When it comes to oysters, people either love or hate them; however, they rarely go unnoticed!
This low-calorie and low-fat, protein-rich seafood have been considered a culinary delicacy for a long period of time.
Tasty and rather expensive, this type of seafood requires good handling and preparation.
This being said, it is essential to have the best oyster shucking knife by your side to optimize their preparation.
Regardless of whether you prefer them raw or cooked, you need to open them up, i.e., shuck them and remove the outer shell. And, to be able to do this, you need a specialized knife, i.e. an oyster shucking knife.
But, knowing the abundance of the best oyster shucking knives available today, making the right choice is not always simple.
Therefore, if you are searching for a good oyster shucking knife to add to your collection, check out our review below to find out more!
Table of Contents
Why Do I Need an Oyster Shucking Knife?
‘A quality shucking knife will make the shucking interesting and easy, not boring and complicated.’
As you probably already know, oysters have a hard husk tightly sealed and hides the muscle/ meat eaten. Therefore, it requires the right tools to be opened adequately- a well-designed oyster shucking knife that will make all the difference.
On the other hand, using a regular knife may impede the shucking due to its thinness and sharpness. So, you will definitely finish the task better if you go with a stronger and blunt blade rather than razor-sharp blades of kitchen knives.
What’s more, since the shells of oysters are very slippery, you need to be extra careful with the pressure you apply using the tip of the shucking knife. Once you decide to open up the oyster from the side or the hinge, you need to slowly insert and wriggle the knife underneath the shell until it pops out.
Knowing that oysters come in various sizes and shapes, there are several distinct types of oyster knives. To learn more details about the types of oyster knives, check out the section below.
Different Types of Oyster Shucking Knives
Did you know that most oyster knives come with pear-shaped handles, though their length may vary? You can also find shucking knives with handles more similar to an elongated oval.
The main distinction between different models of the oyster shucking knife is their shape and length. Oyster knives are divided into four major categories and each category has its own properties.
‘Did you know that there are more than 150 types of oysters, but they all fall in 5 distinct species?’
Learn more about these differences below:
Boston oyster knife- long and narrower blade with a rounded tip; more suitable for shucking from the sides
Galveston- longer blade, rounded tip; best for shucking medium and large oysters
New Haven- shorter and wider blade, pointed and upward-curved tip- best for oysters served on the shell
Providence- shorter and wider blade and a pointy tip- best for shucking small and medium oysters from the hinge
What to Look for in an Oyster Shucking Knife?
In most cases, shucking knives have stainless steel blades even though some manufacturers may use other proprietary steel mixtures. The handles are mostly designed with polypropylene or wood for optimal grip and low slippage.
Some models also offer finger guards between the handle and blade for optimal protection. Remember, regardless of the type of oyster shucking knife you choose, make sure you protect your hands from shucking injuries by wearing cut-resistant gloves.
As shucking knives are used for probing and prying, there is no need for razor-sharp edge features and super steels. Here are the properties you should pay more attention to when choosing the best oyster knife for you.
Stainless steel, i.e. 420HC because is the most corrosion-resistant stainless steel. This is important because oysters contain a lot of natural salt which is highly corrosive to metal.
Short blade, no more than 3 inches long because longer ones will bend and may snap upon lateral pressure.
The New Haven tip is the most suitable for opening up the shells as it is upturned and it will not tear up the muscle.
The handle needs to be ergonomic and big enough so that it feels good in your hand and when you apply pressure.
A shucking knife ought to be light enough so that it is comfortable to use for a prolonged time- sometimes, you may need to shuck a dozen or more oysters.
How to Take Proper Care of my Oyster Shucking Knife?
Even though there are dishwasher-safe oyster knives, it’s best when you wash them by hand using dish soap and warm water and immediately towel-drying them.
How to Open Up Oysters Safely?
For newbies in shucking, it’s important to be aware that there are several ways that you can shuck, including from the side or through the hinge.
The bigger the oysters are, the harder it’s to cut through the hinge and adductor; so, it’s best, to begin with, smaller oysters.
