FAQ's | Raw Dog Shellfish

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I store my oysters?

Store your oysters in the fridge. Fresh live oysters should be kept cold and away from standing fresh water.
Do NOT store them in freshwater or in an airtight container.
For best results, lay the oysters on a tray or baking sheet with the larger curved side down. Cover the oysters with a damp paper towel or damp cloth.

How long will my oysters last?

Oysters are best consumed within a few days of receiving them. However, as long as the oysters are still alive and have been properly refrigerated, they can be eaten.
- Live oysters have shells that are closed completely, or close when handled or tapped with a knife. Discard any oysters with open shells.

How do I shuck an oyster?

You can follow along with this video from the BBC.

Wrap the oyster in a kitchen towel holding it firmly with the cupside down and the hinge end exposed.
Push the tip of a shucking knife at a downward angle into the base of the hinge where the two shells are attached. You may need to wiggle it to get it wedged between the shells.
- (The knife can slip easily, so be careful and don’t point it towards yourself!)
Once the knife is inside the shell, twist it to pry open the shell.
Slide the knife along the inside of the top shell to slice the oyster's adductor where it attaches to the top shell. Remove the top shell.
Slide the knife under the oyster to sever the muscle from the bottom cupped shell.

What should I do with the shells?

It is important to recycle oyster shells. Recycled oyster shells are used to build new reefs where baby oysters can settle and grow helping to restore natural reefs and the many benefits they provide. The NC Coastal Federation provides several Oyster Shell Recycling Sites in New Hanover and Brunswick counties:
- Seawater Lane (next to the UNCW Aquaculture Lab), Wrightsville Beach
- Bridge Barrier Road, Carolina Beach State Park
- New Hanover County Landfill
- Leland: 9921 Chappell Loop Rd SE, Leland, NC 28451 - Look for bins labeled “ Recycle for Reefs.”

Can I eat oysters in the summer, in a month without ‘r’?

Yes! At least farm-raised oysters.
There is a common myth that you can only eat oysters in months that contain the letter “r”. Wild oysters are only good to eat from October-March. However, farm raised can be harvested and eaten all year long. Many farm raised oysters are bred to be sterile and don’t reproduce in the summer, meaning they stay fat and delicious all year long. Strict sanitation measures from the NC Department of Environmental Quality on harvest, handling, and refrigeration ensure that farmed oysters are safe to enjoy all year round.

Are farmed and wild oysters different?

Farmed and wild oysters are the same species, Crassostrea virginica, the eastern oyster. Wild oysters grow in reefs in the muddy bottom, where they cluster and attach together and may grow into strange shapes based on the spot they are wedged into. Farmed oysters remain individual, and can be grown in the water column using specialized gear. Farmers tumble their oysters, breaking off new shell growth, so the oysters put energy into forming a deep cup, high quality meat, and a strong shell instead of growing longer and weaker. These oysters are easier to shuck and hold all their juicy goodness inside. Most farmed oysters don’t reproduce in the summer, continuing to invest in growth and energy storage instead of making sperm and eggs, so they are good to eat year round. Wild oyster populations have dropped drastically, with NC populations at ⅕ of their historical highs. Since wild oyster reefs are critical for local ecosystems, choosing farmed oysters is not only a delicious choice but an environmentally sustainable one!

Subscriptions

How do oyster subscriptions work?

When you subscribe, we’ll deliver oysters to you on a repeating monthly or bi-weekly schedule you set. You’ll get reminder emails one week and one day before each delivery. You can choose Home Delivery, or Pick Up from one of our partner sites.

How does billing for subscriptions work?

You are automatically billed for your first delivery or pick-up (whichever you signed up for) upon signup. Billing will then be paused until your 2nd delivery or pick-up, after which your account will be charged on the day of each subsequent delivery or pick-up. Your subscription is auto-renewed after 3 deliveries until you submit an order to cancel.

Can I pause my subscription?

Yes, you may pause for up to 1 month at any time. To do so, log into your account page and click the “Manage My Subscription” button at the top of the page. You will be directed to your subscription management page. Scroll down to the section entitled “Pause or Reactivate My Subscription” and complete and submit the form in that section. You will receive an email confirming your subscription pause order within 24 hours.

Can I cancel my subscription?

Yes, but you must complete 3 orders before cancellations take effect. If you cancel your subscription prior to receiving your third delivery or pick-up, your cancellation will take effect after you receive your third delivery or pick-up.
To cancel, log into your account page and click the “Manage My Subscription” button at the top of the page. You will be directed to your subscription management page. Scroll down to the section entitled “Cancel My Subscription” and complete and submit the form in that section. You will receive an email confirming your subscription cancellation order within 24 hours.

What happens if oysters are not available for my subscription delivery or pick-up?

If there’s a shellfish harvest closure, extreme weather, or another issue, we may need to cancel your delivery. If that happens, we’ll notify you at least 24 hours in advance and pause your subscription until your next scheduled delivery.

Delivery

Do I have to be at home when my oysters are delivered?

Nope! We use sustainable insulated packaging that will keep your oysters at refrigerator temperatures for at least 12 hours. Subscriptions come in re-useable personal coolers that we'll swap out with each subscription delivery, and one-time orders come in single use cooler boxes with a recyclable outer box and compostable insulation.

Do I have to return the reusable cooler my subscription came in?

Yes. Coolers must be returned at your next delivery unless you've made other arrangements with us.
- Please put your last week/month’s cooler (and ice packs) out at the door on the morning of your delivery so we can retrieve it when we drop your next delivery.
For paused or canceled subscriptions, please email us within 5 days of pausing or cancelling to arrange cooler returns.

What happens if I don’t return the reusable cooler I got with my subscription?

If a cooler isn’t returned on time, there’s a non-refundable $5 late fee and a refundable $25 charge for the cooler. You’ll get the $25 back when you return it.

Can I cancel a one-time oyster delivery?

Unfortunately, one-time orders can’t be canceled. However, if there’s a recall or issue with the order, you may be eligible for a refund—just email us.

What do I do with the packaging from a one-time delivery?

One-time delivery orders come in a cardboard cooler box with an insulating liner. The cardboard is recyclable and the insulated liner is compostable. Ice packs can be thrown away or reused.

Pick-Up

How does pick-up work?

You’ll pick up your oysters at one of our partner locations during the designated time window you choose when ordering. For Pick-Up at our partner host sites, the day before your pickup you will receive a reminder email the day before your pickup. Your reminder email will have details about your pick up site.
Grab a beer to-go or some delicious prepared foods from our awesome partners to pair with your oysters. Our current pickup locations and windows are:
- Wednesday's 4-7 pm at Leland Brewing on Ale Road in Leland
- Thursday's 4-7 pm at Veggie Wagon Masonboro on Masonboro Loop Road in Wilmington
- Every other Friday 4:30-6:30 pm at 8207 NOMA on Market Street in Porter's Neck

What happens if I miss my pickup window?

If you miss your pickup email us as soon as possible and we will do our best to arrange a new pickup time, but we can’t guarantee it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Subscriptions

How do oyster subscriptions work?

How does billing for subscriptions work?

Can I pause my subscription?

Can I cancel my subscription?

​What happens if oysters are not available for my subscription delivery or pick-up?

Delivery

Do I have to return the reusable cooler my subscription came in?

What happens if I don’t return the reusable cooler I got with my subscription?

Can I cancel a one-time oyster delivery?

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What do I do with the packaging from a one-time delivery?

Pick-Up​

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How does pick-up work?

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What happens if I miss my pickup window?

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What happens if oysters are not available for my subscription delivery or pick-up?

Pick-Up