GOSH!!! It Worked!!!!

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

SO very happy to let you all know that fresh oysters in the liquid can be frozen! Yep!

Last Thanksgiving, I was speaking with the meat man at Fresh Market about how much I wanted oyster stew (our grocery store has giant ones in with brown liquid-no thanks!), and he said you could freeze them and thaw in the refrigerator.

I put some frozen ones in the refrigerator 3 days ago, and carefully watched the progress. When there was just a tiny bit of ice at the top, I made oyster stew. They were perfect!!! I didn't notice any difference in texture!

laluzdelmundo · ‎12-11-2014

@ECBG OMG now you've done it! Love oysters. I grew up near the Oregon Coast and there were frequent trips to Newport where we would pick up Yaquina Bay oysters. We had them in stew, fried them or on half shell, whatever. Now I live in the desert and haven't had oysters for years except half shell in a restaurant. I must begin an oyster quest. I imagine your stew was delish!

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

@laluzdelmundo wrote:
@ECBG OMG now you've done it! Love oysters. I grew up near the Oregon Coast and there were frequent trips to Newport where we would pick up Yaquina Bay oysters. We had them in stew, fried them or on half shell, whatever. Now I live in the desert and haven't had oysters for years except half shell in a restaurant. I must begin an oyster quest. I imagine your stew was delish!

@laluzdelmundo

I'm a mountain gal, but first I cook 1/2 sweet onion and a couple of ribs of celery chopped in a little water and butter. Then I add two containers of oysters and 1 1/2 C milk. Cream is much too rich, but I add 1/2 stick butter and heat until the oyster edges curl.

I am sure there are more rich recipes, but I can't go any richer.

I taught Foods and Adv Foods for 37 years, although, most of my courses were Interior Design, my love.

cindyNC · ‎08-01-2019

My father used to catch fish. After being cleaned, my mother would freeze them in a block of ice. Worked beautifully for fresh cut trout.

depglass · ‎03-10-2010

What does the block of ice do versus just plain freezing? I've been leery of freezing DH's ice fishing fish since I've heard it has to be flash frozen like commercially to be any good.

jannabelle1 · ‎09-12-2010

@ECBG, you've brought back some wonderful memories for me. Oyster stew was our traditional Christmas Eve meal, and I fondly remember watching my mother cook a small container of fresh oysters with a lot of butter "until the edges curl" - she told me that same thing every year! Milk was added along with celery salt to make a wonderful buttery, creamy broth! Enjoy your oyster stew! Cheers!

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

@depglass wrote:
What does the block of ice do versus just plain freezing? I've been leery of freezing DH's ice fishing fish since I've heard it has to be flash frozen like commercially to be any good.

@depglass

According to fishermen, freezing fish in water makes them taste fresher and more true. I've heard it for years.