Source: wikiHow
- 1 Visit your local fishmonger. Ask your fishmonger when they receive their oyster delivery and try to buy on, or as close to that day as possible.[1] This ensures you will get the freshest oysters.
- 2 Go to the local farmers market. A lot of oyster farmers sell directly at farmers markets, so the oysters wouldn’t have traveled far, and will be nice and fresh. This is a great opportunity to get to know your farmers, who have an indispensable wealth of knowledge when it comes to their oysters.[2]
- 3 Go to your local supermarket. The fish counter at your local supermarket should stock fresh oysters. Supermarket shellfish can be sourced from various locations, so ask the person at the fish counter where their oysters are from, and when they were delivered.
- 4 Look into buying your oysters online. Some fishmongers offer overnight delivery within 24 hours, straight to your door. [3] Do an internet search of your local area to see if there are any available services near to you. This may be a benefit to you if you live in a landlocked area.
- 1 Look at how the oysters are displayed. Oysters on display should be kept cool by lying on a bed of ice. The cup-like part of the shell should be resting on the ice, with the flat top facing up. If they are not, more than likely the brine of the oyster will have drained, and the oyster may be dead. [4]
- Avoid oysters displayed in tanks. Oysters are able to live happily in a tank of water, but it is considered unsanitary, and will also drastically reduce their quality. They will continuously filter the water, which eventually flushes out all the flavours of its natural liquor.
- 2 Avoid oysters that don’t respond to being tapped. Fresh oysters are live creatures and should close their shells when tapped. If one is open and doesn’t close fully when disturbed, they are most likely dead and should not be purchased. [5]
- 3 Taste one of the oysters. Sampling is a good indicator of how fresh the oysters are. They should taste like the sea, salty and briny with a hint of sweetness. If it is at all bitter, spit it out, and do not eat it. The meat should be plump and surrounded by clear or slightly milky liquid known as the brine or liquor.[6]
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- 5 Feel the weight of the oysters. Oysters that have plenty of meat should feel weighty in your hand. If they feel too light they may have been drained of their brine or dead.
- 6 Ask to see the oyster tag identification. Every fishmonger will have a tag that…
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