How to Host an Oyster Roast

Some people love oysters, while others cringe at the thought of devouring the slimy mollusks. Just like caviar and other delicacies from the ocean, the taste of oysters depends on individual preferences. Some say it tastes rather fishy, while others describe it as having a pleasant, salty taste. If oysters are on your list of favorite foods, and you have a few friends, neighbors or family members that feel the same way, you may want to learn how to host an Oyster Roast!

After you’ve decided on a date and a time for your Oyster Roast, and have invited some guests to party with, you’ll need to decide on how many oysters you’ll need and where you’ll get them at. Of course, if you live in a coastal area of the United States, you can probably dig up your own fresh oysters. Otherwise, you can purchase what you need at a seafood store. You can even mail order them. Just be sure you order oysters still in their shells and that the seller overnights them to you so they have a better chance of being alive and fresh.

It’s hard to determine exactly how many oysters you’ll need to feed your guests. It depends on their appetites and the size of the oysters you’re going to roast. To play it safe, so no one goes home hungry, figure on a eight to ten oysters per person.

To host an Oyster Roast, you’ll also need to serve some tasty accompaniments. Crackers, cocktail sauce, Tabasco Sauce and melted butter go well with roasted oysters.

Again, different people have different tastes. Some people enjoy drinking wine or champagne with oysters, while others prefer beer. So you’ll need to supply plenty of beverages too.

To host an oyster roast, on the day of the event, dig up the oysters and clean off the mud, or buy them so they’ll be fresh. If you ordered them, they should arrive on the day. Check through the oysters to make sure they’re alive. Open shells are sometimes telltale signs they are dead. Tap on the shell with your fingers. If the shell closes, the oyster is alive. If not, toss it.

Place a wet kitchen towel over the container the mollusks are in and place them in your refrigerator until cooking time to help keep them moist.

You’ll need a fire pit, some large rocks and a large cooking rack to roast the oysters on. The rocks will be used to hold the rack in place. Start the fire ahead of time so it has burned down to plenty of hot coals by the time your guests arrive.

When it’s time to roast the oysters, pile them on the cooking grate, but not too high. If the grate’s not large enough to accommodate all the oysters, you’ll need to cook them in two batches or more. If the fire’s hot enough, it won’t take long for the mollusks to cook. Periodically check the shells. When they have popped open, they oysters are cooked and ready to eat. Remove them from the fire and place them in a large, heatproof container. Provide your guests with gloves or paper towels to hold the hot oyster shells with. They’ll also need knives with strong blades to open the shells of the mollusks up with.

Enjoy!