Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions we receive about oyster farming, storage and consumption.
Contact Us About Us
Farming oysters is an inherently sustainable practice, and typically has little to no impact on the environment. Especially since we don’t use any feeds, fertilizers, or chemicals. You can confidently take our oysters home to meet Mom.
We’d answer that if we weren’t uh… tied up.
Very well.*
*Fortune Oysters are processed in a federally registered facility, kept fresh in food-approved packaging, and shipped in temperature-controlled trucks.
The fact that you know his name makes us think you know who he is. But we’ll play along. According to the history books, he was the first person to cultivate oysters, during the Roman Empire. That would make him a very old man.
They’re always packed in sealed, leak-proof polypropylene trays. Pro tip: wash your tray afterwards, and you have yourself a very stylish new hat.
There can be. And there is. August 5th is National Oyster Day. Take the day off to celebrate.
In our house, not very long—we eat them the day we get them. But if you’re a “stick ’em in the fridge for a rainy day” kind of person, hey, you do you. Fortune Oysters are delicious for about 30 days from harvesting, and we package the same day we harvest. No worries, every package has a best before date.
The bad ones have switchblades and packs of cigarettes rolled up in their shirt sleeves. But seriously, if you tap an open oyster shell and it doesn’t close, it’s no longer alive and you should toss it. You’re likely to find very few, if any, bad ones.
Because they’re alive, healthy, and good to eat. Fortune Oysters, like all oysters, should smell like an ocean breeze: fresh and mild.
Craft time! A little glue, some sparkle dust, and you can make beautiful Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gifts. Not the creative type? The shells are organic, so toss them in the green bin, worry-free.
Most people consider half a dozen to be about right. Of course, “most people” also believe you can see the Great Wall of China from space (you cannot). So don’t necessarily take your cue from “most people.” Feel free to have a dozen, or snack on just a few.
Use that oyster knife in your cutlery drawer…part of the tangled mess of tools you don’t use enough. Where the fondue forks and chopsticks live. No oyster knife in there? You best be going shopping.
That’s known as “oyster liquor.” Now, would they name something “liquor” that you don’t consume? No, they would not. Oyster liquor is delicious, and it’s a big part of the enjoyment of eating an oyster. Down the hatch.
Do you enjoy not enjoying your food? It’s a myth that you should eat oysters in one gulp. If a friend tells you that, they’re no friend. What you want to do is exactly what you do with a mouthful of pizza: chew it. Release the flavour. Savour it. Enjoy it.
In a word, no. In four words, how old are you? But yes, many people do like to top their oyster with something more appropriate. A little lemon juice, horseradish, hot sauce, a dab of wasabi, and a nice mignonette are all great ideas.
The nectar of the oyster gods. Stir up a quarter cup of red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon of minced shallot, and a quarter teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Might be the most classic way to top your oyster. Classic is good.
Oysters are a source of protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin K, and extremely high levels of sarcasm. Seriously, most of what they say is snark city.
The worm? Yes. The oyster, no need. We do our best to remove any unauthorized wildlife that tries to hitch a ride in the crevices of our oysters’ shells. But considering the natural environment where we raise them, the odd freeloader may sneak aboard. The truth is, a worm won’t do your oyster any harm, or you either, even if you ate it. But who wants to eat them (except maybe out of a tequila bottle)? So if you find one, we recommend you toss it; then enjoy the oyster. Snap a photo and send it our way if you wouldn’t mind. We want to hear about this kind of thing if it happens.