Raw Oysters on the Half-Shell – Have You Tried One? : The 'How to Cook' Blog

Well, I broke down for a Panko Chicken Salad with Chili Lime Dressing from Sobey's, and a fruit bowl. That's healthier than McD's. :) # 2012/05/19

Raw Oysters on the Half-Shell – Have You Tried One?

Posted by Kimberly on Feb - 28 - 2008 with 4 Comments

When I was young, and up to this day, my mother would always put out smoked oysters on special days where we ate beautiful hors d’oeuvres. I was so young that I don’t even think I really knew what they were…They were just delicious, little, smoky, brown “things”…

Now, the first time I ever remember fresh, raw oysters was when I was about 7 yrs old, and my parents and I went on vacation to Fort Meyers, Florida. There was a little place at the end of a wharf on the ocean where they ordered buckets of freshly caught, boiled crab legs, and plates and plates of raw, Gulf oysters. I wasn’t too sure what to think of the raw, slimy-looking gems my parents were devouring by the plateful, but I did try one…with lemon squeezed on top of it…They were just “okay”, so I stuck with the crab legs.

Now that I am “all-grown up”, I thoroughly enjoy the experience of eating freshly shucked, raw oysters on the half-shell! Yum! Plus, you “kinda feel like a rebel” eating raw oysters…LOL…Smoked oysters are still a favorite in our household, and are Always served on New Year’s for certain!

Today, raw oysters are safer to eat than ever! About 10% of the U.S. market’s oysters go under strict post-harvest processing to allow you to eat the oyster raw, but with added safety…This 10% will gradually increase to include more oysters being processed for safety.

Techniques of freezing (IQF), heat-cool pasteurization (HCP), and high-hydrostatic processing (HHP) all allow “at risk” consumers to enjoy oysters with a reduced risk of Vibrio vulnificus illness.

All-in-all, I take most opportunities to eat raw oysters on the 1/2 shell! Don’t knock it until you try it! They’re great with lemon squeezed on top, or the Louisiana way…Hot Sauce!!! Delicious!

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I hope you enjoyed today’s installment of Cooking With Kimberly! Until next time…

Eat Deliciously,

Kimberly Edwards ;D

P.S. Please share your great stories, including funny ones, about your experiences with Raw Oysters in the Comments section! Great oyster recipes are welcomed too…You may even be a featured recipe, so include your name and location!

Technorati Tags: raw oysters, oysters, Gulf oysters, seafood, raw seafood, Southern food, raw food, post harvest processing, Louisiana seafood, Louisiana

4 Responses so far.

Kenney says:

February 28, 2008 at 4:40 pm

That’s so cute. I actually didn’t eat raw oysters at all, until I got married.

I really didn’t know much about them, except the fact that they looked like something I didn’t want to eat.

But then I got married to this wonderful woman who is a food connoisseur, and told me I just had to try them.

So one day, after we sold our first investment property, we ate a place called Remingtons in Addison, TX and I got to experience my first raw oyster meal.

To my surprise they were extremely good. So, thank you babe (Mrs. Edwards) for “turning me on” to this new exciting and fun to eat dish.

Kenney

P.S. Oh and I love smoked oysters too! Those are a regular around our house, with cheese and crackers.
Clare says:

February 28, 2008 at 7:50 pm

When we were young it was a habit on New Years Eve to get together with our friends at one of their houses or ours and then who ever wanted to would see who could eat the most raw oysters. I never ate any. UGH. :0)
kingcalvin says:

February 28, 2008 at 10:36 pm

I grew up eating raw oysters. From the Chesapeake Bay Region, my mother fed them to me when I was 4! I can literally eat 50-60 at a time and do whenever I can.

God’s gift to food!
Emily says:

October 7, 2008 at 6:59 pm

Hi Kimberly,
We’re giving away 4 Dozen fresh Puget Sound Oysters. Check out our “What would you do with 48 free oysters?” Contest at http://marxfood.com