Oyster Knife

Details of an Oyster Knife

If you want fresh oysters at home the only safe way to open then is with a good oyster knife. An oyster knife consists of a triangular blade with a blunt tip. The handle is normally thick and easy to grip, even when wet.

A good oyster knife will be of solid construction and the blade will be thick and heavy. The handle will also fit comfortable in your hand and feel very secure.

How to Open an Oyster with an Oyster Knife

There are two main ways to open an oyster with a knife:

Hinge Popping with an Oyster Knife

To use an oyster knife to open the shell you wedge the tip of the knife between the two halves of the shell near the hinge. The blade is then twisted to pry to shell open. You can then use the knife to separate the oyster from its shell.

Side Cutting with an Oyster Knife

The other method of opening an oyster is to wedge the knife into the groove between the two shells and then slide along the length of the groove. This cuts the muscle holding the shell closed.

When opening oysters you should always wear a heavy leather glove, an Oyster Glove, or at the least use a thick towel to protect your hand from the oyster knife or from any pieces of the shell.

Our Recommended Oyster Knives

2.75" Sani-Safe® White Oyster Knife: $10.84
Dexter-Russel is the most well known of oyster knives and used by many people in the restaurant industry. This is a great all purpose oyster knife.

Sani-Safe Commercial Cutlery, Oyster Knife, 4'': $13.99
A good thinner Dexter-Russel oyster knife, best used for the side cutting method.

Sani-Safe 2-3/4" Oyster Knife, New Haven Pattern, White Handle: $13.90
A good hinge-popper Dexter-Russel oyster knife.