oysters
Ondine produces Pacific oysters, also referred to as Japanese, or Miyagi, oysters. Our oysters are flash-frozen once they’re processed to preserve them at their very best, and to ensure a shelf-stable product. We sell them in several different sizes - here’s what you need to know.
Interested in a wholesale order? Contact us about pricing and supply!
(Currently only accepting wholesale purchases)
cocktail oysters
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These oysters are 2” - 2.5”. You’ll find these oysters the most common option in restaurants.
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You can best enjoy this oyster raw after thawing.
Try topping with lemon, hot sauce, or Mignonette Sauce!
extra small oysters
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These oysters are 2.5” - 3”, delicate and easy to consume.
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These oysters have a bit more meat - the perfect size for grilling on a barbecue.
Try topping them with butter, garlic, cilantro, or a hard cheese like asiago or gruyere. Pairing with chips or a crisp baguette to soak up the sauce is also recommended!
small oysters
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These oysters are 3” - 3.5”. They offer a juicy mouthful of meat, the perfect size for holding your choice of topping.
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These meaty oysters are delicious baked in the half shell simply dressed or loaded with toppings..
Try topping them with butter and herbs, cheeses, spiced up with chillies or a light sauce.
why choose frozen:
We’ve chosen to flash-freeze our oysters for several reasons - here’s why!
reduce food waste
We’re committed to creating a positive environmental impact on our sustainable ocean farm, and we want those values to extend through to our customers.
Our product is shelf stable, as long as the oysters are kept frozen. A longer shelf life means less waste in the market and a more secure supply!
allows us to harvest at the safest time of year
We've preserved them at their very best so you can enjoy them safely at any time.
no shucking issues
The abductor muscle is no longer holding the shell closed, so the oyster is more easily shucked. This is beneficial and efficient for serving staff - and more approachable for home chefs!
product handling 101
Handling frozen oysters is simple and efficient - here are some tips for safely thawing and preparing our product:
fresh
They can be thawed easily by leaving them in the fridge on a sheet pan spread out on a single layer - or in a reusable container. Defrosting can take up to 18 hours. Do not thaw your oysters at room temperature or in water - this could encourage bacterial growth. After they’ve thawed, you can enjoy your fresh oysters right away. Thawed oysters are consumable for 2-3 days if kept refrigerated.
baked or grilled
You can dress up your oyster experience by baking or grilling them. Carefully shuck the frozen oyster and add sauce, cheese or whatever seasoning you’d like. Preheat your oven to 450o F, place the frozen oysters on a pan and cook for 8-12 minutes.
frequently asked questions
faq’s
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Fresh
Our oysters are flash frozen to preserve them in transport, ensuring you receive the best quality and taste.
Handling
Since our product is flash-frozen, here is how to thaw oysters safely:
Lay oysters on a baking sheet, or in a reusable plastic container, in a single layer.
Place your tray or container into the fridge and let them thaw overnight - this can take up to 18 hours for oysters to fully defrost.
Do not thaw your oysters at room temperature or in water - this could encourage bacterial growth. After they’ve thawed, you can enjoy your fresh oysters right away. Thawed oysters are consumable for 2-3 days if kept refrigerated.
If you’re concerned about contamination our suggestion is to bake or grill your oysters. Cooking oysters properly will kill any potential bacteria or norovirus.
Baked or Grilled
You can dress up your oyster experience by baking or grilling them!
Carefully shuck the frozen oyster and add sauce, cheese or whatever seasoning you’d like.
We recommend baking them at 425°F for 8-10 minutes. There’s also no need to fully thaw the oysters if you’re planning to bake them! Remove the oysters from the freezer and carefully shuck the shell open.
BCCDC recommends cooking to an internal temperature of 90°C for at least 90 seconds
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During the spring when water temperatures rise, we address the concern of Norovirus, Vibrio and E. Coli in shellfish with close environmental testing and third party monitoring. We want consumers to be informed and practice safe handling, so you can enjoy without worry!
Temperature Control/Environmental Monitoring
When harvesting, we pay close attention to temperature control - both on the farm and while the product is in transit to our testing and processing facilities. We monitor the farm environment closely during harvest season, recording temperatures of the air, sea surface and the depth at which the oysters are held.
On the farm, we record the air temperature, measure sea surface temperature, and the temperature at the depth oysters were held at. If the water temperature is above 15°C, we’ll chill the oysters within an hour of harvest, but if the temperature is less than 15°C, we’ll chill them within 4 hours of harvest, layered on top of burlap sacks with ice.
In transit to testing and processing the oysters are kept below 10°C in a temperature controlled truck.
These precautions prevent bacteria or other contaminants from surviving or reproducing.
Third Party Testing
We send samples of our oysters to accredited third party testing facilities. Test results typically remain valid for one month. Once we have results back we hold our oysters below 10°C and maintain our frequent environmental monitoring.
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We place our oyster spat in the water in July - then begin our harvest in October. Market size is usually achieved in 18 months - but an unharvested Pacific oyster can live for up to 30 years!
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Cocktail
Cocktail oysters are a great size for consuming raw. This is the most common size of oyster you’ll find at restaurants, served in a half shell.
Extra-Small
Extra-small oysters contain more meat and are great for grilling and dressing up with toppings.
Small
Small oysters are grown to 3”-3.5” and are full of juicy meat, great for baking or adding to pastas and seafood dishes.
point of sale
skipper otto
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Skipper Otto is a community supported fishery (CSF), providing fair-trade sustainable seafood from BC to the rest of Canada. They connect fishing families directly to consumers by offering a fantastic selection of product, easy ordering and a long list of accessible pick-up locations.
andtabaka farm
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The Andtabaka Farm in Powell River now carries our frozen oysters at their store - The Farmers Gate. They grow and produce a wide range of healthful vegetables, meat, poultry, eggs, canned goods and baking - we’re excited to add locally grown shellfish to their list of offerings.