Oysters Are Alive!
OUR SHELLFISH ARE HAND SORTED AND COME TO YOU LIVE
Unlike fish, which start declining the moment they leave the water, oysters are still alive when they arrive at your door. Treat them right and they can stay that way for up to two weeks. The tips below aren't just about freshness — they're about keeping a living animal alive.
We've trained them to clamp down tight through our tumbling and drying process, scrubbed and sorted them, and gently packed them for the journey. But some oysters, like some people, just don't like traveling much — it's possible one refuses to go on living if it can't stay in Jakolof Bay. If you've ever visited, you'd understand why. We pack 13 to the dozen just in case.
Oyster Care
Keep them cold immediately. Live oysters should be stored between 32–45°F. Don't leave them in a warm car — every hour outside of ideal conditions compounds.
Store cup side down (flat side up) and cover with a damp cloth to retain their liquor.
No standing water. Oysters are filter feeders — they'll filter fresh water, and it harms them. No tupperware, zip locks, or airtight containers either; they need to breathe.
Crisper drawer if you have one — it's designed to keep things from drying out, which makes it ideal.
Tap before you shuck. A healthy oyster is tight, solid, and heavy. A gaper (sitting open at rest) that closes when tapped is stressed and has likely lost some liquor — eat it soon or cook it. One that won't close at all should be discarded.
Sniff test when shucked. They should smell fresh and seaside — appetizing, not alarming.
Lemon or vinegar test. A squeeze on the mantle of a live oyster should cause a slight retraction. They can pucker too.
Avoid direct contact with dry ice or gel packs. If using either, keep them insulated from the shells with a cloth or towel.
Want the full story on why the cold chain matters, what "tested" actually means, and how to get the most out of every dozen? We wrote it up: How Long Do Oysters Last?