Kept at a proper temperature and prevented from drying out, an oyster can live in your fridge for up to a month, or even a little longerHowever, understand that the longer your oysters are out of the water, the more likely you are to lose a few. Always check to make sure the oysters are closed before you eat them.
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. You can keep them on a tray of ice for an hour or so but avoid letting them sit in a puddle of fresh water.
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.
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.
HOW TO CLEAN OYSTERS. Before you're ready to eat, let your oysters sit in a small bowl of icy water for 10 or so minutes. You'll notice sand and other debris will fall to the bottom of the water. Remove the oysters and discard the water.
Whatever you do, do not store Oysters in a sealed container; or on ice; or in water; or in the freezer. In order to freeze them, you must shuck them first (see below), and can be kept in basic freeze bags for up to 5 days after receiving them.
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.
Unless you are going to eat your oysters straight away, it's better to buy them unopened. Given the proper care, oysters will live for 5-7 days after being harvested.
Storing shucked oysters: You can store shucked raw oysters in the fridge for four to five days. Place shucked oysters in an airtight container or a bowl covered with cling film. Shucked oysters prefer colder storage, so set your fridge's temperature between thirty-four and thirty-five degrees Fahrenheit if possible.
If there are large cracks or broken or damaged areas, throw the oyster away. There should be no gaps within the shell. If the shell is also open, the oyster is bad. Oyster shells are glossy white in color with pink and gray streaks, if yours looks greenish or brown, you should discard the oyster.
Oyster Shelf Life
For most varieties, it's safe to say you should eat them within a week. The colder the temperature, the longer the oyster shelf life. Some people choose to keep their oysters in the fridge for up to two weeks or even longer. With proper refrigeration, that's totally okay.
Inspect the bottom of the shell for broken or damaged areas, as this outward sign of trauma could mean the oyster was damaged in transit. Additionally, the best oysters are never wrinkled or dried out. Other positive visible cues that illustrate they were just harvested include firmness and plumpness.
One way to store the oysters is on a bed of ice. Lay the oysters with the deep side down on the ice and make sure the ice doesn't melt. Oysters stored this way will last about two days.
There might be grime or mud on the shell that was stuck in the inner clamp. If you come across this, do not rinse the oyster. Instead, take a clean towel and carefully wipe off any grime or mud. Place on a bed of ice with other shucked oysters and serve.
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.
You can get very sick from eating raw oysters. Most Vibrio infections from oysters result in only diarrhea and vomiting. However, some infections, such as those caused by Vibrio vulnificus, can cause more severe illness, including bloodstream infections and severe blistering skin lesions.
Even if you've done the best you can to ensure that the oysters you're eating are safe, there's still a chance you can get a bad one. If you do get sick, the best thing to do is drink lots of water to replace the fluids lost during illness to prevent dehydration.
You may have heard the saying that you should only eat oysters in months that contain the letter "r," meaning oysters harvested in the warmer summer months of May through August were not safe for consumption. However, oysters are now sold and consumed year-round with little to no worries.
How long is an unopened jar good for? Your oysters are fresh shucked the day they are jarred. The seal of the jar is stamped with an 'eat by' date. On average, the oysters are good for 3 weeks from the shucking date.
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.
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.
If you eat raw or undercooked oysters, germs that might be in the oyster can make you sick. CDC estimates that about 80,000 people get vibriosis—and 100 people die from it—in the United States every year. Most of these illnesses happen from May through October when water temperatures are warmer.