Should You Buy Shucked Oysters?

When it comes to buying oyster meat online, there is some contention about the best way to buy it. Some insist that buying the meat still in the shell is the best practice. However, others are not willing to face the task of spending that extra time shucking the meat. Ultimately, whether you decide to buy oyster meat attached to the shell or fresh shucked oysters for sale, there is some information you should know beforehand.

Shucked Oyster Prices

Is It Worth Buying Oyster Meat?

Oysters are highly desirable to seafood lovers for a handful of reasons. When it comes to Chesapeake oysters, the flavor is salty, and the texture is rich. Additionally, Linton Seafood explains there are many ways to eat oysters regardless of whether you buy them with the attached shell or buy shucked oysters. People can consume raw oysters, as well as prepare them by frying, steaming, broiling or sautéing them. Oysters are considered healthy and noted for their high protein content.

There is a sector of people who write off buying shucked oysters based on the freshness. Once the oysters arrive at your house, it is considered best to keep raw oysters on ice and then shuck and eat them within a period of a day. For those unfamiliar with the process, shucking is when you pull apart the two shells of an oyster and then you fully open the oyster.

If you choose to buy shucked oysters, the oyster meat will stay good for varying lengths of time depending on your storage method. Refrigerated oysters should maintain a temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. It is recommended that you wait no longer than 1-2 days to eat them.

How Are Shucked Oysters Processed and Shipped?

Shucking an oyster is a deliberate process that requires close attention to detail. When processing the oysters before they are sent out, those who shuck the oysters do so with focused efforts on not puncturing the meat in the clusters.

The shucking process is described as both cold and wet. By the end, the shells are saved. Once they are dry – which takes place over the course of a year or two – they are crushed into smaller pieces. Then baby oysters settle on them.

As far as shipment details for when you buy shucked oysters, there is no apparent difference from when you buy oysters with the shells. Customers can often either request an overnight delivery for an oyster shipment or schedule their order to arrive by a certain date, and the orders will typically ship in Styrofoam containers with gel packs included to keep the product fresh.

Popular Shucked Oyster Recipes

One out-of-the-box recipe is Pulled Pork Sliders with Fried Oysters. The recipe takes 75 minutes, and its main ingredients include 1 pork butt, oysters (as needed) and 4 cloves of garlic. Another recipe for the next time you buy shucked oysters is Gulf of Mexico Oyster Dip, which requires 9 ounces of oysters and 8 ounces of cream cheese.

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