Are you an oyster enthusiast looking to up your oyster-eating game? Or maybe you’ve never tried one before, but now you’re up for the challenge? Either way, if you want to eat oysters like the pros, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, you’ll get tips and tricks to navigate the shellfish world with ease and confidence, as you eat oysters like a true connoisseur. Ready? Let’s dive into it.
1. An Introduction to Eating Oysters
As a beginner, the thought of eating a raw oyster may seem overwhelming. However, with the proper knowledge and tips, even a novice oyster enthusiast will be able to savor this delicacy like a pro. Here are some tips for eating oysters like a pro:
- Choose Wisely: The first tip is to always choose your oyster wisely. Some oysters are plumper and sweeter, while others may be brinier. Consider your location, as there are many regional oysters that vary in flavor.
- Presentation is Everything: When it comes to oysters, presentation is key. Not all oysters must appear on a bed of ice – it’s important to look into all the presentation options available for serving.
- Knife Skills Count: When it comes to shucking oysters, the right tools are important. It’s best to have a specialized oyster knife and a hand-towel at your disposal. Shucking an oyster takes skill, and proper knife safety is crucial.
- Enhance Its Flavor: To enhance an oyster’s flavor, it’s best to accompany the oyster with something acidic like a squeeze of lemon juice or a mignonette. Cocktail sauce or Tabasco can also be used, depending on your preference.
- Don’t Worry about Size: Everyone is familiar with the saying “go big or go home,” but when it comes to oysters, don’t worry about their size. Consider their origin, taste, and quality over size.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced oyster eater, these tips are essential to help you confidently enjoy a delicious oyster like a pro.
2. Tip One – Preparing Your Oyster
Now that you know what oysters are and how to choose them, you can start to get to the fun part, actually eating them! Preparing an oyster can seem daunting at first, but it’s really not that complicated. Here’s how to do it:
- 1. Gently scrape away any debris from the surface of the oyster. You don’t need to be too aggressive when doing this; a simple soft brush or cloth should do the trick.
- 2. Slide the knife into the oyster. Find the opening between the two shells and wiggle the knife in to create an opening. Don’t force it; it can take some patience to open up the oyster without breaking it!
- 3. Detach the top shell. Once you have an opening, you can remove the top shell of the oyster and set it aside.
- 4. Loosen the oyster from the bottom shell. Using the same knife, detach the oyster from the bottom shell. It should come away easily.
When done correctly, you should be left with a perfectly prepared oyster ready to enjoy. It’s best to do this just before serving, as oysters are best eaten fresh. You can always keep them on ice while you’re preparing them.
3. Tip Two - Opening Your Oyster
To get to the good bits inside your oyster, you need to open it. Here’s how to do it like a pro:
- You need to slip an oyster knife, which is a special tool for this purpose, into the hinge of the oyster, which is located at the base of the opening of the shell.
- Apply some pressure and twist the knife using gentle motions. Be careful – the shells can be quite brittle.
- When you feel the shell giving way, tug the knife outwards and remove the top of the shell.
Safety Tip! Always wear gloves when opening oysters as the sharp shells can cause lacerations.
4. Tip Three – Choosing Accompanying Ingredients
High Quality Oysters Need High Quality Toppings
When selecting accompanying ingredients for your oysters, always try to find the highest quality item available. For example, if you are adding a topping of bacon to your oysters, look for organic, free range bacon for the purest flavor. Doing this will ensure the oyster flavor isn’t masked by any filler ingredients.
In addition, most oyster chefs recommend a simple palate of ingredients for the accompaniments. Here are some ideas:
- Chopped Shallots
- Crème Fraîche
- Chopped Dill
- Freshly Squeezed Lemon
- Hot Sauce
- Horseradish
Finally, when it comes to sauces for your oysters, opt for lighter sauces with delicate flavors. Lemon butter sauce, champagne mignonette sauce and simple horseradish sauces can all be good choices. Avoid anything too spicy or too heavy-handed in flavor. These sauces can overpower the delicate oyster flavor, leaving you with an unappetizing end result.
5. Tip Four – Storing and Serving
Storing and serving oysters is an important part of properly enjoying them. Here are a few tips on how to store and serve the best oysters:
- Choose your oysters wisely: Look for firm, unbroken shells without any cracks or chips. Oysters with round as opposed to flat and deep cups usually provide the most succulent flesh.
- Keep them alive: Live oysters must remain cold and moist, which means storing them in the lower shelves of your fridge on a bed of damp seaweed or damp newspaper.
- When shucking, be prepared: Have a damp towel on hand and a shucker that’s sturdy enough to go through the tough shell.
- Serve on ice: Have a large bowl of crushed ice to serve and display your oysters.
- Classic accompaniments: Serve oysters with lemon wedges, red wine vinegar mignonette sauce, cocktail sauce, or tabasco sauce.
6. Tip Five – Enjoying Your Oysters!
Oysters are a delicious delicacy that can be enjoyed in many different ways, and once you get the hang of it, eating them like a pro is easy! Here are our top five tips for enjoying your oysters like a pro:
- Slurp it up! - First and foremost, don’t be afraid to slurp up that oyster! Doing so is the best way to get the full flavour and sweetness of the oyster.
- Choose your sauces carefully – Too much sauce can overpower the subtle flavour of the oyster, but a little sauce can be delicious when chosen wisely. Go for a light and zesty sauce with a hint of citrus.
- Try it without any sauces – A truly experienced oyster enthusiast will be able to enjoy an oyster without any sauces at all! It will taste completely different without any added flavours, but some oyster lovers prefer it au natural.
- Go for the whole oyster - If you aren’t sure about eating the whole oyster, you should still give it a try. Many oyster lovers are surprised by how the flavour changes when eaten in its entirety.
- Seafood accompaniments – Seafood dishes often pair well with oysters. A nice glass of white wine or a chilled beer are great choices to accompany a plate of oysters.
Now that you know the basics, it’s time to start enjoying your oysters like a pro! Don’t be afraid to experiment and find new and exciting ways to make your oyster-eating experience even more special.
There you have it – five simple yet essential tips to help you eat oysters like a pro. Whether you’re a seafood enthusiast or a novice looking to give them a try, treat yourself to a delicious serving of oysters and follow these useful tips. You’ll be sure to have an enjoyable experience!