Best Oyster Knives
A couple of days ago I met my friend and was shocked to see his hand dressed. Upon inquiry, he told me that he had cut his hand while shucking oysters. This is not a single incident; this often occurs while shucking oysters due to the poor selection of knives, which also leads to the wastage of the juice inside the oysters. This compelled me to search for the best oyster knives. My fortitude paid me and after some research, I compiled a list of the following:
The Best Oyster Knives In 2020
| PRODUCT | BLADE | BEST FOR | HIGHLIGHTED FEATURES |
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Rigid with a pointed tip | Best Overall |
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Sturdy with a curved tip | Best Budget Pick |
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Compact and sturdy | Best For Professionals |
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Thick and sturdy | Best For Homecooks |
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1. Oyster Knife By HiCoup
Highlighted Features
- 420-stainless steel
- Pakkawood handle
- Thick blade
- Protective gloves
This strong knife made of stainless steel can be your perfect partner in enjoying oysters.
Construction: The material of the blade of this beautifully designed oyster knife is made of 420- stainless steel. It has a full tang mirror projection fastened to the handle by three metal bolts that further strengthen it. The handle is made of pakkawood and is a bit tilted towards its tail that fits into your palm perfectly. Its miniature blade is thick, making it suitable for opening oysters. The knife’s length is moderate, making it possible to use it with full control. HiCoup finds a solution to your fear of getting injured by the serrated oyster’s shell by providing a pair of gloves made of polyethylene.
Function: Want to enjoy raw oysters at a reasonable cost at home? If yes, HiCoup has made it much easier for you to open oysters all by yourself. The pointed tip of the blade of this knife makes it effortless to open the shellfish. The thick blade guarantees the security of the juices inside the oyster. Its tilted handle, made of pakkawood, provides you with the luxury to grip it firmly and you can use it even with wet hands. Protective gloves shield your hands from injuries, thus providing you an opportunity to enjoy oysters with foolproof safety.
Cleaning and maintenance: Folks, HiCoup oyster knife is durable but it needs a little effort from you if you want it to last forever. It comes with a protective leather sheath… all you need to do is to wash the knife with warm water after using it, dry well, and put it into its leather sheath. It is dishwasher safe but it is preferable that you hand-wash it.
Pros
- Curved handle
- Durable
- Leather sheath
- Protective gloves
Cons
- Length too small
2. OXO 35681 Good Grips Oyster Knife
Highlighted Features
- Stainless steel
- Reasonable price
- Curved tip
- Soft, user-friendly handle
- Dishwasher safe
This lightweight knife, made of stainless steel, is one of the best to open oysters. Have it and enjoy your oysters without having to pay a fortune.
Construction: The blade of this knife is made of stainless steel, is thick and sturdy and is bent towards the tip. The handle is soft and comfortable and is wrapped up in soft rubber that ensures a firm grip over it. It has an ideal weight that allows you to hold it effortlessly and get optimum results.
Function: As they say, efficiency lies in simplicity. This applies perfectly to the Good Grips oyster knife as it is simple and efficient. The curved tip makes the shucking process effortless. The tough and solid blade never bends while opening an oyster. It can easily run through the edges of the oyster without causing the juices to spill and a piece of non-skid rubber wrapped around the handle makes it certain that the knife won’t slip out of your hand.
Cleaning and maintenance: Keeping the Good Grips oyster knife clean is not a mammoth task. It is dishwasher safe but it is advisable to keep the rubber-packed handle away from the dishwasher as it can cause damage to its gripping capabilities. Wash the blade by hand and keep it out in the open for some time until it dries completely.
Pros
- Well-built thick blade
- Comfortable handle
- Hooked tip
- Highly durable
Cons
- Blade too short
3. Victorinox Oyster Knife
Highlighted Features
- Carbon steel
- Ergonomic handle
- NSF-approved
- Pointed tip
This sturdy and compact knife has an additional luxury of a soft and comfortable handle.
Construction: This knife is designed by the world’s most popular brand for pocket knives. The thick blade of this Victorinox-designed oyster knife is compact and sturdy and is a high carbon steel blade. This miniature knife is specially designed to crack open oysters. Its red handle is rubber-wrapped, thus making it soft and comfortable to use.
