TIPS
Oysters
It's a lot better to be safe than sorry
Buy raw oysters
only from approved,licensed stores.If you're at all worried about freshness,ask the clerk to show you the certified
shippers tag that must accompany all shell on containers,giving the license number
of the shipper.Knowing this enables you to rebuke the shipper should you later succuccumb to sudden illness os a fishy nature
Such an unfortunnate eventually ought not to happen The american waters where shellfish are harvested are regularly tested by authorities in the coastal states, in cooperation with the FDA, to meet standards set by the National Shellfish Sanitation Program
Storing
Dont put oysters in closed plastic bags;they will suffacate.If you are refrigerating them,keep them in containers loosely covered with clean,damp cloths And dont keep them in the refrigeratorfor longer than 12 hours.Most refrigerators maintain a temperature of about 40 DegreesF.,and oysters(and other shellfish too)soon deteriorate if kept at a temperature higher than 32 degrees Asolution is to fill the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator with ice and stash the shellfish among the cubes.Alternatively,you can bury them in a nice filled casserole or roasting pan
Shells of live oysters may gape naturally, but will close tightly when tapped, indicatingthat they are alive.Discard any that don't close at once
Wash all towels,cloths and sponges that have been used in handling oysters before using them again And wash knivees and cutting boards with hot soapy water
Don't keep raw oysters out of the refrigerator for longer than a couple of hours,even if they are displayed on a bed of ice.
| wine
beer
ditka
recipes
pots and pans
utensils
|