How to Store and Shuck Oysters

How to Store Oysters: Unlike most shellfish, oysters have a fairly long shelf life: up to two weeks. However, their taste fades as they age.

Oysters should be refrigerated out of water, not frozen. Just put them in a pan or leave them in the box you’re provided. Oysters stored in water under refrigeration will open, consume available oxygen and die. Oysters must be eaten alive, or cooked alive. The shells of live oysters are normally tightly closed or snap shut given a slight tap. If the shell is open, the oyster is dead, and cannot be eaten safely. Cooking oysters in the shell kills the oysters and causes them to open by themselves. Oysters that don’t open after being cooked should be discarded.

Shucking Instruction: Below is a video that will help you safely shuck oysters at home. If you’d rather not shuck, we suggest grilling your oysters — they taste great that way too! We suggest using the side shucking method — as shown in the first video.