Do you love oysters? Do you love random trivia? Then today’s post is for you!
At Tricky Fish, we absolutely love oysters. We love them on the half shell, fried, grilled… you name it! So for a little Foodie Friday trivia, we thought it would be fun to share a few oyster facts you may not know about. Enjoy!
Oysters Can Filter Up to 50 Gallons of Water A Day!
Naturally, oysters get their nutrients from the water. Each oyster has gills that filter the water in, pull necessary nutrients from the water, then pass it back out. Research shows that one oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water in a single day! In fact, some bodies of water rely on oysters, clams, and other shellfish to maintain the delicate ecosystem in the water, establishing steady nitrogen and oxygen levels. It is said that oysters in the Chesapeake Bay once were so plentiful that they would filter the entire body of water in 3 days!
American Oysters are All the Same Species
Whether your oysters at local restaurants and bars near me are sourced from the Gulf Coast, East Coast, or somewhere else in the US, chances are they are all the same species of oyster: Crassostrea virginica. It is also referred to as the American oyster, Eastern oyster, Atlantic oyster, or East Coast Oyster. You may have also heard some other names over time (like the Blue Point oyster) because oysters were once categorized with regional names as well, but most suppliers have moved away from this.
Then why do different oysters taste differently? As you can imagine, the water the oyster lives in affects the final flavor. You may notice some water makes the oyster saltier – while some make it taste more metallic. We love the various flavor profiles in each batch of oysters!
Oysters are Nutrient Rich
Worried oysters are unhealthy? Think again! Oysters served at restaurants and bars near me actually supply a decent amount of healthy fats, vitamin B12, and iron. They are also rich in zinc, Vitamin A, magnesium, and calcium – just to name a few. So eat your next batch of oysters on the half shell guilt-free!
American Oysters Don’t Make Pearls
Well – they can make pearls, but not the beautiful ones of value. Pearls are harvested from an entirely different species of oyster – the pearl oyster. The ones we eat don’t produce any sizeable pearls.
So there you have it! Few facts to impress your friends over your next order of oysters at Tricky Fish, one of the best restaurants and bars near me. Take time to savor each bite (or slurp!) and see if you can identify different flavors in the oyster.