Premium PEI Oysters harvested with care from the crisp, clean waters of the north shore of Prince Edward Island.
Atlantic Aqua Farms have been in the shellfish industry for over 35 years. So, it seemed like a logical choice when some of our mussel leases in Rustico became too shallow to farm, that we switch them over to oysters.
For almost 10 years now we have been committed to growing some of the finest quality PEI oysters. Our oysters spend the entirely of their lives floating on the surface of the water where the food is plentiful and water quality the purest. The nutrient rich waters create a flavour profile that is both salty and sweet.
Not only superb in quality and taste but we pride ourselves in bringing you a clean oyster that is ready to shuck right out of the box.
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Giving a 'shell' about sustainability
We are an industry leader in sustainability, best practice farming and processing methods. We stand by our oysters every step of the way, from tide to table. Our farm is certified organic, and also has Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) Certification.
Oysters 101
How to shuck an oyster
1. Use an oyster knife with a short, sharp, thick blade.
2. Wrap the oyster in a cloth to protect your hand.
3. Hold the oyster deep side of the shell down with the hinge towards you.
4. Insert the knife between the shells near the hinge, twisting the knife to separate the halves.
5. The oyster is attached to the center of its upper shells by a strong muscle. Slide the knife across the top shell to sever the muscle attached to the upper shell.
6. Discard the upper shell.
7. Slide the knife under the oyster and sever the lower muscle and remove any grit or shell. Take care not to spill the delicious salty liquor in the shell.
How to store oysters
We want to make sure you always enjoy the optimal flavour of your oysters, so proper storage is important.
- You should place the oysters in the coldest part of your refrigerator, near the back, and keep them in a metal bowl, open container or the box they came in. Do not put in a sealed container.
- Cover the top of the oysters with a damp kitchen towel and wet the towel periodically as it dries out.
- If you have a colander or perforated pan, you can store the oysters on ice. Otherwise, if you don’t have drainage, it’s best not to store the oysters on ice because oysters can not sit in water.
- In proper storage conditions, oysters can survive 3 - 4 weeks after harvest.
More 'shell-tastic' tips
- Look for oysters that have tightly closed, undamaged shells.
- Shucked Oysters should smell like the ocean
- Oysters should sound solid and heavy for their size
- If the oyster makes a hollow sound when you tap it , it’s lost its liquid and should be tossed.
- Oyster Life Cycle – 3-5 years to market
Before you shuck & taste, watch this video to know what to look for!
