Oyster Facts

Oysters grow about 1 inch a year. They can be harvested when they are 3 inches across.

The oysters change their sex during their lives, starting as males and usually ending as females. The shape of oysters varies and depends mainly on how many crowd about them in the bed as they develop.

After spending the first part of its life floating freely through the ocean, a young oyster will cement itself to a rock or other hard surface, never to travel again. A female oyster can produce 100 million eggs during one breeding season. Some oysters produce a gooey substance which coats irritating sand or grit trapped within its shell. This substance hardens into a smooth ball... a pearl.

Preparation

Opening oysters takes a little experience. If you don't have an oyster knife, use one with a strong stainless steel blade. Knives not made specifically for the job may break, and metals other than stainless steel might leave the taste of metal on the oyster. Wear a heavy glove to protect your hand from cuts. After scrubbing under cold running water, hold the oyster firmly with one hand, rounded side down so less liquid is lost when opened. Insert the blade of the knife between the shells, near the hinge. Twist the blade to open the shells, then cut the muscle joining the shells together. Slip the blade underneath the oyster to detach it from the shell. Remove any pieces of shell stuck on the oyster.

Steaming them for a few seconds or heating them in a medium oven for about 30 seconds might make them a little easier to open (the heat softens the adductor muscle). Never soak oysters in water, because they can die if they open and their liquid drains out.