Enjoying Oysters
Enjoying Oysters
Oysters may seem intimidating, but they're pretty easy to love once you know how to work with them. There are dozens of types of oysters, all varying in sweetness, salinity and minerality. Depending on where and when the oysters were grown, they can taste fruity, earthy or pleasantly metallic. There's a world of oysters to explore! Here are some starter tips for prepping and eating them.
Store & Clean
Our Seafood Cases are specially designed to drain melting freshwater away from the oysters sitting on ice, ensuring that water doesn't get into the shells. At home, you don't need to keep them on ice. Simply place them on a rimmed baking sheet or in a shallow bowl, cover them with a damp kitchen towel and keep them cold in the fridge until ready to use. They'll stay fresh for up to a week.
Scrub oysters under cold, running water to remove sandy grit, paying particular attention to the hinged area where you're going to insert your shucking knife. Toss any oysters that won't stay closed, have a broken shell or an "off" odor.
Shuck
Click here or on the embedded video for a real-time demo of oysters being shucked (opened).
Protect your hand with a thick glove or folded kitchen towel, and for safety and efficiency, use a tool specially designed for shucking (available in the Seafood Department).
DO NOT force your shucking tool into the oyster's hinge. This is a surefire way to damage/tear the belly of the oyster or stab yourself. Take your time, use light pressure with the tip of the shucker and rock back and forth gently until the lid "pops."
Make sure there are no shell bits or sand in the cup of the oyster.
Do not drain the liquid (liquor) from the cup of the oyster. It should be eaten with the oyster all in one bite.
Serve
Nestle ready-to-eat oysters in their half shells on crushed ice.
Serve simply with fresh lemon wedges – and Champagne!
Purists may balk at the idea, but plenty of people enjoy oysters with a dab of cocktail sauce, horseradish or a vinegary sauce called mignonette.
Enjoy
Use a tiny fork to gently loosen the oyster from the shell.
Raise the edge of the shell to your lips and gently tip it until the meat and liquor slide into your mouth.
Chew, don't swallow. It is a common misconception that you should swallow an oyster whole. Chewing is the best way to fully enjoy an oyster's flavor.
Did you know?
We can order a wide variety of oysters with just a day or two's notice. Just ask us!
Not into raw seafood?
That's okay. Oysters are great cooked, too! Try them baked in our recipe for Stuffed Oysters.
Selection and availability of products and ingredients vary by market.
