The Best Oyster Knife For Shucking Hard Shells! (2020)

When I was young, I used to think that oysters were something that you couldn’t easily mess with. I didn’t think that any knives could tackle these tough guys. Both of my parents are fans of oysters, and I had no idea how they were able to deal with this ingredient.

Of course, I know that magic doesn’t just happen, especially in places like the kitchen. All of those delicious, mouthwatering recipes are created with the use of special cookware. So how about oysters? Well, you can rely on the best oyster knife to help you.

Unlike most of the conventional knives that you use (such as the santoku and electric fillet knife), oyster knives do not really slice or cut. Instead, they use shucking to open the oysters. Ordinary knives can’t achieve such a feat as they will easily bend or break. Oysters are arrogant sea creatures, after all.

I have been checking the various oyster knives that are currently on the market today. I have seen some pretty cool stuff, while other knives are simply not worth mentioning. But if you are curious as to what you should get, you better get these little, but bad, tools that will make even the toughest oyster yield!

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Best Oyster Knife

Best Oyster Knife – All Of The Nicest Options

1. OXO Good Grips Oyster Knife

Image from Amazon.com

Marketed as one of the toughest oyster knives today, the OXO Good Grips Oyster Knife is indeed a high-quality item. It is a compact but powerful tool that can crack open oysters with ease. The blade of this knife is made from a durable, commercial type of stainless steel.

Prying oysters open is quite easy with this tool, thanks to the bent tip of its blade. It is not a straight-edged knife, as this tool is not meant for slicing and cutting. In addition, its handle has an ergonomic design that prevents it from accidentally slipping in your hands.

Dealing with oysters is a messy task. Fortunately, this knife is dishwasher safe, which makes the cleaning process nice and easy. I have seen many kitchen chefs use this tool to make 5-star cuisines. As a result, it is not that hard to trust this knife!

• Ultra-durable blade.
• Has an ergonomic bent tip that is designed for easier opening.
• Slip-free and comfortable handle.
• Dishwasher safe.
• Extremely affordable.
• No noticeable drawbacks.

2. HiCoup Oyster Knife

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The HiCoup Oyster Knife is a good option if you want an alternative to the OXO Good Grips Oyster Knife. This tool’s blade is made out of premium 420-type stainless steel with a mirror finish that makes it both appealing and deadly (for the oysters). The blade has a full tang construction, making it both ultra-durable and rugged.

The knife won’t break when you use it because its blade is secured to the wooden handle through three carefully-placed compressed rivets. With this construction, the HiCoup Oyster knife can easily open oyster shells.

The handle of this knife is made from pakka, which is a premium wood that has a natural skid-free property. It is also comfortable to hold because it adapts to the shape of your hand. In fact, the knife won’t slip even if your hands are wet. There is a large hand guard placed between the handle and the blade of this knife, so your hands will always be safe.

Pros

• Comfortable with a snug hold.
• Durable and rugged blade.
• Efficient prying capabilities.
• Easy to clean and maintain.
• Lightweight and compact design.

Cons

• Its tip should be made even thinner.

3. Zyliss Oyster Tool

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It would have been a mistake if I hadn’t included the Zyliss Oyster Tool on this list of oyster knives. It is among the most popular knives used for opening oyster shells. Some of my friends who have this tool testify to its quality. Of course, as a skeptic, I tried the knife myself to see what it could do. Fortunately, they were right in their assessments.

Specifically, it has a sturdy stainless steel blade that is rugged enough to deal with the toughest of shells out there. It also has the right thickness that makes the job a lot easier. Once you insert the knife into the hinge of the shell, it will open in no time. The way it unlatches the shell is very clean and safe, and it can also effectively secure the oyster’s precious liquid.

Its unique bent design will protect your hands from being accidentally pushed onto the blade. It also has a skid-free surface, which optimizes the protection that it gives you, and it has a knife holder to ensure that you can store the tool safely and effectively.

Pros

• Dishwasher safe.
• Durable blade.
• Can easily crack shells open.
• The oyster holder has a non-slip base.
• Compact and easy to store.

Cons

• The oyster holder cannot cater for all types of oysters.

4. Victorinox Oyster Knife

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This is one of the simplest but effective oyster knives out there. Most of you might be familiar with this company’s popular kitchenware, which is both super effective and innovative. The brand simply excels in making even the smallest of kitchen items.

The Victorinox Oyster Knife is a testament to the prowess of this company. It is made in Switzerland to ensure its quality and structural rigidity. This ergonomic blade is capable of latching open any size of oyster. It can amplify your power and ensure the durability of the blade and handle.

The blade is made from high-carbon steel, dishwasher safe and is easily maintained. If you examine its blade, you will notice that both of its undersides are convex. The edges are quite dull too. The knife’s particular construction allows it to pierce through and pry open the shells.

Meanwhile, the bulge in the front portion of the handle will support and stabilize your thumb while you force your way through the shells. The entire body of the handle is narrow in the middle, but provides a secure grip for its user. It is fantastic indeed!

Pros

• Extremely durable and rugged.
• It has a bent tip.
• Ergonomic handle (slip free and comfortable).
• Its unique blade design helps to open hard oysters.
• Safe and high-quality construction (NSF approved).

Cons

• It doesn’t have a blade guard (so be careful while you’re using this knife).

5. MOMONI Premium Oyster Knife Set

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It is quite hard to understand why some people are skeptical about the oyster knives made by MOMONI. They are among the most effective I have ever used when it comes to dealing with seashells. This knife can work flawlessly. Both the handle and the blade have an ergonomic design that makes them ultra-effective.

