Of course, oysters last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. Oysters, like a lot of other proteins, may have a use by date and this date should be fairly accurate as to when to safely use up any remaining shucked oysters. Read on for important information on prolonging the shelf life of live oysters in the shell.

How to tell if Oysters are bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

As long as live oysters are indeed alive and stored properly, they should be good. So, the most important thing to watch for with live oysters is that they keep can their shell closed. When they are beginning to expire, the muscle that holds the shell relaxes and allows the oyster liquor within to leak out. Without this liquid substance the oyster dries up and dies. Once it dies, the shell will pop open. An oyster is alive and well when the shell is closed and liquid runs out upon shucking. If an oyster shell is popped open, toss it out.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Oysters to extend their shelf life?

Shucked oysters should be placed into the coldest part of the refrigerator (remember that's the lower back). Live oysters should be kept in a 35-40°F refrigerator or in an ice chest with fresh ice. To further stretch the shelf life, they can be arranged cut side down on a tray and then covered with a wet paper towel (this takes the stress off the muscle). But, never let them sit in water (or melted ice) as they will try to drink that nasty water and then will die. Oysters will last longest in the winter when they become dormant.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

How long are Oysters good for when prepared in a dish?

How long do oysters last? That depends. How long does wine last? In general, foods last only as long as the quicker expiring ingredient in a dish.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Oysters lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Oysters.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Oysters shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!