Oysters - Fresh is Best!
Fresh oysters are the best kind - as long as they are eaten fresh or at the very least stored properly in the meantime. This is because oysters are typically eaten raw, and the last thing you want to do is eat a raw oyster that is something other than fresh! The best way of storing fresh oysters is to keep them at low temperatures and consume them as soon as possible. Shelled oysters have a different storage procedure than those that are freshly shucked. Make sure you know the difference in order to prevent, well, oyster poisoning!
Fresh oysters can be stored for a longer duration than shucked oysters. With the right shucking equipment you can make the most out of the fresh in-shell oysters. This is a cent percent guarantee of freshness. If you want the fresh oysters to stay alive, make sure they can breathe. Line the flat part of the oysters on a baking sheet or tray and cover it with damp towel or cloth. Avoid cold water in the storage as the oysters might die. Make sure the temperature of the refrigerator is between 36 degree F and 40 degrees F. oysters will die will a lesser temperature.
If you have harvested the oysters, refrigerate them within half an hour after the harvest is done. For best results, consume the fresh oysters within 2 days. If kept cool, however, the oysters will last longer. If any oyster has perished during storage, eliminate them since they contain harmful bacteria. You can tell that fresh oysters are dead by tapping on the shell, and waiting for no reaction. Live oysters react tightly. Dead oysters make a distinct hollow sound. Discard these ‘clackers’.
Fresh oysters that are shucked should be stored in cold environments between 34 and 35 degrees F. store them in airtight containers or covered bowls. The shucked oysters stay fresh at cold temperatures for 4 to 5 days. If you bought the shucked oysters in a container, keep them until they reach their expiry date which is printed on the container. If you want to freeze the fresh oysters, they can be stored the longest. Freeze the oysters that are high in quality and not the in-shell or dead ones.
Place the shucked fresh oysters at 0 degrees F in the air tight freezer in order to guard against decomposition. Thaw them within the refrigerator instead of at room temperature.
