In 1900, New York City consumed roughly a million oysters each day, but they are no longer considered the cheap dish they once were. While clams are slightly more common today, many Americans are not familiar with oysters or clams and may not know the differences between them.

Clams live in "stout, oval-shaped" shells with smooth surfaces while oysters have bumpier surfaces and widely varied shapes, so you can easily tell the difference visually. In addition, clams often live in freshwater places and hide in the sand while oysters stay in shallow saltwater areas.

Each shellfish has a specific knife to open them, and the idea behind opening a clam is to use a knife to separate the top and bottom of the shell. However according to SF Gate, to dislodge an oyster, you must "push ... through the back of the shell."

Both boast a significant amount of protein and a large dose of vitamin B12 while being relatively low in calories and fat, but clams offer a larger dose of iron, vitamin C, and other minerals, while oysters are richer in copper, selenium, and zinc. Flavor-wise, clams might be a bit saltier, but oysters taste more delicate.