How to Roast Oysters With a Gas Grill

If you want to enjoy fresh oysters at home, then try roasting them on a gas grill. Areas in the southern United States such as South Carolina hold annual oyster roasts for residents to enjoy the succulent taste of fresh oysters roasted over a grill. While you can roast oysters over charcoal or gas grill, the use of gas grills requires less preparation time and yields the same cooking results. Roasting oysters requires minimal preparation and cooking time, and the oysters make great appetizers for parties.

Things You'll Need

• Olive oil
• Basting brush
• Gas grill
• 1 bushel cleaned oysters
• Leather gloves
• Oyster knife
• Cocktail sauce
• Melted butter
• Lemon wedges

Instructions

1. Oil the grill racks with olive oil. Use a brush to make sure that the oil covers the racks.

2. Preheat the gas grill by turning all the burners on high. Close the lid for 10 to 12 minutes.

3. Place a single layer of oysters on the grill. Allow the oysters to cook for no longer than 15 minutes. Typically, oysters will roast in 4 to 6 minutes.

4. Check on the oysters as they roast. Remove the oysters with leather gloves once they begin opening. Discard oysters that do not open.

5. Replace the removed opened oysters with fresh oysters. Continue roasting them on the grill in batches until you finish cooking all the oysters. Carefully open the oysters with a knife; enjoy them with cocktail sauce, melted butter or lemon wedges.

Tips & Warnings

• Try adding soaked wood chips to a smoker box to add flavor to the oysters.

References

• Jacksonville: Come Out Of Your Shell
• Charleston Low Country: How to Have an Oyster Roast
• Coastal Living: Oyster Roast