How to Freeze Oysters

Co-authored by Amy Bobinger, BA Reviewed by Jennifer Levasseur

Last Updated: December 13, 2023 References

Although oysters are best eaten when they’re fresh, they don’t have to go to waste just because you have too many to enjoy all at once. You can freeze oysters in their shells, on the half-shell, or shucked, but be sure the oysters are still alive if you freeze them in their shells. When stored properly, oysters should stay fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months, but they should be cooked before they are eaten.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Freezing Whole Oysters

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1
Tap the shells to check if the oysters are still alive. Oysters should be frozen, eaten, or cooked alive to prevent the spread of foodborne illness. When you tap on a live oyster, it will hold its shell tightly shut, or it will close it if it’s opened. Sort through the oysters individually, carefully checking each one. ^{[1]
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- If you come across an open oyster that doesn’t react when tapped, discard it.
2
Wash the shells thoroughly under cool running water. Before you freeze the oysters, you should wash the shells to rinse away any sand or pieces of shell that might be present. If you like, you can gently scrub the outside of the shell with a stiff-bristled brush to remove any dirt.
- By washing the oysters before you freeze them, they’ll be ready to shuck and cook as soon as you thaw them out. This will also help preserve their texture better than washing them after they are thawed.
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3
Place whole oysters in moisture-resistant bags in the freezer. The shells will protect the oysters from being damaged, so you can just toss them into a resealable plastic bag, then place the bag into the freezer. ^{[2]
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- This is a great method for freezing oysters if you don’t have very many of them; however, it’s not the most efficient if you are storing a large quantity.
4
Store the oysters in the freezer for up to 3 months. After 3 months, you run the risk of your oysters becoming freezer-burned. When you're ready to thaw them out, place the bag of oyster shells into your refrigerator for about 24 hours. ^{[3]
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- Use a permanent marker to write the date that you froze the oysters on the bag before you put it into the freezer so you don't forget how long it's been.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Storing Half-Shell Oysters in the Freezer

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1
Tap each oyster to make sure it's still alive. A live oyster has a muscle that it uses to hold its shell tightly closed. If a live oyster is open, tapping on its shell should cause it to slam shut. If it stays open, the oyster has already died and you should throw it away. ^{[4]
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- Oysters should always be shucked, eaten, or frozen while they are still alive to prevent exposure to a natural bacteria that can cause serious illness or even death.
2
Scrub the shells with a stiff-bristled brush. Hold the shell under running water and use a brush to scrub away any sand, shell particles, or mud that might be on the outside of the oyster. ^{[5]
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- If the oyster isn't clean, you can push dirt onto the oyster meat with the knife when you open it.
Oyster shells are sharp, and it's easy to cut yourself when you're opening them. You'll get a better grip on the oyster and be less likely to get a cut if you protect your hand. ^{[6]
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4
Pry off the top shell of the oyster. Carefully slide an oyster knife into the hinge, or the pointed edge, of the oyster shell, and twist until you hear a pop. Run the knife along the top edge of the oyster to free it from the shell, then break the top shell away. ^{[7]
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- Keep the oyster upright to save as much of the oyster’s juice as possible.
5
Place half-shell oysters in a shallow container. Leave about ¹ ⁄ ₂ in (1.3 cm) of headspace in the container, then seal the container and place it into the freezer. ^{[8]
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- Carefully lay the oysters flat so the juices don’t spill out, as this liquid contains a lot of flavor. It will also help keep the oysters plump and hydrated while they’re frozen.
6
Store your oysters in the freezer for up to 3 months. After 3 months, your oysters will run the risk of becoming freezer burned and they will no longer be suitable for eating. Label the container so you don't forget how long they've been in the freezer. ^{[9]
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- When you're ready to thaw out your oysters, place them in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Shucking Oysters for Freezing

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1
Rinse the shells under cold water before you shuck them . By cleaning the oysters before you shuck them, you remove any sand and debris from the shells, as well as any bacteria that might be living on the oyster. ^{[10]
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- If you like, you can use a stiff-bristled brush to clean the shells.
2
Put on a pair of heavy gloves. Rubber or canvas gloves will work best to protect your hands from the sharp oyster shells, and they will also help you have a better grip on the oysters as you’re shucking them.
- If you don’t have a pair of heavy gloves, fold a tea towel into quarters and drape it over the hand you’re using to hold the oyster. ^{[11]
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3
Tap each oyster to make sure it's alive. Oysters keep their shells tightly closed when they’re alive. If they do open their shells, they will close them again when you tap on the outside of the oyster. If the oyster isn't alive, throw it away. ^{[12]
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- Oysters should be alive when they are shucked, as bacteria grows quickly on shellfish once it is no longer alive.
4
Hold the oysters over a bowl to keep the liquor. The juice that is naturally in an oyster, called the liquor, is very flavorful. When you’re eating oysters raw, you usually slurp this liquid up with the oyster. By saving the juice, you can add it to whatever recipe you make with your oysters when you thaw them out, and you’ll get even more oyster flavor in your dish. ^{[13]
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- The liquor inside the oyster should be clear or just slightly opaque. If it’s cloudy or yellowish, discard the whole oyster. ^{[14]
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When you’re looking at the oyster, you should see one side that looks more rounded, and one side that looks more flat. The curved side should be against your palm, and the pointed end of the oyster should be pointing towards you. ^{[15]
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6
Place the knife in the hinge that connects the top and bottom shells. The hinge is located at the pointy end of the oyster, and you should be able to find a small opening where you can insert the tip of your oyster knife. ^{[16]
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- If you need to, you can wiggle the tip of the knife around to help it slide into the hinge.
7
Twist the oyster knife until you feel the shell pop. You might have to work the knife back and forth a little before you can twist it, but by twisting and prying, you should feel the oyster pop as the shell releases. ^{[17]
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- Although an oyster knife works best for shucking oysters, you can use a butter knife if you need to.
- The more you practice this, the easier it will be.
8
Run the blade along the top of the shell to separate the top and bottom shells. This will cut through the muscle that attaches the oyster to the top shell. Break the top shell off and discard it. As you’re doing this, tilt the oyster to allow the liquor to pour into the bowl. ^{[18]
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- Try not to break the shell into pieces, since this will make it harder to get the meat out in one piece.
Run the blade beneath the oyster in a smooth motion to sever the oyster’s muscle from the bottom shell. This will free the oyster, and you can discard the bottom shell as well. ^{[19]
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10
Place the oysters in a freezer-safe container and pour the liquor over them. Once your oysters are shucked, you can place them into a shallow container or a resealable plastic bag, then pour any of the liquid that you reserved over the oysters. ^{[20]
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- If the liquor doesn’t cover the oysters, add a little water to the container.
11
Store the oysters for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to thaw out the oysters, place the container in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours or until they are completely defrosted. Due to food safety issues, you should not eat these oysters raw, but they will be excellent when they're cooked. ^{[21]
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- The texture of the oysters will be different after freezing.
- Label the container before you put it into the freezer so you don't forget how long they've been in there.