Roasted Oysters
Fire up the grill and throw oysters on, simple as that!
This is my favorite way to cook oysters and perhaps the easiest. It is a great community event, we often have oyster roasts in the Fall and invite fishermen over to enjoy. Drawn butter is good but browned butter is better. Read on to see how I roast oysters step by step.
If roasting oysters is something you are doing often, invest in a small grill and devote that to oysters – and clams if you like those. The reason is because shellfish spits their salty brine as they cook, on a grill this will lead to rusted grates in no time. I like the small Smokey Joe from Weber – they are cheap and I can get them at the local hardware store.
I use charcoal because the salt will drip into the gas lines and it won’t get as hot and will eventually ruin the grill. Optional but greatly useful is a charcoal chimney, this speeds things up a lot! Pour coals into chimney, add paper to the bottom and light on fire. In about 20 minutes you will have ashen coals ready to pour out into the grill.
While the charcoal is getting hot, wash the oysters off if they appear to be muddy. Depending on where you get the oysters usually dictates how muddy they will be. Most oyster farms wash them at least twice before boxing, we wash them one more time before putting in the counter. But it never hurts to give them one more rinse. I use the water hose and put them in a large colander or tub of some kind and give them a good spray. Shake them around and spray again. Let them drain for a few minutes before putting them on the grill or the water could dampen the fire.
Next pour out the charcoal, add the grate and add oysters. Leave the vent open so it can stay good and hot, this will also help them cook faster. The size of your oyster will set the cooking time but when the shell pops that means its ready.
Wait a few minutes then check back, when the shells are open take them off. Do not leave them for a long time – the shells will burn through ruining the oyster. So make sure to check back within 5 minutes. When they are ready put them on a clean plate with butter and hot sauce!
