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how to shuck an oyster

(1 rating)
CarolAJ avatar
Recipe by
Carol Junkins
@CarolAJ
Hanson, MA

My husband works an Oyster Grant down in Cape Cod, MA. It takes 2-3 years to grow the oysters to a legal 3". As they grow they must be separated and moved to different cages to allow space around each one to feed and grow. It is very labor intensive, which people don't realize. I am posting directions on how to shuck an oyster as many have asked.

(1 rating)
method No-Cook or Other

Ingredients For how to shuck an oyster

  • 6-12
    oysters
  • 1
    sharp oyster knife
  • before you shuck them, place them flat on cookie sheet after washing them in cold water and let them sit in the refrigerator for an hour for easier opening.

How To Make how to shuck an oyster

  • 1
    Use leverage not force to open an oyster shell. Have a sharp oyster knife.
  • 2
    Hold the oyster, flat side up, in a cloth or towel, pressed firmly against the work surface. Do not try to open an oyster in midair as you would a clam. Keep your hand out of the area where the knife could slip.
  • 3
    Place the tip of the knife in the Achilles head (the hinge)and turn your hand as if you were turning the throttle of a motorcycle , pushing in with steady pressure until you feel the snap. Now give a full twist to make enough of an opening to slide the knife along the top of the shell, cutting the muscle .
  • 4
    The top of the shell is now off and all that is left to do is cut the bottom muscle. Keep the oyster level at all times, so as not to lose any of the juice. Always serve on crushed ice, which holds the oyster level and keeps it cold.
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