How Long Do Live Oysters Stay Fresh?

So you bought a bunch of oysters still in the shell, and now you are wondering what to do with them before eating them. This is a great question as proper storage is very important.

Ice Ice Those Babies!

Oysters need to stay cold, and the colder the better. However, you do not want to put them in the freezer. If you do, they will completely freeze and no longer be good. 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.

Fridge Is Fine

You can also store your oysters in the refrigerator in a closed container or sealed plastic bag. Oysters don’t breathe once they are taken out of the water. They will keep fresh like this for 1-2 weeks after harvest.

Eat Eat!

Ultimately, oysters are best when they are freshest. No matter how you store them, try to eat them as soon as possible. You will notice a difference in taste between an oyster that was harvested a few days ago to an oyster that has been hanging out in a fridge for 2 weeks. So Shuck them, eat them, enjoy them right away!