreviews@americastestkitchen.com. We appreciate your feedback!