How Long Do You Cook Oysters On The Grill

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I love oysters. Particularly, grilled oysters! But I almost never have them at home. It's just too much work opening the shells.

I've sliced up my fingers multiple times trying to replicate the process that the experts at the oyster bar make look easy. I never bothered to invest in a full oyster shucking kit including protective gloves.

During a recent trip to Maine, my father-in-law shared his recipe for grilled oysters. He's lucky enough to live on coastal Maine and has found a spot where he can dig his own oysters just down the road from his house, so we had plenty to work with.

But even better, this technique takes most of the work out of opening the shell!

Opening an Oyster

This is a much easier way to open an oyster

These grilled oysters are delicious, easy, and are best eaten piping hot from the grill, with a side of bread to soak up the delicious sauce!

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Ingredients

16 fresh oysters oysters
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 large garlic cloves, chopped finely
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning*
1 dash of Tabasco, or similar hot sauce

Instructions

Sauce

Add butter and oil to pan
Heat over medium heat until butter is melted
Add garlic and cook until fragrant
Remove from heat
Add lemon juice, hot sauce and herbs.

Grilled Oysters

Heat outdoor gas grill to medium heat
Place unopened oysters on grill, being careful not to overcrowd them
Grill oysters until they begin to open
As soon as each oyster begins to open, remove from grill and use an oyster knife to finish prying the shell completely apart into two sections (this should be much more easily accomplished now with them partly open). Use a glove or kitchen glove to hold the shells, as they can be quite hot.
Use knife to separate the oyster meat from the shell and set aside oyster meat in a bowl.
Separate the top of the oyster shell from the bottom. The bottom of the oyster is where the oyster meat was connected to the shell and tends to be flatter, while the top is more concave, forming a shallow bowl when placed upside down.
Discard any unopened oysters
For the final grilling, lay out the tops of the shell on a cookie sheet to act as a bowl, and place an oyster in each one.
Disperse half of the oyster sauce onto the oysters
Carefully transfer the shells back to the grill on high heat, making sure not to spill the sauce.
Add remainder of sauce
Don't be afraid of flame ups as this will help char the outside of the shells and add the smokey flavor.
When sauce is bubbling in the shells, remove from grill.
Serve immediately, with a side of bread for dipping.

Notes

* Italian Seasoning is a traditional blend of oregano, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, basil, and sage.

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 100 Total Fat 7g Saturated Fat 2g Trans Fat 0g Unsaturated Fat 5g Cholesterol 34mg Sodium 88mg Carbohydrates 3g Fiber 0g Sugar 0g Protein 5g

We were lucky to enjoy the oysters along with a few other seafood dishes in an amazing "gifts of the sea" dinner. Our meal also included some mini lobster rolls alongside my mother-in-law's fantastic seafood chowder.

Here are some related travel stories you might enjoy:

Oysters and the Walls of Ston, Croatia

Summer in New England – Rediscovering Maine

If you happen to be traveling to New England and are looking for a premiere fly or light tackle fishing experience, our oyster chef, Captain Doug Jowett, can arrange that too!