
OUR TOP PICK | EDITORS CHOICE | BEST VALUE |
CHECK LATEST PRICE | CHECK LATEST PRICE | CHECK LATEST PRICE |
If you’ve ever shucked an oyster with a true oyster knife, you’re well aware of the huge difference that makes. Not only does it make the job faster and easier, but it’s also much safer to use than a traditional knife. The best oyster knife will allow you to pry open any type of oyster in seconds, without breaking the shell or cutting yourself.Â
When choosing an oyster knife, it’s important to pay attention to the blade design, handle grip, and overall material strength. In this article, we’ll tell you about all the things you should look for when buying, and present the best oyster knives on the market so you can open every shell with ease.
Victorinox VN Fixed Blade Oyster Knife
- What Makes This Professional Oyster Knife Stand Out
- Ergonomic handle design fits comfortably in the hand
- Non-slip Supergrip handle for reliable and safe use
- NSF-approved materials (completely safe to use with food)
- Strong high-carbon steel blade opens oysters easily
Best For: Fast Shucking
Style: Galveston
Blade Length: 4 inches
Blade Material: High-Carbon Steel
Handle: Non-Slip Plastic
Weight: 3.2 ounces
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Wendom Oyster Knife
- What Makes This Professional Oyster Knife Stand Out
- Thick knife blade makes it excellent for beginners
- Two high-quality knives included in the package
- Stainless steel blade is sharp right out of the box
- Comes with cut-resistant gloves (level 5 protection)
- Slip resistant handle
Best For: Hand Protection
Style: Frenchman
Blade Length: 2.6 inches
Blade Material: 3CR13 Stainless Steel
Handle: Non-Slip Plastic with Hand Guard
Weight: 5.6 ounces
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Accessories: Cut-Resistant Gloves, Lemon Squeezer
OXO Oyster Knife
- What Makes This Professional Oyster Knife Stand Out
- Bent tip makes it very easy to pry oysters open
- Strong blade handles tough shells without bending
- Soft and comfortable handle with a non-slip pattern
- Safe for washing in a dishwasher (won’t rust)
Best For: Non-Slip Grip
Style: Boston
Length: 7 inches (Total)
Blade Material: Stainless Steel
Handle: Plastic
Weight: 1.58 ounces
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Rockland Guard Oyster Knife
- What Makes This Professional Oyster Knife Stand Out
- 420 high-carbon steel blade penetrates any type of shell
- Easy-grip handle doesn’t slip and sits incredibly well in the hand
- Cut-resistant gloves with level 5 protection (4 sizes available)
- Lifetime warranty coverage if you have any problems with the knife
Best For: Tough Shells
Style: Boston
Blade Length: 3.5 inches
Blade Material: 420 High-Carbon Steel
Handle: Plastic
Weight: 6.4 ounces
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Accessories: Cut-Resistant Gloves
Dexter-Russell New Haven Style Oyster Knife
- What Makes This Professional Oyster Knife Stand Out
- New haven style blade with a bent tip for easy opening
- Sani-safe series handle for a secure and comfortable grip
- Dexsteel blade for durability and complete corrosion-resistance
- Available in multi-packs if you need several knives for a better price
Best For: Small Oysters
Style: New Haven
Blade Length: 2.75 inches
Blade Material: High-Carbon Dexsteel
Handle: Sani-Safe Plastic
Weight: 2.72 ounces
Dishwasher Safe: No
Zyliss Oyster Knife
- What Makes This Professional Oyster Knife Stand Out
- Silicone pocket makes holding the oyster safer and easier
- Built-in knife holder in the pocket for safer knife storage
- Curved stainless steel blade opens oysters in seconds
- 5-year warranty coverage on any defects or problems
- Slip resistant handle
Best For: Comfortable Shucking
Style: Special
Blade Material: Stainless Steel
Handle: Plastic
Weight: 9.1 ounces (With Pocket)
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Accessories: Oyster Pocket, Knife Holder
Mercer Culinary Boston Style Oyster Knife
- What Makes This Professional Oyster Knife Stand Out
- Rounded blade tip reduces the chance of cuts and accidents
- Textured poly handle gives a good grip even when wet
- NSF-approved materials (safe for use around food)
- Limited lifetime warranty coverage
Best For: Blade Durability
Style: Boston
Blade Length: 3 inches
Blade Material: High-Carbon Stainless Steel
Handle: Polyethylene
Weight: 1.58 ounces
Dishwasher Safe: No
Speensun Premium Quality Oyster Knife
- What Makes This Professional Oyster Knife Stand Out
- Hand guard prevents the hand from slipping on the blade
- 3CR14 stainless steel blade doesn’t rust or break
- Long wooden handle sits perfectly in the hand
- Leather case included for safe storage and carrying
Best For: Any Oyster Size
Style: Frenchman
Blade Length: 2.56 inches
Blade Material: 3CR14 Stainless Steel
Handle: Wood
Weight: 6.3 ounces
Dishwasher Safe: No
Accessories: Leather Case, Cut-Resistant Gloves
Winco Oyster Knife
- What Makes This Professional Oyster Knife Stand Out
- Available in large budget-friendly packages (6 or 12 knives)
- Hand guard prevents the hand from slipping on the blade
- Thick 2-millimeter blade opens even the toughest oysters
- One of the lightest oyster knives on the market
Best For: Restaurants (6 and 12-packs available)
Style: Generic
Blade Length: 2.75 inches
Blade Material: Stainless Steel
Handle: Wood
Weight: 0.48 ounces
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
How To Choose The Best Oyster Knife – Buying Guide
Blade
The blade is certainly the most important part of an oyster knife, as it determines how quickly you can pry an oyster open. Since oyster knives are designed solely for shucking oysters, sharpness isn’t their main focus point. However, they need to be strong, durable, and preferably have a bent tip that will facilitate opening tough shells.
