Given the proper care, oysters will live for 5-7 days after being harvested. You can keep live oysters in the fridge. To ensure maximum quality, put them under a wet cloth. If you want to keep them in an eski, cover them with a damp cloth.
When properly cared for live oysters will live in your refrigerator for 10 to 21 days. Are they alive? When oysters are dead in their shells they are no longer suitable to eat. To see if your oysters are alive, the shell should be closed or close when tapped lightly.
The best way to store them is in their bag, inside a bowl with a damp cloth over the top. But please: Do not store the oysters directly on or underneath ice. Oysters will die if they sit in fresh water.
Storage: They are best kept between 5-10 degrees. They are happy in the box they come in as well but we recommend keeping them in a consistent temperature. Once you pop them in the fridge, they should be kept there until ready to shuck. Place on ice once shucked.
Fridge Is Fine
You can also store your oysters in the refrigerator in a closed container or sealed plastic bag. Oysters don't breathe once they are taken out of the water. They will keep fresh like this for 1-2 weeks after harvest.
You can keep live oysters in the fridge. To ensure maximum quality, put them under a wet cloth.
We always say that you can depend on a week of shelf life, but oysters can live for more than a month out of the water, if stored properly (see Storage FAQ). When an oyster begins to expire, the muscle holding the shell closed relaxes, releasing the life-giving oyster liquor and drying the animal out.
Place oysters and liquor in a plastic container or freezer bag, leaving ½-inch headspace, seal and freeze. Shucked oysters can also be frozen by this method. Freezing does change the texture and flavor of oysters. These oysters may be best used in casseroles or stews.
Proper storage is critical to control the growth of these harmful bacteria. Containers of shucked oysters should be stored at 32 - 38 °F, ideally packed in ice. Temperatures that low may kill a live oyster, so unshucked oysters should be stored at 40 - 45 °F.
Tap the shell. If it closes, that means the oyster is still alive and breathing. A shell that doesn't even close (or an oyster that comes gaping open) means it is D-E-A-D and you should not buy or eat it.
The temperature of refrigeration units where oysters are stored should be between 34o F and 45o F. Shellstock should never be stored in air-tight containers. Shucked oysters also require refrigeration, and consumers should closely adhere to the recommended expiration date on containers.
An oyster becomes an adult when it turns one year old and can live as long as 20 years. Oysters can change their sex. In fact, they will often do it more than once. Juvenile oysters are called spat.
One of the most important steps in knowing how to prepare oysters includes cleaning them properly, which is especially true if you want to eat them raw. Scrub away dirt and debris from each oyster under cold running water to ensure they're completely clean.
Rules of handling live shellfish.
On the road, transport oysters on ice in a cooler or waterproof bag – do not seal the bag. Oysters love to be cold (34-45 degrees F), damp and able to breathe. Never submerge your oysters in fresh water or sea water.
When you bring raw oysters home, store them in their shell, large shell-side down, in the refrigerator (no lower than 33 F) for up to five days (although the flavor is best when they are consumed within 24 hours of purchase). They should be packed in either a mesh bag or in an open container covered with a damp cloth.
Once you get them home, they should go straight into your refrigerator. The FDA recommends fridges be kept at 40 degrees fahrenheit or below. This works well for oysters, as at 40 degrees, they think it is winter time and they'll basically go into inactive mode. It is also best if you can keep them from drying out.
To maintain their freshness, wrap the Oysters in a damp tea towel or cloth and place in the fridge, closest to the freezer. Whatever you do, do not store Oysters in a sealed container; or on ice; or in water; or in the freezer.
Never store oysters covered in either fresh or salt water. Stack oysters cup side down (flat side up) in a bowl or dish, cover with a damp towel. Refrigerate below 45F. Shelf life: Use within one week of purchase from our shop.
"When you slurp back oysters raw, they are still alive or just freshly killed or shucked prior to serving, which is why you oftentimes see them on ice," says Alex Lewis, RD, LDN, a dietitian for Baze. This ensures they are fresh when eating, so they maintain the right flavor profile, texture and nutrient density.
We generally tell customers oysters stay fresh up to 14 days, but our results showed the period of freshness may actually be longer. We like to err on the side of caution, so 14 days from harvest is probably a good rule of thumb to follow.
You can check if an oyster is alive by just lightly tapping on the oyster shell with the finger. If the shell closes or you notice some kind of movement after tapping then it means it is still alive and should not be eaten.
Clams, mussels and oysters in the shell are alive and the shells close tightly when tapped and live crabs, lobsters and crayfish will move their legs. Shucked oysters are plump and have a mild odor, a natural creamy color and clear liquid or nectar. Do not cook or eat shellfish that have died during storage.
Open (shuck) shortly before serving – not more than 2 hours. The colder the oyster, the easier it is to shuck. Keep oysters cold at all times, partly for safety and very much to enhance flavor and texture.
Rule of thumb is at least 4,000 years old. Foodie tradition dictates only eating wild oysters in months with the letter “r” – from September to April – to avoid watery shellfish, or worse, a nasty bout of food poisoning. Now, a new study suggests people have been following this practice for at least 4,000 years.