{"title":"Whelks","description":"\u003ch2\u003eWhat it is\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhelks are large sea snails with a spiral shell and a firm, chewy body, a traditional British shellfish \u003ca href=\"\/products\/whelks-80g-1\"\u003esold ready cooked\u003c\/a\u003e or live to boil at home. The meat is picked out of the shell with a pin, and the little horny cap, the operculum, is removed before eating. We sell them by weight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy choose it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhelks are cheap, filling and full of old-fashioned character, the shellfish of the seaside stall and the pub counter. Cooked and dressed with vinegar and pepper they make a proper snack, and they hold up well in a salad or a stew where you want some texture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow it tastes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSavoury and briny with a firm, chewy bite, closer to squid or abalone than to a soft clam. The flavour is clean and of the sea. The trick with whelks is not to overcook them, as long cooking makes them tough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to cook it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf they are live, rinse them well, then simmer in salted water for around 5 minutes, or up to 20 minutes for larger ones, until the meat pulls out cleanly. Pick the meat out with a pin or cocktail stick, twist off the operculum and the dark tail if you prefer, and dress with vinegar and pepper. Sold ready cooked, they need only picking and dressing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat goes with it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMalt vinegar, white pepper and brown bread the traditional way. Garlic butter. A seafood salad with other cooked shellfish. Chilli and lime for a fresher take.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow long it takes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLive whelks simmer in 5 to 20 minutes depending on size. Ready-cooked whelks need only picking, which takes a few minutes. Keep the boil gentle so they stay tender.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNutrition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhelks are high in protein and very low in fat, and they carry magnesium, selenium and B12. They are lean and low in calories, a filling shellfish for the protein they give.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSustainability\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAsk at the counter for the day's sourcing. Whelks are a traditional British shellfish, and we can advise on the day and on cooked versus live.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere to buy it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the counter at 18 Barnes High Street, sold cooked or live and priced by weight. Collect the same day in Barnes, or order by 1pm for next-day delivery across London and the UK, with free UK delivery over £60 and free local delivery for neighbours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e---\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I cook whelks?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf they are live, rinse them and simmer in salted water for around 5 minutes, or up to 20 minutes for larger ones, until the meat comes out cleanly. Keep the boil gentle. Whelks sold ready cooked need no further cooking, just picking and dressing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I get whelk meat out of the shell?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse a pin or a cocktail stick to spear the meat and twist it out of the spiral shell in one piece. Pull off the small horny cap, the operculum, and trim the dark tail at the end if you prefer before eating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy are my whelks chewy?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhelks are naturally firm, but long cooking turns them tough. Keep the simmer short and gentle and stop as soon as the meat pulls out cleanly. Slicing them thinly also makes them easier to eat in a salad.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAre whelks sold cooked or live?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe sell both. Cooked whelks are ready to pick and dress straight away. Live whelks need cooking at home. Ask at the counter and we will tell you what we have that day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I freeze whelks?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Cooked, picked whelk meat freezes well for up to two months. Freeze it as fresh as you can and defrost in the fridge overnight. Do not refreeze whelks that were sold defrosted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I order whelks for delivery?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOrder by 1pm and we deliver next day across London and the UK, with free UK delivery on orders over £60 and free local delivery for neighbours. You can also collect the same day in Barnes. We are open Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 4pm, and hold a five-star food hygiene rating.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"whelks-80g-1","title":"Whelks 80g","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhelks are sea snails with a firm springy bite and a sweet saline flavour. These come cooked and picked, ready to eat. Take them the traditional way with malt vinegar and white pepper, or slice and warm them through garlic butter. An 80g pot serves one.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"stockwell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58313238905096,"sku":"FTS-WHELKS-80G-1","price":10.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1037\/2372\/9160\/files\/fts-placeholder-1x1_6d888678-4084-45c3-b65a-7f09e39ecba7.png?v=1785180995"}],"url":"https:\/\/fromthesea.co.uk\/collections\/whelks.oembed","provider":"From The Sea","version":"1.0","type":"link"}