getshucked.com Great Bay, Bruny Island, Tasmania

How to care for your oysters
Unless you are going to eat your oysters straight away, it is better to buy them unopened. Given the proper care, oysters will live for 3 -4 days. Do not put them in the fridge. The temperature of the fridge is too cold and it kills them. The temperature of the water from which they came is perfect. Keep in an esky and covered with a damp cloth. About 2 degrees is good, but up to 18 will be O. K. This way, they will remain alive and retain their package of delicious juice.

Oysters have bi-halved shells to protect their delicious soft bodies. The shells are attached to each other with a hinge. The abductor muscle is the muscle that joins the two shells together. The oyster will use this muscle to clam up tight as soon as it is removed from the water. The stronger the adductor muscle the longer the oyster will live out of the water.
With a little bit of practice and the right tool, it is easier to open an oyster than peel a prawn.
When buying oysters, make sure they are firmly closed. Discard any that are open.
Clean the shells, as this will help avoid having to wash grit and stuff out after opening and loosing the precious juice.
Click below for detailed description with illustrations on

  How to Shuck your oyster

Tip. If the garbo is not due for a few days after you have eaten your oysters, pop the shells in a bag and keep them in the freezer.
Oysters will keep once opened for up to 7 days, in fridge but beware that no matter how well packed they will absorb any strong flavours for example rock melon or onion.