The oysters should be alive and cold and most closed oysters are alive. If it’s open, lightly tap on it- if it closes, continue, if it doesn’t, throw it away.
A hollow noise during the taping means that the oyster is dead and needs to be thrown away. A solid sound will be heard if the oyster’s alive.
Rinse the oyster with cold water and brush it to eliminate any grit. Hold it with the pointy end towards you and the top upwards. Begin working on it with a side-to-side move into the hinge.
When you feel the knife’s in, twist the hand and knife, use a slight force to divide the joint. When you hear the pop, it means the hinge’s broken. Now, slide the knife gently, all the way through the edge until you have two separate halves.
What Should I Know About Eating Oysters?
When eaten raw, oysters can be transmitters of vibriosis, a type of infection. Since the oysters that have it don’t smell or look differently than those without it, the best way to prevent it is to have them fully cooked.
Also, make sure you cover any open cuts or wounds before handling oysters. When you’re done with oyster handling, always wash your hands well with hot water and soap. And, whenever possible, use quality oyster gloves and wash them regularly.
Best Oyster Shucking Knife Review
1. OXO Oyster Shucking Knife with non-Slip Handle
Product Information
| Package Dimensions | 6.75 x 1.38 x 1 inches |
| Item Weight | 1.58 ounces |
| Manufacturer | OXO |
| Price | $11.99 |
Highlighted Features
- Versatile
- Budget-friendly
- Sturdy stainless steel blade
- Lightweight
- Bent tip
- Comfy handle
This budget-friendly oyster shucking knife offers a sturdy stainless steel blade. Lightweight and small, it will definitely ease oyster handling. Thanks to the bent tip, the prying will be straightforward and you’ll need low physical strain.
The handle is comfortable and soft and the grip is pleasant. Plus, its material is non-slippery so you needn’t worry about slippage and potential injuries. You can even use it when your hands are wet or moist.
Though the knife is dishwasher safe, it is best to preserve the cleanliness and prolong its life by hand washing it.
What’s very interesting and beneficial is that the knife won’t just help you open up oysters, but pistachios, walnuts, pecans, and Brazilian nuts too.
2. HiCoup Kitchenware Oyster Shucking Knife
Product Information
| Package Dimensions | 6.5 x 2.5 x 0.6 inches |
| Item Weight | 0.32 ounces |
| Manufacturer | HiCoup Kitchenware |
| Price | $12.99 |
Highlighted Features
- Corrosion-resistant 420HC stainless steel blade
- Full-tang
- Handguard
- Lightweight
- Excellent grip
This knife is made with corrosion-resistant 420HC stainless steel. The full tang blade is thick and sturdy- just what you need from an oyster knife.
On the handle, we see a handguard that prevents injuries, even when the hands are wet and slippages happen. Great to hold and lightweight, this is definitely a classy and beautifully crafted oyster shucking knife.
The pakkawood handle contributes to the knife’s elegance and premium quality. With 6-1/2 inches length, this is a professional oyster shucking knife with exquisite durability and an optimized grip experience.
It’s small enough for smaller oysters and strong enough for larger ones. You’ll also get a genuine leather holster for safe storage. It’s also the ideal gift- it will make an impression, that’s for sure.
3. Dexter-Russell Oyster Shucking Knife
Product Information
| Package Dimensions | 9.5 x 2 x 0.55 inches |
| Item Weight | 2.72 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Sani-Safe |
| Price | $17.90 |
Highlighted Features
- Sani-Safe handle
- NSF-certified
- The US-made
- Prone to stains
- High carbon & high alloy used
This is one of the most popular oyster knives and it’s suitable for opening up different oyster sizes. You can shuck a dozen of them within 5 or 10 minutes, depending on the oyster and your skills. It’s made in the US.
Though it has a quite simple design at first look, it’s the bent tip and strong handle that provide excellent leverage pivotal for oyster opening. It’s important to mention that this knife is from the company’s Sani-Safe line which is a standard for premium cutlery.
The handle is polypropylene, comfy, easy-to-clean, and slip-prone.
