Oysters whose shells have opened have died in storage. Discard them. [1] X Research source You may have heard about “purging” oysters to get rid of sand. Fortunately, most shellfish is purged ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about doing it yourself. [2] X Research source However, if you still want to purge your oysters, soak them in a bowl of ice water for 10 minutes. [3] X Research source
Alternatively, you can place a clean hand towel on the counter or other flat surface. Put a cleaned oyster on the towel. Use another hand towel to hold the oyster steady as you prepare to open it. [5] X Research source
As you loosen the body, avoid spilling any liquid from the shell. This “oyster liquor” retains the original flavor of the meat. [9] X Research source
