Oysters, known as "the milk of the sea," are nutritious and are believed to have aphrodisiac and kidney-tonifying properties. So, how should you eat oysters to get the most nutritional value?
There are actually many ways to eat oysters; they can be boiled, pan-fried, simmered, stir-fried, deep-fried, grilled, or braised. In fact, the most authentic way of eating them is also the most nutritious way, which is boiling.
However, the most common way to eat oysters is char-grilled oysters. No matter where you walk on a snack street, you will find char-grilled oysters in front of seafood stalls. The method is simple: just throw the whole oyster into the charcoal fire, roast it fiercely for a while, and once the juice and aroma are released, use large tongs to clamp it out. The roaster skillfully uses a knife to pry open the grilled oyster shell, and it's ready to be served on a plate.
However, some people believe that the most nutritious way to eat oysters is raw. Male oysters have a crispier texture when eaten raw, while female oysters are softer, a taste sensation that cannot be experienced when cooked. Moreover, eating raw oysters is also very simple: just pry open the hard shell and serve with a raw dipping sauce. The wasabi component in the dipping sauce can not only remove the fishy taste of the oyster but also bring an unprecedented challenge to the diner's palate. The oral cavity, esophagus, nasal cavity, and even the tear glands will feel a fiery, high-speed stimulation. After a few seconds, this intense pleasure subsides, and when you open your mouth and exhale, the feeling is endlessly回味 (savory).
However, it is not recommended to eat raw oysters because raw oysters contain many parasites, as well as norovirus and Vibrio cholerae. Norovirus can cause gastroenteritis. Vibrio cholerae can cause high fever, septic shock, skin-rupturing blisters, and even fatal sepsis.
Precautions for Eating Oysters
Whether you are eating oysters or abalone, you should pay attention to the precautions before consumption. Because only by mastering these precautions can you eat with peace of mind and healthily.
1. When eating oysters from street stalls, do not be greedy and eat too many. First, eating too many oysters is not good. Second, the oysters from street stalls may be unhygienic. Finally, the oil used for street stall oysters can also harm your health.
2. Foods that are not suitable to be eaten with oysters: Sugar and spinach
Oysters should not be eaten with spinach. Although spinach is high in iron, the amount of iron that can be absorbed is not much, and it also interferes with the absorption of zinc and calcium. Therefore, it is not suitable to eat with oysters, which are high in calcium and zinc.
3. Do not pierce or damage the oyster meat with a knife and fork.
4. If it looks or smells off, do not eat it;
5. Do not pour out the oyster juice, because all the essence is in it;
6. Do not use overly strong seasonings, so as not to cover its original flavor;
7. Do not swallow it whole; chew it to taste its deliciousness;
8. Both oysters and milk are rich in calcium. Eating them together can strengthen bones and teeth, which is helpful for teenagers in their growth and development period.
9. Both oysters and salt have a high proportion of sodium, so it is not advisable to add salt when cooking oysters, otherwise excessive sodium intake will increase the cardiovascular load.