Southern Oysters 101
We’re sharing all that we know and love about Southern oysters— from why they matter to some of the many people who are harvesting or farming them; from how to shuck and taste them to how best to pair them with a drink. Consider this your Southern Oysters 101 and then some.
In the Field
ShellBound: An Anthology of Southern Oyster Culture | Episode 1: Virginia
By: The Local PalateShellBound is a three-part docuseries that delves into the wild, wonderful, and challenging world of Southern oysters.
Radar
15 Essential Southern Oyster Bars
These top oyster bars are lifting up and celebrating the Southern farm-raised oyster from Baltimore, Maryland to San Antonio, Texas.
Culinary Class
How to Shuck Oysters Like a Pro
By: Hannah Lee LeidyIn five easy steps you'll learn how to shuck an oyster like a pro and impress the party with your new skill.
Rarely does a person sit down to a platter of oysters all by themselves. They are meant to be shared, whether plucked from the ice, raw, to be eaten in one briny bite or at an oyster roast, pried open and drizzled with hot sauce. Oyster bars are convivial, communal places where shuckers are the maestro, guiding you through a symphony of flavors. And in their own habitat, oysters naturally grow in community, setting and surviving only with the help of one another.
But oysters are also mighty architectural creatures and exist as essential building blocks to our coastal waterways—a key- stone species that our estuaries and marshes cannot endure without. Their physical habitats—either wild or manufactured reefs—provide protection and stability, ensuring that any harm done to our precious coastal areas by humans or weather can be alleviated. And they build community—when reefs flourish, other sea creatures arrive, creating a robust underwater ecosystem.
Here in the South, oysters have been baked deeply into our culture and economy. Regardless of how you feel about eating oysters—we admit they can be a “love it or a hate it” type of food— understanding their importance is vital to preserving the future of our waterways. Oysters are good for the environment, they’re good for people and the economy, and they’re good for our coastal and foodway communities.
get to know oysters 
In the Field
How to Eat Oysters
Your all-inclusive guide to how to eat oysters, where to order them in the South, shucking tips from a pro, and what to drink with them.
In the Field
Why Does Oyster Farming Matter?
Oysters are mighty architectural creatures and exist as essential building blocks to our coastal waterways, and how they're farmed matters.
Radar
15 Essential Southern Oyster Bars
These top oyster bars are lifting up and celebrating the Southern farm-raised oyster from Baltimore, Maryland to San Antonio, Texas.
In partnership with the nonprofit Oyster South, we’ve created a documentary series on the world of Southern oysters. In it, we visit three regions from Virginia down to Louisiana sharing the stories and connections being made in the Southern oystering community.
our shellbound docuseries
in partnership with Oyster South
In the Field
ShellBound: An Anthology of Southern Oyster Culture | Episode 1: Virginia
ShellBound is a three-part docuseries that delves into the wild, wonderful, and challenging world of Southern oysters.
Support the Future of Southern Oysters
Donate to Oyster South
Oyster South is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that connects communities and provides resources to support oyster farmers, cultivate thriving communities, promote healthy waters and celebrate good food in the southern United States. When you make a donation, you join us in championing the appreciation of Southern farm-raised oysters, the health of our waters, and the preservation of historic foodways.
Our Favorite Oyster Recipes
How To Eat Oysters
In the Field
How to Eat Oysters
Your all-inclusive guide to how to eat oysters, where to order them in the South, shucking tips from a pro, and what to drink with them.
Culinary Class
How to Shuck Oysters Like a Pro
In five easy steps you'll learn how to shuck an oyster like a pro and impress the party with your new skill.
In the Field
Meet an Expert Shucker: Jay Gallet
Jay Gallet, the US National Oyster Shucking winner and head shucker at Superior Seafood says preparation is everything.
In the Field
Shucking At Home with Oysters XO
A new service offers direct farm-to-home oyster delivery and virtual oyster education.
Flip Through the Oyster Feature
Oysters As a Main
Ask Us Anything About Oysters
Create your own user feedback survey
Know Your Oyster Farmer
Get Involved
oyster experiences and nonprofits
In the Field
4 Oyster Nonprofits To Know
Meet the people and oyster nonprofits in the oyster world working to create a brighter future with and for oysters.
In the Field
Embark On an Oyster Experience
These three resorts host curated, guided oyster experiences where guests can shuck, savor, and learn about coastal traditions.
In the Field
Meet the Maker: Rifko Meier of Oysters XO
By connecting customers with local oysters, Meier provides an opportunity to experience unique elements of regional mollusks—a result of their terroir.
make your own mignonette
sustainable and tasteful
Roots
Romancing the Oyster
The Lowcountry is on the verge of a mariculture boom. Meet some of the young salts who are part of the new wave.
In the Field
Marsh to Menu: Carolina Sea Foraging
In the marshlands around Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, Ana Shellem takes chef Dean Neff sea foraging to harvest a bounty of seafood.
In the Field
Oyster Shell Recycling for a Coastal Cure
Community members give back to the shores of the Southeast through oyster reef restoration programs, which work to strengthen the coastline.
oysters as a key ingredient
Recipes
In Season: Oysters
Colder water temperatures make for ideal oyster-eating conditions-- enjoy oysters this fall with these [...]
At the Table
These Oysters are the Perfect Party Starter
Step aside pimento cheese and pâté, the only hors d’oeuvres we want to eat [...]
Key Ingredient
Five Ways to Celebrate Oyster Season
Celebrate the oyster season with our collection of recipes, festivals, and entertainment that will [...]
Key Ingredient
Key Ingredient: How Do You N’duja?
Inspired by spice-ridden Calabrian cuisine, Chaz Lindsay’s key ingredient to his roasted oysters is [...]
Partnered
Tide-to-Table at The Darling Oyster Bar
At The Darling Oyster Bar, southern hospitality and sustainability are essential priorities for executive [...]
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