subject: Delicious Bluff Oysters And Fresh Oysters [print this page] Oysters Oysters
Oysters are loved by some people and are considered to be delicacies. Some people like to eat them raw but most people prefer to cook them. Different types of oyster such as pearl oysters are not meant for human consumption, but are sought for the pearls that they produce. Oysters usually contain a lot of calcium and are found in the sea or salty locations. Fresh oysters are very popular with seafood lovers and are in great demand in most countries.
Bluff Oysters
Bluff oysters are considered by some people to be the most delicious in the world. They are known by other names such as mud oyster, flat oyster, dredge oyster, Foveaux Oyster and deep water oyster. Although they are found in most places in New Zealand, they are found in greater abundance in the south. When oysters were initially being consumed in commercial quantities, fishing boats raced to the wharf to discharge their cargoes. Now, helicopters are used to distribute oysters where needed.
Benefits of oysters
Both Bluff Oysters and fresh oysters are good for health. They contain copious amount of zinc, selenium and other essential minerals and vitamins that are vital for a healthy life. These oysters can be eaten boiled, smoked, baked, fried, roasted, stewed, canned, pickled or steamed. However oyster connoisseurs will tell you that they taste the most delicious if eaten raw, straight from the shell. Oysters need clean water to grow, and are harvested and eaten in many countries.
Bluff and fresh oyster are vegetarians which consume single-celled plants. Oysters are filter feeders and filter 25 gallons of seawater every hour. Most oysters belong to the same species, but with different characteristics according to location. Their different qualities depend mostly on water currents, amount of salt and minerals in the water and whether their habitat is sandy or rocky.
Fresh oysters
Fresh oysters must be eaten before they expire. Oysters are gathered from their beds and in shallow water they are harvested by hand using small rakes. Oysters are also collected by scallop dredges. The bag which is attached with a chain is simply dragged through the oyster bed to collect the oysters. Since these dredgers damage oyster beds, their use is restricted. After collection they need to be sorted to weed out unwanted material. They are either canned or sold alive.
Whichever way they are harvested, oysters are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world.
