Like other shellfish, raw oysters should be consumed immediately. However, if you don't have time to eat fresh oysters right away, you can keep them for a few days in the refrigerator or even longer if they are stored in the freezer. While the process of storing oysters may seem a little complicated at first, it's actually quite simple if you pay attention to it.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Storing Oysters in the Fridge
Step 1. Do not open or wash fresh oysters
Oysters taste better if they are peeled directly before eating. In addition, keeping the oyster in the shell will make it easier to store and reduce the risk of spoilage.
- If the oysters you purchased have been peeled and placed in a plastic container, store them in the freezer until you are ready to eat them.
- Leave the sand and dust on the oysters. This will keep it moist while protecting the meat.
Step 2. Pour the ice into a small bowl or other open container
Take a bowl, small cooler, or similar container that can be placed in the refrigerator. Make sure this container has a top that can be opened and closed. After that, pour the ice into the container.
- Do not store oysters in an airtight or closed container. This method can make the oyster suffocate to death.
- You may need to change the ice during the freezing period. So don't pour ice into the container if you can't check it regularly.
Step 3. Place the oysters on the ice upside down
Like a seafood trader, you have to store your oysters with ice to keep them cool and fresh. Be sure to turn the oyster shell so that the side that sticks out is facing down. This technique will ensure that the oyster liquid is not wasted.
Step 4. Wet a towel with cold water and place it over the oysters
Dip a clean dry towel in cold water, then wring it out. After that, place the towel over the oysters. This will prevent the oysters from drying out as well as prevent them from developing freshwater poisoning.
- If you want, you can cover the oysters with damp tissue paper or newsprint.
- Oysters are sea creatures. Soaking them in fresh water will poison and kill them.
Step 5. Place the container in the refrigerator
If you can, set the refrigerator to reach 2-4 Celsius. Make sure you store the oysters on top of the raw meat so that the meat juices don't drip onto the oyster shells.
If you can, check your oysters at least once a day while they are refrigerated. If the towel dries, moisten it again. If the ice in the container melts, remove it and replace it with new ice
Step 6. Store the oysters in the refrigerator for 2 days
To be safe, remove and eat fresh oysters within 2 days of storing them. Even if some oysters can last up to a week or more, eating them when they're not fresh carries a much greater risk of poisoning.
- If the oyster has an expiration date, use that limit as the maximum storage time.
- Freeze oysters if you want to keep them longer than 2 days.
Step 7. Open the oyster shell before eating
After you take the oysters out of the freezer, wash the oysters in cold water and remove the shells. After that, use a knife to cut the bottom of the meat, then match until it comes out of the shell. Before eating, carefully separate the oyster meat from the shell using a knife.
Before eating oysters, make sure the meat is still fresh. If the shell looks damaged, the oyster smells bad, or has gray, brown, black, or pink stains on the flesh, throw the oyster away
Method 2 of 2: Freezing Oysters
Step 1. Rinse the oysters that are still in the shell
Storing oysters in their shells will prevent them from rotting, as well as preserve their taste. Unlike the refrigeration method, rinsing the oyster shells in cold water to clean them will prevent bacteria from multiplying.
If you don't have enough room in the freezer to store whole oysters, remove the oyster meat from the shell before storing. If you choose this method, save the liquid in the oyster shell for later use
Step 2. Place the oysters in a special freezer container
To store oysters safely, place them in a special moisture-proof bag in the freezer. If you store oyster meat without a shell, use a hard plastic container.
To prevent freezer burn, leave no more than 1.3 cm of space from the top of the container
Step 3. Pour the liquid from the oyster shells into the container, if you are storing only the meat
To maintain the deliciousness of the oyster meat, pour the liquid from the oyster shell into a special freezer container. Pour the liquid until the oysters in the container are completely submerged.
If you don't have enough liquid to cover the oysters, add more water
Step 4. Close the container tightly
If you use a sealable bag. Press the remaining air inside with your finger. Then, seal the container tightly before placing it in the freezer. In contrast to oysters stored in the refrigerator, closing the container will maintain the condition of the oysters when stored for a long time.
- If you are using a rigid plastic container, make sure the lid is securely attached.
- Be sure to write the storage date on the container.
Step 5. Store oysters in the freezer for up to 3 months
When frozen properly, fresh oysters can last for 2 to 3 months. To make sure the oysters don't rot. Check regularly and discard oysters with damaged shells or flesh that is pink, black, brown, or gray in color.
Although oysters are safe to eat, their taste will gradually change after they are frozen
Step 6. Thaw frozen oysters in the refrigerator before eating
Carefully remove the oyster container from the freezer and place it in the empty part of the refrigerator. Depending on the temperature of the frozen oysters, the thawing process can take up to 20 hours.
- Defrosting frozen oysters with this method will extend their shelf life. This means you don't have to eat oysters that have been completely defrosted right away.
- If you want, you can thaw the oysters by submerging the container in cold water. However, you should eat it immediately after thawing because it goes stale easily.