I like the rigidity of this stainless steel blade, whose body is sandwiched into the handle by the use of rivets. With this quality, you can be sure that the knife’s ability to pry open oysters has been fully maximized. I really like the thinness of its blade, which enables the knife to penetrate extremely slim hinges with ease!

The handle is made out of premium wood. Its shape perfectly harmonizes with the blade, making it very smooth and fluid. You can operate and maneuver the knife easily because the handle is very comfortable. You can even use it while your hands are wet as it won’t slip away from your grip! 

Pros

• It has a thin but rugged blade.
• Non-slip handle.
• Aesthetically appealing.
• Highly maneuverable.
• Easy to clean (dishwasher safe).

Cons

• The lack of a blade guard is quite discouraging.

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Why You Will Need An Oyster Knife

Even buying a simple tool like an oyster knife is not simple. If you really want to get something that you can use to shuck any type of shells, you need to choose carefully. As I mentioned earlier, ordinary knives can’t do it. Even the sturdiest knife that you have is not an appropriate choice for this task.

Ordinary knives, when used for prying and shucking, will eventually bend and get damaged. Never underestimate the toughness of an oyster, and do not sulk if your favorite tool cracks or breaks.

For those of you who love oyster-based recipes, this tool is greatly needed. I know how hard it is to unlatch an oyster shell and I don’t want to deal with such kitchen horrors without the right knife.

An oyster knife is also a practical option for you. One of the reasons for this is its price. A premium oyster knife will never cost more than $20, and it will last a long time, giving you a high-quality performance!

In addition, this tool will mean that you won’t need to go to restaurants to eat oysters anymore. If you know that you can prepare and make dishes out of oysters at home, you will no longer need to go anywhere elee to eat them. The outcome of this is quite obvious and simple. You will save precious time and money, and have the freedom to make sumptuous dishes!

How To Shuck An Oyster

It is essential that you know how to open or shuck an oyster. After all, it is easy for anyone to get an oyster knife, but the tool would be completely useless if you didn’t know how to use it properly. If you don’t, it will pose a risk to you at some point. Even if the knife is not sharp, it can still pierce your skin and you don’t want that to happen to you.

1. Only open the oysters when you need them, and not before, as you have to keep the brininess of the oyster fresh. If you shuck them too early, this sweet accent will be lost.
   Moreover, shucking an oyster really requires practice. Before you can do it perfectly, you have to familiarize with how to use the knife properly and the techniques that are needed to handle it. Do not forget that it requires some protective measures too.
2. Make sure that you clean the oysters first before opening them. Scrub their surfaces thoroughly and let them bathe in running water. This water should always be cold.
3. As well as the knife, you should invest in a shucking glove. This is standard gear that will protect your hands from getting stabbed or grazed if the knife accidentally slips.
4. Place the oyster in-between a thick, clean towel. Then expose its hinge while you press the upper surface with one of your hands. Make sure that the oyster is flat and snug, so it won’t slip the moment that you slip your knife into its tiny seam or hinge.
5. Once the knife is inside the hinge, twist its edge gently so that you can open the oyster. Technically, the process is complete at this step. But if you want to know what to do with the flesh of the oyster, continue reading.
6. Slowly remove the muscle of the oyster away from the shell by inserting the oyster knife into its bottom part. After this, you can lift the muscle right away. If there are any sediments or shell remaining, take them out with your fingers. But make sure they are clean!

How To Choose The Best Oyster Knife

An oyster knife is a unique tool. You don’t need a sharp or long blade when it comes to this item. Instead, the power and quality of the knife are determined by other factors. Here they are:

Construction

Never go for oyster knives that have a sharp edged blade, as this will increase the risk of you wounding yourself. Instead, they should be durable and quite buffed on the middle portion, which will make prying and twitching the knife a lot easier. Of course, the blade should be made out of stainless steel. Take note that oysters can cause corrosion due to their high salt content. Therefore, choose a knife that has a blade made from this material alone.

Blade Length

A short blade will enable you to control the knife better and maximize the force. There is no need for you to get a lengthy knive because they are very difficult and troublesome to use for shucking shells. They will eventually break, especially if they are made out of a flimsy construction. Ideally, the blade length of the oyster knife should not exceed 4 inches.

Blade Design

The shape of the blade of an oyster knife should never be flat. Otherwise, prying will become difficult. Working with the hinge is difficult for flat blades. The best ones to force an opening with have bent tips, as they improve the pace of the prying. The only downside is that they tend to break the shell or the meat. But if you don’t care too much about the presentation of the oyster, you should get a knife with a bent tip.

Handle

Of course, the handle of the knife is always a crucial factor. You cannot maneuver the knife properly if the handle is slippery and you cannot hold it snugly in your hand. Therefore, the handle should be large enough to fit your hand and have a non-slip design or properties to make sure that it does not slip at all. Moreover, a protective blade guard should be present to keep your hands safe!

Let’s Wrap Up

Having an oyster knife is quite a reassuring thing, as it will give you the confidence to do any oyster-based recipes freely and gives you the benefit of practicing your hand skills as a kitchen chef.

I have featured five oyster knives here with different features and capacities. All of them really do live up to their names. One good example of this is the OXO Good Grips Oyster Knife. It is relatively inexpensive, but of premium quality. It has a durable and well-designed blade that is affixed tightly to its handle.

With this setup, the knife can easily force its way into the hinge of the oyster. Therefore, I would say that it is the best oyster knife of them all.

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But how about you? Which of these knives is best? Are there are any other oyster knives that I have missed out? Send your comments and give your answers in the box below!