Can You Freeze Oysters? How Should You Do It?

Oysters are one of the more popular aphrodisiacs. But truth to be told, you don’t need to be wanting for a boost in your sex life to appreciate oysters. They’re very delicious, whether you bake, boil, grill, or fry them.

However, oysters can be highly seasonal. They’re not as easy to find as say, salmon or even scallops. Therefore, you can understand why a lot of people would buy as many oysters as possible when given the opportunity.

If you’re trying to stock up on oysters, you would likely ask this question— can you freeze oysters? And if so, how should you do it?

Health benefits of oysters

Oysters, a knife and slices of lime on the tray

You’re likely familiar with the ability of oysters to boost libido. That’s true— with their high levels of zinc, oysters can increase the body’s production of testosterone, the sexual hormone. Oysters are also packed with amino acids that can also enhance sex hormone production.

Aside from being an aphrodisiac, oysters are also good for the heart. They can also boost your energy and help lower your cholesterol. This page has other health benefits of oysters that you may want to know more of.

Can you freeze oysters?

Oysters and ice on the tray

Yes, you can freeze oysters. There may be some changes in the flavor and texture of oysters when frozen, but these changes are very subtle. When stored in the freezer, raw oysters will remain fresh and safe for consumption for up to six months.

While you can freeze oysters in their shell, I would recommend that you shuck or open them first before putting in the freezer. Given the size of oyster shells, you would want to conserve space in the freezer and give you enough room to store other foods. Moreover, shucking the oysters would also mean you will have an easier time later on in cooking the oysters. Place the shucked oysters in a freezer container to freeze.

How can you shuck oysters?

Here’s a simple step-by –step guide:

Step by step guide

a knife into the base of the oyster

• Wrap a kitchen towel in one of your hands then you hold the oyster. Using the other hand, insert the tip of a knife into the base of the oyster.
• With minimal pressure, push and twist the knife upwards to open the shell.

slide the knife along the rim of the oyster

• Slide the knife along the top of the shell so you can remove it. Then slide the knife along the rim of the oyster so you can separate it from the cupped shell.
• Drain the excess liquid through a sieve. Reserve some of the liquid for freezing then set aside the oyster.

How to freeze oysters?

shucked oysters and ice on the bowl

Now that you have shucked oysters, it is imperative that you freeze it as soon as possible so that there will be minimal textural changes. If there isn’t enough liquid left, you can submerge the oysters in water. Then store the oyster in an airtight and freezer-safe container. Leave about half an inch of space from the top of the lid to protect the oysters from freezer burns.

Let’s suppose that you didn’t shuck the oysters as you have decided to freeze them with their shell on. How would you freeze oysters in their shell?

Well, you can store them the way you would with shucked oysters. However, before putting them in an airtight and freezer-safe container, you should clean the shells first. Get rid of mud, sand and other impurities from the shell before freezing the oyster.

When stored the right way, frozen oysters can last up to six months in the freezer.

How to thaw frozen oysters?

the plate of Oysters

Once you have decided that you will be using the frozen oysters, transfer them from the freezer to the fridge. Let the oysters sit in the fridge overnight. In most cases, it would take at least 20 hours for frozen oysters to thaw in the refrigerator.

You can also submerge the container of oysters in cold water to defrost. But if you’re going this route, you should use the oysters immediately.

How to choose fresh oysters?

Fresh Oysters and a spoon

When buying oysters, I suggest that you get only those with a tightly closed shell. Those with open shells should be discarded as these oysters have died. You should also buy oyster meat that has a fresh, mild smell and plump appearance. It should also look moist and not dried out.

Conclusion

Oysters are so delicious and nutritious that it is not shocking at all that everyone wants to have a piece of them. Oysters can be very seasonal, so the price of this seafood can fluctuate depending on the supply.

If you are lucky enough to buy loads of oysters, it would be very advantageous to freeze them. Frozen oysters can last for six months.

Depending on the space you have in the freezer, you can freeze oysters with or without their shells on. Use or consume the oysters immediately after thawing.

What’s your favorite oyster recipe? Share us your thoughts by writing in the comments section below.