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How to Shuck Fresh Oysters

The following tutorial, video and photography were provided by our partner, Chef Billy Parisi.

You don’t need a reservation at a seafood restaurant to enjoy fresh oysters. With fresh oysters from Heinen’s Seafood Department, a few simple tools and basic technique, you can shuck your own oysters anytime, anywhere.

Let’s dive into the details!

How to Store Fresh Oysters

  • If you purchase oysters from Heinen’s Seafood Department, but don’t plan to use them right away, store them in the fridge at 36-40°F.  Be sure they are facing cup-side-up to allow the natural liquor to remain in the oyster for as long as possible.
  • The oysters will last several days in the fridge, but remember, the sooner they’re eaten after harvest, the fresher they taste!

How to Shuck Fresh Oysters

  • Open the oyster with an oyster shucking knife. Look for the end of the oyster, which is usually marked by a small crack or crevice. Insert the knife into the crevice and give the knife a quarter turn, or move it up and down like a lever. As a safety precaution, hold the oyster in a kitchen towel or wear a protective glove. Simply scrape the top of the oyster shell to get all of the delicious oyster meat off of it. You now have a perfectly shucked oyster!
  • Remove any excess debris. Sometimes there may be sand or a little shell in the oyster. If this is the case, simply run a little cold water over the shucked oyster to clean it.
  • Serve. If you are serving oysters on the half shell, place them directly on a bed of crushed ice with mignonette or cocktail sauce and lemon wedges.

Shucking oysters does take a little practice, but once you get the hang of the technique, you can have perfectly shucked oysters whenever you please!

Oysters

Chef Billy Parisi

By Chef Billy Parisi

Chef Billy Parisi is a culinary school grad who spent 15 years in the restaurant industry as a line cook, sous chef and executive chef. Now he develops, photographs and films simple and delicious recipes that will make everyone feel like a chef in their own kitchen.

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