The blade-to-handle seal ensures optimal sanitary performances. It’s made from high-carbon stainless steel which doesn’t stain and it’s very precise and durable. Let’s not forget the knife is also NSF-certified to ensure optimal customer satisfaction.
4. Rockland Guard Oyster Shucking Knife
Product Information
| Package Dimensions | 6.9 x 4.8 x 1.2 inches |
| Item Weight | 0.634 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Rockland Guard |
| Price | $6.95 |
Highlighted Features
- 420 high-carbon stainless steel blade
- Non-slippery handle
- 30-day refund option
- Bent tip for easy penetration
- Dishwasher-safe
Affordable and strong, this 3.5 stainless steel oyster shucking knife has so much to offer. From a non-slippery black handle and hand protection to a bent tip that helps you slide with ease through the toughest of shells.
The blade is premium quality and reinforced 420 high-carbon stainless steel with the needed rigidity and width for effortless oyster shucking.
We really appreciate how this knife makes the ideal gift idea- being a signature oyster knife; it will look great on a shelf or a kitchen countertop when it’s not being used.
If you don’t love it 100 percent, the company offers you the ability to return it within 30 days for a full refund.
5. Victorinox Oyster Shucking Knife
Product Information
| Package Dimensions | 6.75 x 1.5 x 0.75 inches |
| Item Weight | 2.4 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Victorinox |
| Price | $23.09 |
Highlighted Features
- Strong
- Compact
- Ergonomic, non-slippery handle
- High-carbon stainless steel blade
- NSF-approved
This oyster shucking knife is excellent in itself- it’s made in Switzerland by one of the most renowned cutlery brands.
The curved tip bend enables gliding in between the shells and easy opening. And, no matter if you’re left- or right-handed, this knife will fit perfectly in your hand. This is because all Victorinox knives are made to be ambidextrous.
The red color and slip-resistant blade offer a good grip and you can use it even when your hands are wet, which is a common occurrence in the kitchen. The high-carbon stainless steel blade will keep its edge and won’t rust and stain.
It’s polished to mirror-like quality. The company logo is engrained on the blade and it can be such a great gift or a decoration for your countertop.
Plus, we appreciate the fact that it’s dishwasher-safe.
6. Wendom Oyster Shucker Set
Product Information
| Package Dimensions | 11 x 7.9 x 1 inches |
| Item Weight | 5.6 ounces |
| Manufacturer | WENDOM |
| Price | $15.39 |
Highlighted Features
- Comes with a sturdy pair of protective gloves
- Durable 3CR13 stainless steel blade
- Quality plastic handle
- Easy to hold
- Affordable set
If you want to up your oyster shucking game, optimize safety, and make it more fun, this set is the way to go. In this set, you get two shucking oyster knives plus sturdy and protective gloves to prevent injuries.
The gloves are made of high-quality cut-resistant material and are machine washable. They’re suitable for most adult hand sizes. Plus, they’ll feel great on the hands and you won’t feel like you can’t control the knife.
The blade is made of quality plastic and it’s comfy, easy to hold, and non-slippery. Thanks to the premium blade material, it will keep its edge and sharpness long-term.
It’s constructed in a way to help you easily penetrate oyster shells. This set is a great gift option-they’ll love it if they love oysters!
7. Tang Song 8pcs Oyster Shucking Knife Set
Product Information
| Package Dimensions | 7.09 x 5.31 x 1.77 inches |
| Item Weight | 14.9 ounces |
| Manufacturer | TANG SONG |
| Price | $14.99 |
Highlighted Features
- Great value for money
- Wooden handle, comfy and attractive
- Stainless steel blade
- Versatile
This set features 8 pieces of attractive oyster knives that will help you tackle even the most stubborn oysters. It’s without doubt great value for money.
The knives have wooden handles that aren’t just comfy, but easy on the hands, even when being used for a prolonged time. They’re also natural, eco-friendly, safe, and strong.
The blade is made from top-quality stainless steel. You can use it for so many other tasks besides oyster shucking, including opening up scallops and shellfish.
The pointy tip allows for easy shell opening with low effort. You just need to position it properly, use a bit of force, and voila- the oyster is open and ready!
