Where can I find Fishers Island Oysters?
Our harvest and shipping season runs September through April or May. During these months, you can order Fishers Island Oysters for home delivery, at a restaurant or local seafood market and for pick-up at the farm. During June, July and August you will only be able to find Fishers Island Oysters on Fishers Island.
For a list of Restaurants and Markets that carry Fishers Island Oysters during our shipping season, click here. We have close relationships with our Restaurant and Market partners and highly encourage you to visit these establishments!
Dock to doorstep. We are now offering Fishers Island Oysters for home delivery! Online ordering for oyster shipments is available weekly during our harvest season which runs from September through April or May. Individuals can order 50, 100 and 200 count boxes. We harvest and ship every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Local Pick-Up at the farm is on Wednesdays between 4 - 6pm and available in boxes of 24.
Are oysters healthy to eat?
Very! Oysters are low in calories yet packed with essential nutrients such as protein, vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. They’re particularly high in vitamin B12, copper and unprecedented levels of zinc which boosts the immune system against various infections and microbes. Just a few more reasons why the effort to open them is worth it!
What do Fishers Island Oysters Taste like?
Fishers Island Oysters can be reliably described as a brilliantly bold, Atlantic oyster that is punctuated by focused savoriness and a strikingly clean finish. Click here for our full Fishers Island Oyster tasting profile.
How quickly can I get Fishers Island Oysters?
We harvest and ship your oysters on the same day. Every box ships via overnight delivery. During our ordering window (Thursday - Tuesday at Noon) select your harvest day (Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday) during check-out and your delivery will arrive before midnight on the day after your harvest day.
How are my oysters packed?
Your oysters are packed in an insulated box with reusable cold packs to keep them chilled during their journey. Insulating panels are placed within a plastic bag which is then placed in a sturdy white cardboard box for shipping.
How do I open my oysters?
It’s easier than you think. Check out Steve’s tutorial here or watch this video by our friend Julie Qiu. If you’d rather not deal with shucking or if you’ve misplaced your shucking knife, you can steam, broil, grill or bake them—they will pop open!
What should I do before my oysters arrive?
Get excited! You will soon be receiving a box of ocean-fresh Fishers Island Oysters shipped directly from our dock to your doorstep. If planning is your thing, then take some time to look at some recipes—while our oysters are excellent on the half shell, there are many ways to make them part of a family meal.
How long will my oysters keep?
Fresh East Coast Oysters will keep for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. Because of their tightly sealed shells, they store quite well, so don’t feel pressured to eat all of your Fishers Island Oysters on the day you get them.
How do I store my oysters?
Once they arrive, immediately open the box. Remove the silver bag of oysters, place the ice pack into your freezer, and place the oysters directly into the refrigerator. They can stay in the silver bag or you can place them in a casserole dish or large bowl. Arranging your oysters cup side down is important for West Coast oysters (Crassostrea gigas), but not necessary for East Coast oysters (Crassostrea virginica). Do not store oysters submerged in melted ice water.
Do I need to cover my oysters with a damp towel?
No. You can if you'd like to. East Coast oysters seal very tightly. If your oysters are uncovered, the moisture on the outside of the oyster will evaporate. However, this does not affect the moisture inside the oyster. We do not use a damp towel when we store Fishers Island Oysters in the refrigerator.
How do I clean my oysters?
Fishers Island Oysters are power-washed before they are placed in their cooler boxes, so you don't need to wash them. If you'd like to, a stiff brush under cold running water will do the trick.
Should I put my oysters on ice?
Only when serving. They should never be stored in ice or submerged in ice water—they will try to drink it and die! : ) If you are using ice to keep them cold in a cooler during transport, make sure your ice is in a container or ziplock bag so the water accumulating as the ice melts is always separated from your oysters.
Can I freeze my oysters?
We always recommend eating our oysters while they are fresh, but occasionally you may find yourself with more than you can use at a particular time. The good news—yes, you can freeze them just as they are, or shucked in a jar or ziplock bag. (We actually discovered this by mistake during an extremely cold weekend in Vermont! Frozen, un-opened oysters should be placed in the refrigerator to defrost overnight. The trick is, once they have defrosted in your refrigerator, eat them or cook with them immediately.)
Another delicious alternative is pickling your unused oysters!
Should I only eat oysters in “R” months?
No. The age old adage: Only eat oysters in the months that contain the letter “R” refers to the European flat oysters (Ostrea edulis) which brood their young during the summer months. So if you bite into a brooding European oyster, you would also be eating a bunch of tiny oysters, shells and all. This adage spread to America and made sense pre-refrigeration, because you couldn’t safely distribute oysters in the summer months. Today it is perfectly safe to eat oysters all year round. In fact many farms in the Northeast sellout their entire inventory during the summer holidays.
How do you recommend I eat an oyster?
We are partial to enjoying them on the half shell, with a drop or two of lemon. We are probably biased, but there’s nothing better than shucking a dozen or more with friends and loved ones on the porch, in the backyard, or around a fire at the beach as the sun goes down. Check out our recipe page for tips on other delicious ways to prepare your fresh Fishers Island Oysters.
How do you recommend I eat 100 oysters?
In a variety of ways! We recommend starting with a dozen or two on the half shell. For a quick dinner, you can steam a couple of dozen in wine and eat with spinach and tagliatelle. Cold outside? Oysters are great for stews and chowders. And Oysters Rockefeller. And baked with bacon, three cheeses and breadcrumbs. And….you get the idea. Check out our recipe page for more ideas about how to use 100 oysters!
Still too many oysters for you? Share the love! Split an order with another family or some friends!
Do you offer farm tours?
Yes! But….. We are usually working and it is hard to find time for a proper tour, which takes about 2 hours. However, we think it is really important to share how we operate our farm and are happy to make time for educators, farmers, chefs and folks in the restaurant industry. We also love collaborating with writers, photographers and filmmakers. For all others who are bivalve curious, we provide tours for a $500 donation to the HL Ferguson Museum Land Trust. We can accommodate up to 10 people at a time.
I want to start an oyster farm. Can you help?
We sell oyster seed ranging in size from 8mm to 50mm to dozens of Northeast oyster growers. To place an order, contact Steve directly via steve@fishersislandoysters.com.
We have over 30 years of experience growing oysters and would be happy to offer our technical or scientific expertise. Between January and July, Steve is extremely busy. You will have the best luck finding time for discussions about our farming techniques in the fall.
Where can I buy Save the Earth, Eat Farmed Oysters stickers?
We don't sell these stickers, but you are more than welcome to create your own using this file. We recommend StickerMule to print great stickers.
Do you ship abroad?
At this time, we do not ship Fishers Island Oysters outside of the US. If you are interested in importing our product to your country, please contact us with your idea!
Still have a question? Ask!
We will do our best to answer your questions about our farm and oysters.