Function: Specially built to crack open oysters, its thick and solid blade never bends during the shucking process. The pointed tip is helpful in its insertion into the oysters. Its short length makes it ideal for small oysters. In addition, its miniature pocket size makes it portable. The handle is a bit bulky, therefore, you can grip it easily. The rubber-packed handle is slip-resistant and can also be used comfortably with wet hands. Approved by the National Science Foundation (NSF), it can be used professionally as well as at home.
Cleaning and maintenance: If you want to make the Victorinox oyster knife your eternal partner, then put in a little bit of effort to keep it clean. It is dishwasher safe but it is advisable to keep its handle away from the dishwasher so it is better to wash by hand. Dry it well after washing to avoid any kind of damage like rust. The rest, as they say, “it’s your life partner.”
Pros
- High carbon steel
- Thick, pointed blade
- Rubber-wrapped soft handle
- NSF-approved
Cons
- Length too short
4. Oyster Shucking Knife Set
Highlighted Features
- Thick blade
- Protective gloves
- Made of stainless steel
- Has a suitable length
- Has ideal weight
This stainless steel knife has an ideal length and weight to pry open any oyster be it from the East Coast or the West Coast. The package also includes protective gloves made of polyethylene.
Construction: This oyster shucking knife is made of stainless steel which renders it durable. The length of this knife is ideal, with a thick, 1.3-inch blade. The large guard of the knife adds to its perfection as it ensures protection from serrated oyster shells. The knife is not too heavy and has a perfect weight to work with. The protective gloves are cut-resistant; they are made of polyethylene fiber.
Function: Being lightweight, this oyster shucking set is easy to use. Its solid wooden handle is user-friendly and specially designed to avoid cuts while opening the oysters. The thick blade made of stainless steel is inflexible and does not bend away while opening the oysters. The rigid handguard furthers its protective ability as it protects your hand from the serrated edges of the oyster shells.
The gloves provide you with protection against sharp objects such as knives, daggers, or glass shards. They also have bacterial immunity that keeps your hands and food safe. You can also use the gloves in other kitchen chores like meat cutting, vegetable slicing, and fruit carving as they give immunity against hand injuries.
Cleaning and maintenance: The major attraction for quite some people in this oyster shucking set is that its maintenance is quite easy because the knives are dishwasher-safe. You can also wash the gloves by hand and keep them in a clean and dry place.
Pros
- Stainless steel
- Thick blade
- Resistant gloves
- User-friendly wooden handle
Cons
- Blade length too short
5. YITUAL Oyster Shucking Knife
Highlighted Features
- Thick blade
- Stainless steel
- Tilted handle
- Comes with a leather sheath
- Classy design
This durable knife is made of corrosion-free stainless steel. The long handle ensures a firm grip over it.
Construction: Yitual oyster shucking knife has an ideal length, with a short blade and a long handle. The handle is made of pakkawood and the thick, sturdy blade is made of stainless steel. Small metal bolts fasten the full tang mirror blade to the handle. The knife guard is a durable leather sheath.
Function: To open an oyster you need a firm grip over the shucking knife. To cope with it, Yitual has designed a knife that molds to your palm. The tilted design of its handle makes it easy to grip. The short blade makes sure that the juices stay safe inside the oyster. Corrosion-free stainless steel renders toughness and durability to it. The long and slip-resistant handle protects you from injuries and the protective sheath makes it easy for you to carry it around safely.
The most important feature of it is its weight -just 4 ounces- which is the perfect weight for a knife to have to open juicy oysters. Just go and enjoy your raw oysters with lemon; for Yitual has provided you with the perfect knife to dig into this juicy shellfish.
Cleaning and maintenance: Yitual claims to always keep your comfort at the top of their priorities. So, how can they forget to provide you with the easiest way to keep your oyster shucking knife clean and safe? So they have designed a leather sheath to cover it. All you have to do is wash it with warm, soapy water after every use and keep it, clean, in its hideout – the lovely leather sheath.
