Oysters from the Arcachon Basin are a staple of Christmas and New Year’s dinners… and everyone loves them! Find out five things you need to know about this unusual shellfish, which you’ll be able to bring out again on New Year’s Eve!
The legend of oysters and months without R
Many people will tell you that you should NEVER eat oysters from May to August. But that’s not true! Between May and August, oysters are just a little fatter and milkier. Some like them, some don’t. In fact, it was Louis XV who instigated this “rule” after several waves of fatal intoxications were reported in the kingdom. It has to be said that, at the time, the slowness of transport made it impossible to guarantee the freshness of seafood, especially in summer! But rest assured, since the invention of the refrigerated lorry, oysters can now be eaten all year round without the risk of ending up in the emergency room on New Year’s Eve!
Oysters are excellent for your health
The Arcachon Basin oyster is a vitamin powerhouse! It contains all the amino acids, mineral salts and trace elements the body needs to function properly. It is also high in protein, vitamin B12 and omega-3. To give you an idea, the protein content of a dozen oysters is equivalent to 100 grams of beef. Oysters are therefore an unparalleled “health food” that you can enjoy without moderation! But be careful! For the record, King Louis XV’s wife, a great lover of oysters, once swallowed no less than 180 of them and suffered severe indigestion that almost cost her her life!
How to store oysters
A plate of oysters that isn’t fresh is a Christmas disaster! To avoid putting the whole family at risk, keep your oysters in a cool place (temperature between 5°C and 12°C) for a maximum of 8 to 10 days. To find out if an oyster is alive and therefore edible, touch it with the tip of a knife or pour a little lemon juice over it once it’s opened. It should shrink instantly. It should also “smell of the sea”… If the smell is suspect, don’t bother!
The significance of the oyster number or size
The size of the oyster, that little number on the label, tells us the average weight of the shellfish. It ranges from 0 to 5. The smaller the number, the bigger the oyster!
The different sizes of oysters are as follows:
- n° 5: 30 to 45 g
- n° 4: from 46 to 65 g
- n° 3: from 66 to 85 g
- n° 2: from 86 to 110 g
- n° 1: from 111 to 150 g
- and 0: over 150 g!
Oysters boost libido, myth or reality?
In fact, we don’t know! If oysters are said to be an aphrodisiac, it’s because they’re rich in zinc and selenium. These two trace elements are responsible for testosterone and sperm production in men. Oysters also contain histidine, an amino acid believed to have a beneficial effect on libido and promote sexual satisfaction. In any case, it is said that Casanova himself, enamored of ever-multiplying conquests, always began the day with a dozen oysters…