It may seem a little intimidating to open an oyster, but after a little practice it gets easier. Classically oysters are served raw on the half shell with a little mignonette sauce, which refers in French to “black pepper,” but you can also enjoy them without any sauce at all.

Updated November 2022

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Read the full recipe after the video.

Recipe Summary

active:
20 mins
total:
20 mins
Servings:
4
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Shopping for Fresh Oysters

When shopping for fresh oysters, buying them from a reputable fishmonger is crucial. The oysters should feel heavy for their size and have a clean, fresh ocean smell. Their shells should be closed completely or they close when you touch them, which means they're still alive. Dead oysters have open or broken shells and should be discarded immediately.

Storing Fresh Oysters

Store fresh oysters in the refrigerator with the cupped side of the shells down. Cover them with a damp kitchen towel. Oysters are best consumed within 24 hours. Before shucking, the oysters should be scrubbed clean to remove any dirt or sand.

Additional reporting by Jan Valdez

Ingredients

Ingredient Checklist

Directions

Instructions Checklist
  • To prepare sauce: Combine vinegar, shallot and pepper in a glass or stainless-steel bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

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  • To shuck oysters: Before you begin, be sure you have an oyster knife; do not try to shuck oysters with a regular kitchen knife. Rinse oysters under cold running water. Throw away any that are open and don't close if you tap them.

  • Place an oyster flat-side up on a work surface. Grip the oyster with a kitchen towel to help protect your hand (or wear a glove), leaving the narrow hinged end exposed.

  • Place the tip of the knife between the top and bottom shells just adjacent to the hinge. Press inward, twisting and wiggling your knife tip, to release the top shell. At first, it may seem like you aren't making progress, but continue with gentle pressure. Continue wiggling the knife while pressing inward until the shell pops open. Try to keep the oyster level so the flavorful "liquor" (briny, salty seawater) stays inside the deep bottom shell.

  • Wipe your knife to remove any debris, then pry open the shell by inserting the knife tip in one or two other spots, twisting it to release the shell completely. Continuing to hold the oyster level, run your knife along the inside of the upper shell to cut the muscle that attaches the oyster to the top shell. Run your knife along the inside of the lower shell and gently cut the oyster free. Leave the oyster nestled in the shell. (If you open an oyster that has a strong, sulfurous smell, discard it. It's dead.)

  • Transfer the oyster in its bottom shell to a bed of crushed ice, rock salt or crumpled foil that will keep the oyster level. Serve immediately, with about 1/4 teaspoon mignonette sauce per oyster.

Equipment

Oyster knife

To make ahead

Cover and refrigerate the sauce (Step 1) for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Facts

6 oysters
52 calories; protein 4.4g; carbohydrates 5.3g; dietary fiber 0.1g; fat 1.3g; saturated fat 0.4g; cholesterol 21mg; vitamin a iu 32IU; vitamin c 4mg; folate 15.4mcg; calcium 38.1mg; iron 4.9mg; magnesium 28.2mg; potassium 113.9mg; sodium 149.7mg; thiamin 0.1mg.

1 lean meat

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