Your Microwave Is The Key For Opening Oysters Without Shucking

With oysters growing in popularity, you can now purchase them at almost any local fish market, which means they're easy to prepare at home. The downside to at-home oyster prep is that you have to shuck them yourself, which is the process of removing the shell with a knife. This can be a bit of a hassle, and you risk getting injured if you're unsure how to do it. Thankfully, the microwave method is here to save you. As long as you have this small appliance, you can simply pop your oysters in there, heat them for under a minute, and they'll be ready to go. The heat from the microwave should help those oysters open up on their own, eliminating the hassle of shucking and greatly reducing the risk of injury. We should note that it's not the most ideal method, though — it should only be used if you're under serious time constraints.

No, it's not the most recommended method. However, if you've fallen behind in your party planning, it's a good option that will allow you to get oysters on the table without making anyone wait."You can go to the microwave if you're in a real hurry, like if you've got people coming over in five minutes," shared Ryan Croxton, co-owner of Virginia's Rappahannock Oyster Company, via Food & Wine. 

The method is simple. For starters, place the oysters cupped-side down on a safe microwavable plate. However, you want to make sure they're not directly on top of one another. Then microwave them for no more than a minute. You'll want to keep a close eye on the timer, as microwaved seafood doesn't usually taste great, so you don't want them to start cooking and turn rubbery. From there, remove them from the microwave and pop them open with ease.

Though it might be the quickest method, microwaving isn't the only option. And if you have any time at all, you're better off going in a different direction — but that still doesn't mean you have to shuck your oysters by hand. One option is to grill the oysters rather than serve them raw. Grilling them allows the shells to pop open as the oysters cook. Plus, it avoids any risk of foodborne illness. You can also shuck an oyster using a screwdriver, and while there is still a risk of injury, it eliminates the sharp edge that you'd have with a knife blade. Oyster knives can be dangerous if you don't know how to properly shuck the oysters, so a screwdriver is a safer alternative.

If you have plenty of time, you can also freeze the oysters, then wait for them to thaw. The oysters will pop open during the thawing process, and you avoid having to shuck them yourself.