Guess what Dan’s favorite food is? Hint: It miiiiight just be oysters. Follow along to learn more about the different varieties and how to eat them. Leave your comments for your favorite way to top oysters below!
Get the recipe for Raw Oysters on the Half Shell:
Get the recipe for Red Wine Vinegar Mignonette Granité:
Get the recipe for Soy and Lime Marinated Scallions:
Get the recipe for Roasted Oysters with Mustard Butter:
Buy our winning oyster knife:
Buy Rowan Jacobsen’s book on oysters:
Rowan Jacobsen’s website:
Follow Dan on Instagram:
Follow Dan on Twitter:
Follow Dan on Facebook:
ABOUT US: Located in Boston’s Seaport District in the historic Innovation and Design Building, America’s Test Kitchen features 15,000 square feet of kitchen space including multiple photography and video studios. It is the home of Cook’s Illustrated magazine and Cook’s Country magazine and is the workday destination for more than 60 test cooks, editors, and cookware specialists. Our mission is to test recipes over and over again until we understand how and why they work and until we arrive at the best version.
If you like us, follow us:
00:00 – 0:20 – Introduction
0:20 – 1:50 – The five oyster species in North America
1:50 – 2:48 – What accounts for the variety in oysters’ flavor?
2:48 – 4:27 – The seasonality of oysters
4:27 – 5:48 – How to shop for, store, and eat oysters at home
5:48 – 8:34 – How to shuck an oyster
8:34 – 9:02 – Garnishes for raw oysters
9:02 10:21- How to make roasted oysters at home
10:21 10:46 – Credits
source
39 Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I've shucked a lot of species/breeds of oysters in a lot of prep kitchens mainly on an island world-famous for its seafood (especially oysters, mussels, and lobster). I've tried a lot of them. Often world class, and often as fresh as commercially possible, but up and down the price scale, and from many areas. I have yet to eat one that didn't just taste like opening your mouth underwater. I really don't get why people love them so much. They literally just taste like ocean.
Maybe I missed it but you didn't seem to mention the obvious best way to source oysters is to head down to the harbor and dig them up.
So are the oysters are alive when you buy them??
How high do i need to fly to open an oyster again??
Probably the best oyster 🦪 video I’ve watched of dozens
I eat oysters the french way, first try one naked and enjoy the quality of a good expensive oyster, then just eat it with lemon. If I'm feeling lemon isn't doing it, I go with tabasco. No super fancy sauces like they make in Chinese restaurants for cheap oysters, naked or with lemon.
Steamed with light soy saus , peper and spring onion
I like oyster stew. I like oysters Rockefeller. Raw oysters probably taste wonderful, but I can't do it. Just can't go there. It's a mental thing. IT'S ALIIIIIIIIVVVVVVE!!!!!!
The reason I have never eaten oysters is something you don't address. I don't know how!
I already knew how to shuck them. But am I supposed to chew them? Swallow them whole? I don't know what to do!
And… I am kind of icked out by the idea of eating it's digestive system.
This is an excellent tutorial
This is the best oyster eating 101 instruction on YouTube.
He said slurp
Don't forget oyster soup!
ok, that was actually worthy information for once. nice job.
With a squeeze of fresh lemon… Sometimes a little horseradish…Yum!
Be careful people!! My poor husband cut his hand and has lost feeling in his finger because a slip with an oyster. Oysters were very good though after spending hours at the hospital. The most expensive meal we've ever had 6000$ oysters 😱
Love them with a squeeze of lemon and cocktail sauce.
"We know we love eating them at restaurants" … says who? 😁
Wanted the sauce recipes but you have to pay for a membership. Disappointing
Dan I have to be honest. I think I’m in love and…your capsules. So much information, and humour. And my partner and moi also enjoy watching you on PBS.
Amdré
I'm watching this whilst eating a flavourless cottage pie (damn hospital food)
My favorite too.
I'm honestly terrified of eating oysters… Maybe one day I will work up the courage to try one
my question is, after 30 years of magazines, why is there not ONE single oyster recipe? fried oysters? scalloped? oyster po' boys? grilled? baked? roasted? oyster stew? Rockefeller? hang town fry? NONE OF THE ABOVE. and yet in the 19th century oysters were plentiful and enjoyed far more than they are now.
i wrote several letters to ATK. never received a reply. never saw an oyster recipe in any issue.