Since it comes in a set of 8 pieces, feel free to gift some of the knives to your family or friends- it will definitely become their favorite knife in the kitchen.
8. Melocean Oyster Shucking Knife Set with 2 Shuckers
Product Information
| Package Dimensions | 6.3 x 0.59 x 0.79 inches |
| Item Weight | 8.8 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Melocean |
| Price | $64.97 |
Highlighted Features
- Quality German stainless steel blade
- Rust- & bending-proofed
- Easy to clean
- Wooden handles
- Non-slippery blade
This set features two powerful and solid oyster knives made with premium 3cr13 German stainless steel.
The knives are proofed against rust and bending and are easy to maintain- you just need warm water and gentle dish soap to clean them.
You will also “fall in love” in the wooden (one knife is with a black handle and the other with a brown) handles meticulously carved from solid French wood.
It’s non-slippery and reinforced with rivets. Comfortable and easy to handle, this is a balanced shucking knife handle.
The set comes packed in a beautiful wooden box and you also get a brochure and e-book to learn more about oysters and oyster shucking.
9. TechLeo Oyster Shucking Knife with Cut-Resistant Gloves
Product Information
| Package Dimensions | 8.3 x 7.1 x 0.8 inches |
| Item Weight | 7.2 ounces |
| Manufacturer | JXE JXO |
| Price | Price not available |
Highlighted Features
- Strong stainless steel blade
- Suitable for left- & right-handed users
- Ergonomic wooden black handle
- Perfect oyster shucking length
- Comes with protective gloves
This oyster shucking knife features premium quality stainless steel that makes it strong and efficient.
Suitable for both left- and right-handed users, it’s sturdy and strong enough to help you open up different oyster sizes within seconds and with low effort.
The beautifully designed wooden black handle will fit perfectly in any hand size and it’s non-slippery. Thanks to its ideal length, it provides a lot of leverage in your maneuvers.
Ergonomically- and technically- thought out, this artfully crafted shucking knife won’t just help you remove the shells with ease, but keep your fingers safe.
We really love how the user safety is further enhanced with the handguard in the middle of the knife, as well as with the cut-resistant gray gloves that come with it.
10. Dalstrong 2.75-Inch Oyster Shucking Knife
Product Information
| Package Dimensions | 12 x 3 x 2 inches |
| Item Weight | 15.8 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Dalstrong Inc |
Highlighted Features
- Full tang
- Thick & wide blade
- High-carbon German steel blade
- Hand-polished blade
With this oyster knife, oyster shucking will be safe and easy. It’s a full-tang, rock-solid oyster shucking knife.
The thick and wide blade is made from high-carbon German steel and will help you remove the meat inside without tearing it up. This won’t just ease the serving and cooking but ensure optimal taste.
The blade is hand-polished to provide a satin-like finish and tapered for optimal flexibility, hardness, and low slicing resistance.
The pointy tip allows you to slide in between tight shells and the long, triple-riveted handle provides amazing leverage to effortlessly pop the oyster. The elegant black pakkawood handle is thick, non-slippery, and easy to hold.
Robust and strengthened with a handguard will allow you to finish your task without worrying about injuries.
The laminated wood ensures optimal water and stain resistance and strength.
Final Thoughts
If oyster handling has been rather challenging for you, you may need to rethink your techniques and your gear! In addition to knowing the dos and don’ts of oyster shucking, you also need the right tools, i.e. oyster knives by your side to ensure the best results.
When shucking oysters, the knife you use needs to enable easy penetration into the sides of the hinges and to pop up the shell without tearing up the meat.
Thanks to their small size and suitable blade and handle materials, they are the essential tool for oyster preparation and optimal taste.
In this review, we talked about 10 types of shucking knives from various successful cutlery brands.
If you are new to the world of oyster shucking and you want to go slow, we recommend our budget pick- it’s a great value for money and offers premium comfort and durability.
For the more experienced oyster shucking users with no budget limit, our top pick will definitely amaze you- it excels in versatility, strength, and ergonomic design.
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