How to Shuck an Oyster with a Knife
One of the most delicate processes is to shuck an oyster with a knife. The goal is to get the succulent meat and all the delightful juices out from the oyster shell after prying it open. In order to open an oyster shell, you need some tools, a firm hand and practice.
Things Required:
– A stiff-bristled brush
– Heavy gloves
– An oyster knife or a knife with a heavy blade
– A bed of ice to keep oysters fresh
Instructions
-
1
Wear gloves
Get a pair of tough rubber gloves and wear them before handling oyster shells. You might cut yourself if you do not follow this safety precaution. -
2
Clean the oysters
Next take a stiff-bristled brush and use it to clean the oysters. You are required to scrub off the ocean grit from the oysters by rinsing them under cool running water. Make sure the oysters are fresh when you are handling them. -
3
Hold the oyster
After cleaning the oyster, you need to grasp it with one hand as the cup-side should be facing down. Remember that the curve side should be against the palm and the hinge should be pointed towards you. -
4
Insert the oyster knife
Now you need to put the oyster knife into the hinge and with a twisting motion, pull apart the top and bottom shells. The hinge will be pop when you twist the knife. -
5
Run the blade
You are required to run the blade towards the top of the shell. Then run it from the hinge around the other side in order to separate the top and bottom shells. Be careful while handling the knife as you do not want it to slip out as you can easily get injured. -
6
Open the oyster
After separating the shells, you need to open the oyster. Run the blade along the top shell again to discard the remaining meat. -
7
Serve the oysters
Your oysters are now ready to be served. You can always place them on a bed of ice to keep them fresh.
