This Pot Collecting Dust Under Your Sink Could Be Worth Big Bucks

If you have one of these pots chilling in your attic, basement or under the kitchen sink, you could be sitting on something surprisingly valuable.

It seems as if these “steamed clam” pots were ubiquitous growing up in New England. Some might have actually said “steamed clams” on them, but other than that, they pretty much all looked the same: speckled enamel, double-steam pot with a spigot on the bottom.

How the Double-Steamer Works

The idea was that you’d put your water in the bottom half, your steamer clams in the top, steam those clams until they were ready to be devoured, and then open the spigot to get the broth for dipping (and cleaning) your clams before slathering them in drawn butter, likely melted down in a nearby saucepan.

READ MORE: Boiling Down the Controversy Over New England Clam Boils

They definitely came in handy for clam boil night, but then might make the odd appearance on Thanksgiving or Christmas when running out of other pots and pans to prepare the holiday dinner. Other than that, nobody knew exactly where they went when they weren’t needed, but they always magically reappeared when they were.

Why These Pots Are Collectible Today

If you’re lucky enough to have held on to one, congratulations, because not only are they practically impossible to find today, they also go for big bucks. You have to search eBay or other such sites in order to find the traditional clam pot, and if you do find one, you can expect to pay around $100 for it.

READ MORE: A True Clam Boil Must Contain Linguica

There are larger-scale commercial versions of the double steamer available online, but not only are they too big, they also cost $200-$300. What’s worse, they don’t have the spigot on the side to deliver that delicious clam broth in one easy go. Who wants to try and pour it out of a giant pot?

Get our free mobile app

Have a Pot? Show Us!

Do you still have a steamed clam pot? If so, post a photo of it under this story on our Facebook page or send it to us via our app.

READ MORE: New Bedford New Free Swap Shop Is a Thrifter's Dream