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The professionals make shucking oysters look easy. But it’s not so easy when you try to do it yourself.
The key to making it seem so effortless is having the practice, as well as the right oyster knife in your hands.
Trying to shuck oysters with the wrong kind of knife can complicate the process further. You even run the risk of causing yourself an injury if you use the wrong method or equipment.
Using the best oyster knife is the perfect solution. These are knives that have been specially designed with oyster shucking in mind.
Oyster knives allow you to successfully open the oysters and unlock the tasty treat inside. But with so many different types of oyster knives on the market, it can be difficult to know where to find the best oyster knife.
That’s where we come in! We’ve done all the research and hard work for you, so that you don’t have to.
We’ve researched and reviewed hundreds of products in our search for the best oyster knife.
Then we narrowed it down to the best oyster knives on the market so that you can find the product that best suits your needs.
OUR TOP PICK
The WENDOM oyster knife shucker set is the perfect product to get you started on your shellfish journey.
This particular set gives you everything you need for effective oyster shucking, including two high quality oyster knives, a set of cut resistant gloves, and a lemon squeezer.
All of these high quality products are included at a competitive price, making them a great pick for those on a budget.
What’s really great about the WENDOM oyster knives is that they feature a non-slip design.
The black plastic handle will be soft and comfortable in your grip. You will be able to keep a firm hold of the knife when you use it, and it won’t slip in your hand.
Great for giving you extra peace of mind while you’re working hard at shucking those oysters.
These oyster knives are strong and sturdy. They have been constructed with high quality stainless steel and are sharp. They won’t bend or break when you try to use them for oyster shucking.
This means you can efficiently open all of the oysters in your kitchen without any issues. Another great feature of stainless steel is that it comes with excellent rust resistance, so the knives will last you for many years to come.
The blade of the knife itself is thick, and only sharp where it needs to be. This makes it the perfect fit for those who are new to oyster shucking.
Pros
- Perfect for beginners - blade is thick and only sharp where it needs to be
- Oyster knife shucking set - comes with two high quality oyster knives, a set of cut resistant gloves, and a lemon squeezer
- Stainless steel - strong, sturdy, and rust resistant
Cons
- Gloves - may need to check the size of the gloves if your hands are on the larger side
For other oyster accessories, visit OXO!
EDITORS CHOICE
If you’re looking for the ultimate oyster shucking starter kit, then the HiCoup oyster shucking knife & glove set will be ideal.
This particular set gives you everything that you need to get started with shucking oysters: a high quality knife and cut resistant gloves.
This set ensures that you will be safe while using the sharp knife.
An interesting feature of this oyster knife is that it comes with a hand guard. This serves two purposes.
It works to give you better grip on the oyster knife. It will also protect your hand from the sharp blade should your grip slip while you’re shucking oysters.
The blade of this oyster shucking knife has been manufactured using high carbon stainless steel. This is naturally rust resistant, so the blade will be able to survive for many years to come.
The blade has been designed to be of a professional grade, so it will give you the strong, durable tool you need to efficiently shuck oysters.
The blade itself has been tapered so that it’s capable of shucking both small and large oysters.
Another great feature of the HiCoup oyster knife is that it’s held securely with a wooden handle. This handle features a slip resistant surface, so it won’t slide through your hands even when it’s wet.
Pros
- Oyster shucking set - includes a high quality knife and cut resistant gloves
- Hand guard - gives you added protection in the unlikely event that the knife slips in your grip
- High carbon steel - makes for a strong, sturdy blade
Cons
- Handle length - better suited for smaller hands
BEST VALUE
The OXO Good Grips stainless steel non-slip oyster knife is just the thing you need for shucking countless oysters in your kitchen.
This particular oyster knife comes with a sturdy, stainless steel blade which will be strong enough to open most oysters.
Stainless steel is also naturally rust resistant, so the blade will last you for many years to come.
Another great feature of this oyster knife is that it comes with a bent tip. This makes it easier to pry open your oyster shells. Great if you want to open the oyster shells easily and without taking too much time!