Dan you are missing the best oysters down here in SC called the low country. This is where we have those wild blue crabs and huge clusters of oysters. Oysters clean our water. We have the big tradition of oyster roasts where where we stand around tables and crack open those steamed smokey oysters and suck those babies down. We also love our deep fried oysters. You need to get on down here and try this out.
This is painful to sit through. It isn't a good idea for people watch this BEFORE they buy their oysters. I am going to have to go to the store and buy some oysters RIGHT NOW!!!! Dying to try the granita, and am also going to roast them. (usually, it is just open and throw it down my throat) Also, having just visited the Bay area, they sell barbequed oysters there, and they are yummy. BTW, you are having entirely too much fun making these videos. It is like potato chips, I watch a bunch at a time. Thank you, they are delightful.
Might sound crazy but it's impossible to locate oysters in Bennington Vermont and I do mean anywhere. Sooo sad.
Dan, you are amazing! Thank you for this very informative Oyster video. I love raw Oysters and usually only have them at seafood restaurants. Because I trust your knowledge of all things tasty, I will now feel more comfortable buying at my local seafood market, and shucking/eating them at home. 👏👍
Oysters during the summer months (with out the R) are in warmer waters and may have a higher possibility of Vibrio, Vulnificus or Parahaemolyticus, both of which can lead to gastrointestinal issues with individual that have a week immune system possibly having more serious issues. Aside form the spawning thing affecting flavor. In case your wondering these bacteria are related to Vibrio Cholerae which needs no introduction so to speak.
What you don't know won't hurt you, right? I grew up near the ocean. We would take a hammer and screw driver at low tide and knock the oysters off the peer. But, the difference is that we had experienced people to teach us how to properly shuck and clean oysters. Most people, especially those who live in cities and away from the ocean, think that opening an oyster, separating it from its shell and slurping it down is all there is. That would be 1000% wrong. Oysters are notorious for having parasites. An experienced shucker will know where to look for parasites and remove them before serving. Trust me. You don't want some of these parasites taking up residence in your gut.
Next, oysters are also known for containing a harmful bacteria including "vibrio". It can make you very, very sick and some cases, causes death if not treated right away. Let's be frank about this. The places where oysters tend to grow these days can be heavily polluted. That pollution can consist of everything from heavy metals to raw sewage, depending on where your oysters are sourced. Even farmed oysters can be a bit sketchy, especially if they're farmed outside of the US. Farmed oysters in the US are regulated through a co-op between the state and Federal governments called NSSP (National Shellfish Sanitation Program). Consortiums such as the East Coast Growers Association also work to ensure quality standards. As for oysters sourced outside of the US, proceed at your own risk.
While eating any raw proteins has a certain amount of inherent risk and that risk is low, the risk associated with eating raw oysters is elevated compared to other raw proteins such as salmon or tuna. If you live away from the sea and especially if you don't have access to a reputable fish monger, I would not recommend running off to the supermarket for a bag of oysters. If you live near the coast and have access to a reputable fish monger, many will offer free instruction on how to safely shuck an oyster and look for parasites. Taking these classes, especially with friends, can be very fun and very helpful in preventing unnecessary illness and/or injury. But, remember, even then, there is still a risk with eating raw oysters. YMMV.
Cheers!
BETTER NOT TO EAT THEM..
Yooo my university got mentioned!
Eat 'em raw with lemon, Tabasco, and/or fresh horseradish sauce with lots of (formerly) Dixie Beer. Or fry them and make a Po'Boy with, again, lots of Dixie Beer.
Because of parasites, I just can't eat raw oysters.
Still a fan of Oysters till this day!!!
The best way to eat oysters is to not eat them
I LOVE Oysters!!!!! I got food poisoning once after eating oysters, and guess what? I still LOVE oysters! Hahaha! :-))) For real, that's how much I love oysters, I'll risk food poisoning, whatever, roll the dice, it's worth it! Yum! 🙂
What were the oysters that flourished around the NYC harbors and beaches…? In the colonial days.
i'm sure you've never tried this combination: oyster + sambal belacan topping (native to south east asian austronesian region- indonesia, malaysia, brunei). amazing colours, trust me.