Pros
- Highly durable
- Dishwasher safe
- Protective leather sheath
Cons
- Handle too long
6. Aedgoye Oyster Shucking Knife Set
Highlighted Features
- Stainless steel
- Full tang mirror
- Rosewood handle
- Leather sheath
- Cut-resistant gloves
This knife is thick, strong and sturdy. The leather sheath makes its protection and maintenance very easy.
Construction: This classy oyster opener is manufactured with 402 stainless steel. It has a full tang mirror of steel and is provided with a red rosewood handle. The projected tang has been locked to the handle by three nails. This knife has an ideal length to work with, with the least possible effort. Its sturdy leather sheath guarantees its protection. The oyster shucking gloves that come with it are made of polyethylene.
Function: The cumbersome task of shucking oysters is made easy by the Aedegoye oyster shucking knife. Its blade is thick and can therefore withstand the test of time and can shuck the oyster without bending. The tilted design of its handle ensures a firm grip over it, thus making the shucking process effortless and comfortable. The handguard facilitates you to use this knife even with wet hands while its lightweight nature ensures its balance. Its leather sheath gives it risk-free portability and its trademark design looks classy and so it can even serve as a gift. The cut-resistant polyethylene gloves serve as a guard to protect your hands.
Cleaning and maintenance: This knife is easy to store and take care of because Aedegoye has ensured its maintenance by providing it with a leather sheath. You can just wash it with warm, soapy water after using it and air-dry; you can put it in its sheath once it gets dry full and well.
Pros
- 402 stainless steel
- Comfortable, tilted handle
- Classy design
- Protective gloves
Cons
- Blade too thick for West Coast oysters
7. Aedgoye Oyster Shucking Knife
Highlighted Features
- Made of stainless steel
- Rosewood handle
- Multi-function
- Resistant to oxidation
- Strong and durable
This knife is resistant to oxidation. The blade has a pointed, unilateral edge which makes its insertion into oysters easy.
Construction: The Aedgoye oyster shucking knife has a blade reinforcement design, is made of 2.5 mm stainless steel and has a 2Cr13 blade. It is a full-tang knife with a handle made of rosewood. Its handle’s strength is coupled with the durability of the steel nails that rivet it to the blade. It is user-friendly, easy to grip and to use. This knife is very durable, flat and smooth. It is also resistant to corrosion and has a pointed, unilateral edge made of copper. The oyster shucking gloves provided with it are made of the highest cut-resistant PE material.
Function: The long handle of this oyster shucking knife makes it easy for you to grip it. The pointed, unilateral edge renders it the ability to open oysters and other shellfish. The cut-resistant gloves facilitate its users to avoid any kind of hand injury. The blade is thick and pointed towards the tip, thus making it strong and effective. It has a beautiful design, so you can also give it as a gift.
Cleaning and maintenance: Since the knife has a wooden handle, it is probably not dishwasher safe, even if the manufacturer is completely silent about it. Just hand-wash with warm, soapy water, let it air-dry, and then put it away safely until you have use of it again.
Pros
- Thick, pointed blade
- Stainless steel
- Strong handle
- Cut-resistant gloves
Cons
- The pointed edge is prone to bending
Things To Look For Before Buying!
You can enjoy delicious oysters at home (at a much more reasonable cost, I might add) if your kitchen is stocked with a great oyster knife. Ordinary knives are not suitable for shucking oysters as they are flexible and sharp.
The best oyster knives should:
- Be inflexible
- Be thick
- Have a user-friendly handle
- Be made of quality steel
- Be of a good length
Buying Guide
Things To Know About Oyster Knives
Guys, there are a lot of knives available in the market which look alike, with very subtle variations. These variations, however, are important to know in order to make the perfect selection of knife for your purpose. The following information will definitely help you choose an ideal knife for cracking oysters.
Importance Of Oyster Knives
Oyster knives are usually thick and compact. The tip is either pointed or a bit curved which helps you insert it into the oyster with the least bit of effort. The thick blade enables you to pry open the oyster without any fear of it being bent every which way.
With an oyster knife in your pocket, you can go to the beach and get the mollusks and enjoy them without much expenditure on your part. You can avoid the high cost of hotels by enjoying oysters and other shellfish at home with specially designed oyster knives. The signature sturdy blade will definitely help you as it will not cause any harm to the meat of the oyster, especially if you are not a professional.