This particular oyster knife has been designed not to slip in your hands - even when it’s wet. The handle is soft and comfortable, making it more ergonomic than some competitive models.
The handle has also been designed so that it won’t spin in your hand. Great for giving you peace of mind!
You won’t have to worry about washing your oyster knife by hand, either. This oyster knife is dishwasher safe, making for easier cleaning.
Great if you want a kitchen tool that’s going to be easy to use and maintain!
Pros
- Bent tip - makes it easier to pry open oyster shells
- Non-slip design - knife won’t slip, slide, or turn in your grip, even when wet
- Dishwasher safe - easier to clean afterward
Cons
- Sharp - you will need to be careful when using the oyster knife
For other oyster accessories, visit OXO!
RUNNER UP
The Dexter-Russell New Haven style oyster knife will help you to make short work of your oysters.
This style of oyster knife has a bent tip to make prying oysters open even easier. A bent tip will be especially handy when tackling stubborn shellfish.
This will be the perfect pick if you want to open any small and medium oysters.
The handle of this oyster knife has been designed to be as ergonomic as possible. It gives you a comfortable, sure grip that won’t slip from your hand, even when it’s wet.
The handle has also been designed to be as sanitary as possible, with an impervious seal to prevent any unwanted bacteria from avoiding the detergent when cleaning.
This oyster knife will last you for many years to come. The blade has been crafted using a high carbon steel that is strong and sturdy.
The blade is also stain free, so you won’t have to worry about it becoming blemished over time.
Another great feature of this oyster knife is that it’s NSF certified.
This basically means that the manufacturer has met the strict standards set by NSF to ensure that it’s a quality product.
Pros
- Bent tip - makes it easy to pry open even the most stubborn oysters
- Comfortable - the handle has been designed to be as comfortable as possible and won’t slip in your hands
- NSF certified - ensures you’re buying a quality product
Cons
- Large oysters - the New Haven design isn’t the easiest for tackling larger oysters
RUNNER UP
The Victorinox New Haven oyster knife is the perfect addition to your kitchen knife collection.
This particular knife comes from a highly reputable brand which is notorious for crafting high quality knives.
This particular oyster knife has been made in Switzerland using high carbon steel. There are also other types of oyster knives available from the same manufacturer if you have a preferred oyster knife style.
This particular oyster knife will be the perfect complement to your kitchen. The knife is dishwasher safe, which makes for easier cleaning afterward.
The high carbon steel blade is sturdy, and won’t break, bend or snap while you’re shucking oysters.
The handle of the Victorinox New Haven oyster knife is ergonomic. It features a super grip design that makes the handle slip resistant, even when it’s wet.
Great for giving you better peace of mind each time you want to use the blade!
Another great feature of this particular oyster knife is its compact and sturdy design. This means it won’t take up much space in your knife drawer when it’s not in use.
The sturdy nature also means it will last you a lifetime. This oyster knife is perfect for both oyster shucking enthusiasts as well as beginners.
Pros
- High quality - manufactured by a reputable brand with high quality materials
- Dishwasher safe - makes for easier cleaning afterward
- Ergonomic - features a super grip slip resistant design for easier use
Cons
- Handle size - may not be the best for larger hands
For other oyster accessories, visit Walmart!
Best Oyster Knife Buying Guide
Searching for the best oyster knife can be a challenge. You can’t just use any old knife. It will have to be a knife that’s designed especially for shucking oysters.
If you use a long knife or another knife that’s not suitable, you can end up causing yourself injury. So how can you ensure that you’ve picked the right knife for shucking oysters?
Not to worry. We’ve put together a list of all the essential factors you’ll need to think about when it comes to buying the best oyster knife.
As long as your oyster knife has all of these points covered, you can rest assured that you’re buying the right products for your needs.
Take a look at everything you’ll need to know about oyster knives below, or skip ahead to the frequently asked questions.
