Geoduck
Panopea generosa
Also known as King Clam, Elephant Clam, Gweduck, Goeduck, Goiduck
Culinary Profile
The neck is tough and crunchy, while the belly meat is tender and sweet.
Geoducks are excellent sources of protein and iron.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Geoducks are characterized by a small shell and very long siphon, or "neck." The long “neck” has two openings at the end—one for taking in oxygen and phytoplankton and one for releasing excess water.
Biology
Geoducks are long-lived—the oldest ever recorded was 168 years old. Geoducks burrow into the sediment about 1 foot per year to a depth of 3 feet. In the first 3 to 5 years, geoducks grow to 1.5 pounds, though they may not reach maximum size (about 7 pounds) for 15 years. Females release between 1 and 2 million eggs per spawn.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Available year-round.
Source
Washington State and Alaska.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 106 Species
Where Geoduck ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin B12 | 11.28 µg | 5 / 106 | 95% |
| Iron | 1.62 mg | 11 / 111 | 90% |
| Choline | 65 mg | 12 / 65 | 82% |
| Zinc | 0.51 mg | 48 / 111 | 57% |
| Phosphorus | 198 mg | 70 / 111 | 37% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 43 mg | 82 / 104 | 21% |
| Selenium | 30.6 µg | 90 / 106 | 15% |
| Protein | 14.67 g | 91 / 111 | 18% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 64 mg | 92 / 104 | 12% |
Other Alaska Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Geoduck.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Bocaccio
Sebastes paucispinis
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Canary Rockfish
Sebastes pinniger
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Chinook salmon has a pronounced buttery, rich taste. They are the most highly prized salmon in the culinary world.
Chum Salmon
Oncorhynchus keta
Chum salmon has a lower oil content than other wild salmon, so it has a relatively mild flavor.
Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Smaller coho have a delicate flavor. Fillets from larger fish have a mild taste.
Dover Sole
Microstomus pacificus
Mild and sweet.
English Sole
Parophrys vetulus
Mild taste with a slight shellfish flavor.
Flathead Sole
Hippoglossoides elassodon
Mild and delicate flavor.
Pacific Cod
Gadus macrocephalus
Pacific cod is a mild-tasting fish.
Similar by Flavour: Other Sweet-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the sweet flavour profile of Geoduck, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Snow Crab
Chionoecetes opilio
Sweet.
Almaco Jack
Seriola rivoliana
Almaco jack has a clean, sweet, rich, slightly nutty, buttery flavor.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
American Plaice
Hippoglossoides platessoides
Subtle, sweet flavor.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much choline does Geoduck contain?
A 100 g raw serving of Geoduck supplies 65 mg of choline, around 12% of the 550 mg daily value — notable for prenatal and liver-health contexts.
Is Geoduck a lean fish or a rich one?
At 86 kcal per 100 g raw, Geoduck counts as lean on the fattiness spectrum — useful context when deciding cooking method (lean species suit poaching; rich species hold up to high-heat sear).
How long do Geoduck live?
Lived—the oldest ever recorded was 168 years.
What else is Geoduck called?
Geoduck is also marketed as King Clam, Elephant Clam, Gweduck, Goeduck, Goiduck.
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 22 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.