You don’t just have to order oysters on the half shell. Any dish with oysters in it is fair game. You can also try buying oysters to eat at home from a fish market. To shuck an oyster at home, place the slit face up. Insert a table knife in one end of the slit, pushing downward slightly and moving across the opening. Pull the oyster open to look for a pearl. If it doesn’t have one, you can still enjoy the oyster.
Pearls can come in all sorts of colors, such as blue, purple, orange, white, pink, green, and black. They can be round, oblong, egg-shaped, or irregularly shaped. [4] X Research source However, most edible oysters will produce something closer to a pebble than a pearl. [5] X Research source
Some pearl diving companies let you dive for naturally grown pearls. Others are part of a farming operation. You’ll have better luck finding pearls with farming operations, but you likely won’t get as much diving time. [8] X Research source In fact, some companies guarantee you will find a pearl, or they will give you one. [9] X Research source
If you don’t already know how to swim, consider taking swimming lessons from your local parks and recreation department or YMCA.
While you can find mussels that produce pearls in other areas, these are the main states for commercially viable pearls.
Check for mussels in shallow water. Generally, sandy areas are best, and you’ll be able to find them in rivers, lakes, and streams. [17] X Research source Many fisherman use waders to wade into the river and gather mussels. Essentially, you wade into the middle of shallow water and feel around in the bottom of the steam for mussels. [18] X Research source In lakes, you can employ similar methods of feeling for mussels, but you may need basic diving equipment. [19] X Research source If the water is not murky, you’ll be able to see mussels sticking up out of the sand at the bottom. [20] X Research source
Burnish your pearl with table salt and a soft cloth that’s a little damp.
The easiest way to measure your mussels is to use a ring with an interior that is the specified size. Then you just see whether the mussel passes through or not. For pink heelsplitters and washboards, the mussels need to be 4 inches in diameter. River pigtoes, lake pigtoes, maple leafs, southerns, three ridges, and elephant ears need to be 2 5/8 inches in diameter, while ebonies and monkey faces need to be 2 3/8 inches in diameter.