Handle
After the blade itself, the handle is the second most important part of an oyster shucking tool. A good handle provides a firm and secure grip, which allows you to apply more force without injuring yourself.
The most common materials used for handles are rubber, wood, and plastic. Regardless of the material, the handle on all types of oyster knives shouldn’t slip in your hand even when it’s wet. On top of this, an ergonomic shape will make the grip even firmer. If you’re new to oyster shucking, we recommend a handle that is extra-large and well-contoured.
Knife Guard
It’s a big plus if an oyster knife comes with a hand (knife) guard. If you’re not sure what this is, it’s a horizontal piece of metal located just above the handle and below the blade.
Its main purpose is to prevent your hand from slipping onto the blade when force is applied. Accidents can happen in a blink of an eye, so we feel that all the best oyster shucking knives should have this feature.
Versatility
Considering there are a lot of different types of oysters, it makes sense that not every knife works equally well with every type. If you’re only going to be working with one type of oysters, you should get a highly-specialized knife. On the other hand, a French oyster knife or a Boston oyster knife offers a high level of versatility for various types of oysters.
Safety
Even though oyster knives are relatively blunt, you can still get injured. Besides using the hand guard we’ve mentioned, you can reduce the risk of injury by wearing cut-resistant gloves. Luckily, these are provided with several knife models that we’ve featured.
Efficiency
Regardless of the model you choose, an oyster opener should be able to easily pry open the shell without applying too much force. It’s a bad thing if the knife crushes the shell or punctures the meat, so make sure to always use a specialized knife and familiarize yourself with it.
Materials And Maintenance
Since oysters are saltwater organisms, it’s perfectly normal that they have a certain amount of salt inside. However, this can damage regular knife blades and cause corrosion. We advise that you always use stainless steel blades and rinse them with fresh water after use to prevent damage.
FAQs
Q: What Is an Oyster Knife used for?
As its name suggests, an oyster knife is used for shucking oysters (opening oyster shells). A well-made oyster knife should have two main things: a balanced handle and a durable, sturdy blade with enough strength to open the shell.
Q: How Do You Open An Oyster With An Oyster Knife?
Two methods can be used to pry open oyster shells – side entry (cut the abductor muscle) and hinge entry (pry open the hinge). Both methods will open the oyster easily, but you’ll need some practice until you master the moves. In addition, always make sure that the shells are properly cleaned before shucking to avoid any contamination.
Q: Should An Oyster Knife Be Sharp?
No, it doesn’t have to be. In most cases, the blade is dull while only the tip is sharpened to a degree. The reason for this is because the knife is used for prying rather than cutting, so a sharp blade isn’t really necessary.
Q: What Kind Of Knife Do You Use To Open Oysters?
It’s best that you use a specialized oyster knife. While there are several different styles of this knife available, the things that most of them have in common are a thick blade and a bent tip to pop the shell when you apply pressure.
Q: What Is The Difference Between An Oyster Knife And A Clam Knife?
An oyster knife is thicker and shorter, with a tip that is designed to pop the hinge on an oyster and pry it open. On the other hand, a clam knife is much thinner and has a flat blade that resembles a traditional knife.
Q: Can You Shuck Oysters With A Regular Knife?
While you can do this, it’s not recommended. A regular kitchen knife might get damaged, break the shell, or puncture the meat and spill the juice. If you want an alternative to an oyster knife, we suggest you use a flat-head screwdriver.
Globo Surf Overview
Shucking fresh oysters and eating them on the spot can be a real delicacy. To make the experience complete, be sure to have the best oyster knife ready so you can open them quickly and with ease. We hope that our selection helped you pick a knife that you like, so you can enjoy your favorite food whenever you want.
More Fishing Reviews:
- Spinning Rod
- Bass Fishing Rod
- Monofilament Line
- Fishing Shoes
- Fly Fishing Reels
- Surf Fishing Rod
- Hooks For Catfish
- Telescopic Fishing Rod
- Surf Fishing Reel
- Fishing Hat