Knife style
The most important decision you will have to make is what style of oyster knife you want to use. There are 5 main types: the small Frenchman, the Boston stabber, the New Haven, the Galveston, and the large Frenchman.
The small Frenchman features a smaller 2 inch blade. It’s been designed for use with the native European oyster, but will also work well with any type of small oyster.
The Boston stabber is an efficient knife that comes in 2 different sizes: 3 or 4 inches. This is one of the more versatile styles, as it’s capable of opening virtually any oyster. This style works best with medium sized oysters.
The New Haven is one of the more classic designs. This oyster knife features a bent tip that works to give you extra leverage for opening even the most stubborn of oysters. This style works best with small to medium sized oysters.
The Galveston features a sturdy 4 inch blade. This style of oyster knife is often preferred by those in commercial kitchens. This style works best with large Atlantic oysters and medium to large European oysters.
The large Frenchman is larger than its counterpart, and measures 2.5 inches long. It features a pointed tip to work away at the hinges of most oysters.
This style works best for European, Olympia, Kumamoto, and small Atlantic and Pacific oysters.
Handle
When you’re shucking stubborn oysters, you need to ensure that the knife will be firmly held in your grasp. You won’t want to accidentally slip and cut yourself.
You should also wear a pair of cut resistant gloves at the same time, of course, but the handle of your chosen oyster knife will be crucial.
You should look for an oyster knife that comes with an ergonomic handle.
This will be much more comfortable to hold over long periods of time. The handle should also feature slip resistant properties.
This will ensure that the handle stays firmly in place while you’re trying to shuck oysters, and won’t slip and cut you. A quality oyster knife will also be able to remain slip resistant even when the handle is wet.
Blade
You will want to choose a knife that will be sharp enough to sever the muscle holding the oyster shut. However, the whole of the blade doesn’t need to be sharp - just the tip that cuts away at the oyster.
Your chosen oyster knife will need to come with a blade that’s strong and sturdy enough to shuck countless oysters.
The stronger the blade, the less likely it will be to bend or snap when you use it. You may also wish to look for a knife that comes with a slightly bent tip to help give you more leverage when shucking stubborn oysters.
The oyster knife you choose will need to be long enough to deal with your preferred oysters. Not all oysters are the same size, so you may need to adjust the blade you use accordingly.
Larger oysters will need a larger blade. Smaller oysters will be better suited to a smaller blade.
You should double check what type of oyster is more readily available to you, and you can choose the more appropriate blade for shucking them.
Easy to clean
Another factor to consider is how easy the knife will be to clean after you’ve finished using it. The easier it is to clean, the better.
Some knives can only be hand washed. This is to ensure that they’re able to last you for many years to come. However, if you have a dishwasher, the last thing you’ll want to do is wash up a single knife in your sink.
If you tend to use a dishwasher for easier cleaning, you should look for an oyster knife that will be dishwasher safe. This will mean you can simply pop it in your dishwasher with the rest of your dirty dishes.
Durable
You will of course want to opt for an oyster knife that is strong and durable.
Take a look at the type of material used to construct the blade. You should opt for an oyster knife that’s been made from stainless steel or high carbon steel.
High carbon steel is a lot stronger than stainless steel. However, it can be more likely to rust over time because of the saltwater in oysters. Stainless steel is naturally rust resistant, making it a good choice for longevity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best oyster knife?
The best oyster knives are:
- WENDOM Oyster Knife Shucker Set
- HiCoup Oyster Shucking Knife & Glove Set
- OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Non-Slip Oyster Knife
- Dexter-Russell New Haven Style Oyster Knife
- Victorinox Oyster Knife
How do I choose an oyster knife?
There are many factors to consider when choosing an oyster knife.
You should choose which style of knife you want to use, what durable material the blade has been made from, how easy the knife is to clean afterward, and a knife that comes with an ergonomic non-slip handle.
As long as your chosen oyster knife has all of these factors covered, it will be perfect for use in your kitchen.
