What range of soaking times is suggested for purging unwanted sediment from cockles?
Answer
At least two hours, potentially up to four hours, or even overnight in a cool place.
The required duration for effectively purging sediment from cockles is flexible but generally requires several hours. While some advice recommends a minimum soak of two hours, other experienced cooks suggest extending this period up to four hours. Furthermore, an overnight soak in a cool location is also mentioned as an acceptable, longer duration technique. The goal is to allow sufficient time for the cockles to actively filter and expel their contents. If the water remains clear after only an hour, it might suggest the shellfish are not fresh or the soaking conditions are not stimulating them adequately.

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