Wait, Don’t Throw Out the Brine!

Resist the urge! Some people would pay good money for that brine. Brands like Bar Harbor, Snow’s, and Cento even bottle and sell the salty juice from clams to add to brothy seafood dishes. And often, the really high-quality shellfish are packed in a brine with its own character, nuances, and subtle sweetness. But even the liquid left over from an inexpensive can of clams from the supermarket is packed with umami, which can come in extremely handy when you cook. Think of it as the ocean’s own MSG.