Enjoy Oysters Safely
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When you think about Florida, you probably think about a lot of things: oranges, Disney World, alligators, great football, white sand beaches, and abundant fresh seafood. We have all of these things in excess. When you are surrounded by water almost completely you might expect that access to wonderful, fresh caught seafood is easy to obtain – and you would be correct. Me, I like the Grouper that is so popular in the Tampa Bay area. Also, I like Gulf oysters when then they are in season. Sometimes I will be in a restaurant and it seems that when I look around I see a platter of ice-chilled oysters on the half shell on every table. The spritzing of lemon slices perfumes the air. It’s a truly unique experience.
Oysters are one of those foods you need to make sure you eat in season. It is not just because they are more readily available or taste better if eaten in season; it is actually a safety and health issue. Eating any raw shellfish comes with its own set of risks, but oysters are really quite safe if eaten at the correct time of year. Personally, I actually prefer to eat oysters cooked. I think the flavor improves and mellows. Plus, I do worry a little about the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, even though I am not actually in the high risk group.
Do yourself a favor; check out the Be Oyster Aware website to learn more about enjoying oysters, without the risk.
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