How to Have an Oyster Shucking Contest

Oysters shucking contests are popular thrughout the world.

If you're looking to throw the ultimate party that will keep guests enthralled and be the talk of the town, there's one key ingredient you simply can't leave out: an oyster shucking contest. People have been shucking oysters since ancient Roman times and this pastime remains as popular as ever thanks to organized competitions. Oyster shucking competitions require only a few tools and are easy to organize and host. Does this Spark an idea?

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Fresh oysters
Shucking knives
Large table
Butcher paper
Stainless-steel bowls
Garbage can
Timer

Instructions

- 1
  
  Create a roster of competitors. Determine the number of competitors in the contest. This will help you plan for how many oysters to procure. There's no designated quantity of oysters to use in a shucking contest. Your discretion, availability of oysters and type of competition will determine the number of oysters you need.
- 2
  
  Determine the type of contest you'll host. According to oyster expert John McCabe, there are two types of oyster shucking competitions: speed and presentation. Competitors in speed competitions vie to shuck the most oysters in designated time frame. Presentation competitors also strive for speed, but place more emphasis on the appearance of the shucked oyster; in this type of competition, judges make deductions for chipped shells, cut or torn meat, and oyster liver damage. Both types of competition will require some kind of time clock. Presentation competitions additionally require a judge.
- 3
  
  Procure the oysters. You must use only freshly caught oysters. You can find fresh oysters at any local fish or seafood market and specialty foods stores. If there are no fish or seafood markets where you live, you can often find oysters at large supermarket chains. If local supermarkets don't carry oysters, you can generally special order them with the meat department.
- 4
  
  Prepare competition area. Use a large table as the competition site. Cover the table with butcher paper, as the competition can get messy. Distribute stainless-steel bowls around the competition area, preferably one per competitor. Competitors will place cleanly shucked oysters in the bowls. Also, place a garbage can nearby for competitors to discard shells and other refuse generated during the competition.
- 5
  
  Shuck the oysters. Gather the competitors in the competition area. Brief competitors on the type of competition and any judging standards you wish to implement. Distribute shucking knives. When competitors are all in position and the timer is set, signal for the shucking to begin. The competition ends when all the oysters are shucked and the judges have made the pertinent deductions and totalled the competitors' times.