How To Use Oyster Knives?
Using an oyster knife is pretty simple:
1. Put on gloves before opening the oyster.
2. Put the pointed tip of the shucking knife on the hinge of the oyster.
3. Insert the knife about ½ inch
4. Run the knife along the edges
5. Do not enter the knife fully inside the oyster to avoid the spilling of the juice.
6. Open the oyster and enjoy it with lemon.
What Is The Difference Between Oyster Knives And Other Knives?
Ordinary knives, designed for cutting meat or vegetables, are too sharp and flexible. They can’t withstand the toughness of shellfish and bend away. Oyster knives, on the other hand, are compact and solid, having pointed and curved tips. This deadly combination makes them perfect for shellfish. The pointed tip opens the way and the thick blade does the rest.
What Is The Difference Between An Oyster Knife And A Clam Knife?
A clam knife has a flat, thin blade. But the clams can be opened with a regular table knife too as long as it doesn’t have a pointy end. However, an oyster knife is shorter with a pointy tip for boring into the shell hinge to pop it open. So the difference is that a clam knife has a thin blade with no pointy tip, while an oyster knife has a pointy tip for opening up the oysters easily.
Should Oyster Knives Be Serrated?
No, not at all! A serrated knife is going to hurt you more than it will pay you back. It will completely devoid you of the oyster’s juices- in essence, of any shellfish. Serrated knives, being flexible, also bend while cracking an oyster’s edges. So, it is advisable to avoid serrated knives. Use solid and compact knives that will tear apart the tough molluscs.
Should An Oyster Knife Be Sharp?
Generally, an oyster knife is about 2.5 to 4 inches long, and it has a straight, symmetric blade. The point of contact with the oyster is the tip of the knife. The blade itself is not sharp but the tip may be, to allow the blade easier access within the oyster.
What Should Be The Length Of Oyster Knives?
The length of an oyster knife should be moderate – neither too long nor too short. A long knife will skid in your hands and a short one will be difficult to work with. Ideally, the handles’ length should be greater than the blade’s length. Long handles make a firm grip certain, which is the most important step in the shucking process. The short blade guarantees your control over the movement of the knife. In addition, it is easier to keep the short blade to the edge of the shellfish.
What Should Be The Composition Of The Blade?
Ideally, the blade should be made of premium stainless steel. It is corrosion-resistant and does not rust. It maintains its quality and shines for a long time. The blade should be short; long blades are not suitable for oysters as they cause you to lose the juices inside the oysters. The tip should ideally be a bit pointed or bent. The pointed tip is helpful in the opening of the shells of oysters. The blade should be thick as well because all you need is to open the shells of the oysters; you don’t need to cut anything, hence the thick blade is highly recommended.
How Should The Handle Be Built?
The handle is very crucial to the efficiency of all kinds of knives, especially oyster knives. It should ideally be made of pakkawood because it is ultra-durable and highly resilient. The handle should be built in such a way that it should be slip-resistant. Its design should be such that you can grip it firmly and can use it effortlessly to get optimum results. I personally prefer a handle that is a bit tilted towards its end as it ensures a firm grip on the knife. You can choose what suits you but make sure that you can grip it firmly.
The length of the handles is the most debated topic when it comes to the selection of oyster knives. As mentioned before, it should neither be too short nor too long. Both scenarios can adversely affect your grip over it. Ideally, the length should be such that it should fit perfectly in your palm because all you need is control over the knife.
Maintenance Of Oyster Knives
Once you have acquired a great oyster knife, the next step is to take care of it to keep it shining forever. Maintenance of oyster knives is not at all a laborious process. You need to clean your knife with warm, soapy water after using it. Avoid putting it in the dishwasher even if allowed by its manufacturer because the dishwasher can adversely affect your knife. After cleaning it, place it in a dry, open place for a bit so that it can air-dry. Once it gets dry, place your knife in its sheath or box.
Conclusion
That’s it, guys. The next time you’re enjoying your oysters, that you have pried open all on your own, you will definitely thank me!
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