Garbage Can Clambake
The right garbage can plus lobster, potatoes, hot dogs, eggs, corn on the cob, and clams proves you don’t have to live on the coast to enjoy a good old-fashioned backyard clambake.
By Yankee Magazine|Aug 26 2019|
Where to Find a Live-Fire New England Clambake
Photo Credit: StocksyYou don’t have to live on the coast to enjoy a good old-fashioned New England backyard clambake. All you need is a garbage can that is not galvanized.
Instructions
The ultimate “garbage can” backyard clambake, for those with a Paul Bunyan appetite, is one made with lobster, sweet and/or Irish potatoes, hot dogs, eggs, corn on the cob, and clams.
In the bottom of the can put a limited amount of water depending on the amount of food and seaweed to be added above, usually 2 to 3 inches. Add 1 cup vinegar and several tablespoons of salt.
Next, place a 2-inch cake rack in the can, covered well with seaweed. This keeps the lobsters out of the water. Place the can over a robust fire to bring the water to a boil. Put the lobsters in, back side up, then alternate thin layers of seaweed with potatoes, hot dogs, eggs, corn, and finally clams. Cover tightly.
(The potatoes, hot dogs, eggs, and corn can be wrapped loosely in cheesecloth to make them easier to remove after cooking.) You can also use a wire basket made for the clams, which gives them freedom to open and lets you see more readily when they are open, which is your signal that the bake is done.
Cooking time varies, depending on the amount of food and seaweed, from 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until the clams open. Never pack the can so tightly with food and seaweed that you prevent the steam from permeating all layers. Be sure to maintain a healthy fire.
Notes
Note: As seaweed is not too easy to come by, the bake can be done with only the bottom layer.
I get my seaweed frozen from a local seafood market because I live nowhere near the ocean. I served this to friends who came to my house for a birthday pool party and it went over VERY well!! Everyone kept eating til it was all devoured! Thanks Yankee Mag for the fabulous recipe!!!
I have been doing this Clambake for years. It is truly a great recipe. Fortunately, I live near the ocean (Hampton Beach, NH) and have access to Rock Weed which is great for the can recipe.
The hot dogs on top of the seafood array are fabulous and everyone grabs a couple to eat without a bun. I use the red potatoes and the leftovers are great the next day for home fries for breakfast.
Plan ahead for the seaweed. Don’t won’t worry if the trash can is not totally water tight the heat will expand the metal. Make sure you have a good fire going and leave room under the can for fire to breathe, it will really get the water boiling.
My father, Bill Newall and his friend, Dicky Howl and made a lobster and clam baker out of the tub of an old Maytag wringer washing machine by soldering all the holes in the tub. They carried it down to Cleaves Cove in Kennebunkport, Maine. That tub made a perfect baker! Our family and friends had many good bakes at the cove while it was still public land in the ’50’s.
My Father always added servings of white fish placed in small brown paper bags (one serving each) laid on top of the clams. It added a nice touch for those who didn’t want to struggle with the lobster.
Chopped kale, collards etc. make a good sub for seaweed and are edible!
Here in Colorado – a similar technique with somewhat different ingredients prevails. The container is a milking can -it’s called milk can dinner!
I love the technique for cooking but unfortunately the article made no description of an appropriate “garbage can”. Be ware of galvanized, coated or otherwise treated or painted cans typically available . If You are repurposing a container – know what its purpose WAS, what was in it and what it is made of. Arctic explorers died because of the lead used to can their food. Enjoy.
Hot dogs? Eggs? Seriously??
We’ve done this for years. We have a clambake business. Over 30 yrs. never used eggs. Never even heard of using eggs. What’s up with them.
Typically eggs are only used because when the eggs are done, the lobsters are done. The hotdogs are a mystery though!
Thank you for these instructions. Great to know. Can fathom hot dogs (although they are unfamiliar)… but eggs???
On the garbage can: plain steel, no coatings?