Alternatively, if you’re embarrassed about slurping the oyster, it’s also acceptable to spear it with your fork and eat it that way.
Other traditional condiments served with oysters include grated horseradish, cocktail sauce, wasabi, and mignonette.
Don’t be embarrassed about slurping the oyster; this is also perfectly acceptable! If the oyster doesn’t slide into your mouth, this probably means it’s still attached to the shell. Set the oyster back down and use a fork to gently detach it before going to slurp it again.
If you suspect your oysters are bad, ask your waiter if they can be replaced. It’s not worth it to potentially eat bad oysters. You should discard oysters whose shells have opened because they’ve died in storage.
If you do buy your oysters from a supermarket, ask the person at the fish counter how long ago the oysters were delivered to know how relatively fresh they are. Some fishmongers also offer to deliver oysters directly to your door. Look online to see if there are any providers in your area who offer overnight oyster deliveries.
When live oysters are refrigerated, they may be a bit slow to respond to taps on their shells. Wait a few minutes to see if the shell fully closes before immediately tossing out the oyster.
If possible, put the oysters in a colander while you’re washing them and put crushed ice on top of them. This will keep the oysters even colder and fresher while you clean them. You can also arrange them in a single layer and hose off that single layer before shucking them.
For maximum safety, use an oyster knife that has a hand guard attached to it. If you don’t have an oyster knife, use a short knife with a strong, blunt blade.
The shell will be very tightly closed as you do this; use a firm grip when handling the knife to make sure it doesn’t slip away from you.
The abductor muscle is the last bit of tissue on the bottom of the oyster still connected to the shell. Slide the knife back and forth underneath the oyster to cut it. Open the oyster over a bowl or sink, just in case you do accidentally spill some of the juices inside the shell.
