Here are some interesting facts about oysters:
- They can change sexes.
- sometimes a little crab takes up residence inside its shell.
- they produce pearls when a foreign material gets trapped inside their shell, the make a substance called nacre a mixture of protein and calcium.
- oysters can be enjoyed 12 months of the year.
- they have a great nutritional value being a good source of protein, iron, zinc, B vitamins and calcium.
- if you have kidney disease or an impaired immune system its more advisable not to eat them raw as they contain live bacteria.
- they have been eaten since ancient times, the Greeks used to eat them with wine and the Romans would harvest them all the way from the English Channel!
- Pacific Oysters are the most widely cultured and are often said to have the best taste.
- they can live up to 20 years.
- they are carnivores
- they are very susceptible to pollution and in fact retain toxins in their flesh, making them unhealthy for us, so ensure a good supplier when purchasing them.
- oysters don’t have to be eaten raw they are be roasted, sauteed, fried and baked.
- an adult oyster can filter 60 gallons of seawater a day.
- Oysters have been farmed in Alaska since the early 1900’s.
- Alaska’s cold and clean waters make them some of the safest on the market.
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