If you find yourself at a dockside restaurant not far from the sea or curled up on the couch in your living room for a romantic Saturday evening with your significant other, you might discover a tasty dish of oysters with drawn butter waiting for that first savory bite. If you love oysters, don’t save them just for a special occasion. These little oceanic creatures are chock full of minerals and are very good for you.

Oysters are popular in Europe where local cultures have enjoyed dining on them for centuries. The Irish prefer their oysters with two other favorites: Guinness and brown soda bread. In France, the town of Cancale is famous for its oysters. The English also are fans of the oyster and like the Irish, enjoy them with a pint or two.

Benefits of Oysters

The taste of oysters varies depending upon where they come from and their differing varieties. Some are sweet, others are salty. But no matter how they taste, oysters are great for you! Like shrimp and other shellfish, oysters contain very few calories, but are high in protein. But those aren’t the only health benefits. Oysters are rich in a variety of minerals like phosphorous, iron, zinc, and selenium. These minerals are great for fighting depression and can help boost your energy level and mood. Also, vitamins B and B12 are abundant within the oyster. If looking to get the maximum health benefits from oysters, it’s best to eat them raw.

One of the reasons that lots of people like to eat oysters is that they have been considered an aphrodisiac for centuries. While you may or may not steam up the bedroom after you’ve indulged in oysters, you’ll be happy to know that you’ll have a healthy dose of nutrients and lots of quality protein nourishing your body.

How to Choose

So, you’ve decided that oysters will be on your menu. When choosing this delectable seafood, it’s critical that you always use fresh, living ones before you eat or cook them. If you are eating the oyster raw, always tap on its shell. If it closes the shell, the oyster is safe to eat. An oyster that doesn’t close its shell is probably dead and should be discarded. If you are consuming cooked oysters, they must always be cooked alive. Once cooked, the shells will automatically open. If the shells don’t open, consider that the oyster was dead prior to cooking and don’t eat it.

Oysters can be stored for up to two weeks but they taste best when they are freshly caught. If you don’t plan to eat them right away, store them in the refrigerator. Don’t place them in water or else they will die.

An old folk tale warns of eating oysters in any month that doesn’t contain an “r” in its name. Thus, it was thought long ago that oysters should never be eaten during the months of May, June, July, and August. The thought behind this old story is that oysters are reproducing during these months and that they produce a milk product that is fatty and not at all tasty.

Dining on Oysters

Oysters present so many culinary options! Should you eat them raw or cooked? Hot or cold? With cocktail sauce or drawn butter? Sprinkled with breadcrumbs and fried in oil or baked in Tabasco sauce? Really, there’s no wrong way to enjoy those tasty oysters. Aside from raw, or “on the half shell,” as the oyster purist likes to eat them, the next most popular way is to consume them fried. But there’s no wrong way to eat those oysters. Serve them in a stew or as the basis for soup or wrap them in bacon.

Once you’ve decided how you’ll eat those little gems of seafood delight, you can pair them with a wine that perfectly complements your meal. Dry white wines go well with oysters, but many people like to eat them while sipping champagne – a wonderful and fun indulgence – that truly makes for a memorable meal.

A Final Thought

Oysters are good to eat for various reasons: these mineral powerhouses promote good health, they can boost sexual performance, they can be prepared in a multitude of ways, and they are downright tasty. These little nuggets of tasty goodness are just too good to only eat on rare occasions. Enjoy them often!