7 Things to Know about Oysters in time for the Murrells Inlet Oyster Roast

The cooler fall months traditionally usher in the oyster season and we are here for it. Particularly given the upcoming 18th Murrells Inlet Oyster Roast on Nov. 12. The event has become as much a staple on the Hammock Coast as oyster dressing on the Thanksgiving table.

Visitors and locals alike enjoy the scenery, camaraderie, and those bushels of oysters. Admission is free, but a ticket is required for the all-you-can-eat steamed oysters. Check back for this year’s cost, but last year it was $45. Don’t like oysters? Don’t worry. There will be plenty of other food and drinks!

 

It was blue skies and a sold-out event in 2021, so make your plans now for the 2022 Oyster Roast. All the fun takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Wicked Tuna at the MarshWalk on U.S. 17 Business in Murrells Inlet.

 

The proceeds from the event benefit Murrells Inlet 2020, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the natural environment. Some projects include construction and funding for a four-mile Intracoastal Multi-purpose Path, working to keep public access to the marsh, erecting user-friendly signs, partnering with local schools to teach water quality, and conducting litter clean-ups. And that’s just to name a few of its projects.  

To get you ready for the Oyster Roast, here are some fun facts about these shellfish:

 

  1. The shape of oysters varies and depends mainly on how crowded it is in the bed where they develop. Once it attaches to a bed, it grows and forms around the surface and the other oysters around it. 

  2. An oyster can filter 1.3 gallons of water per hour. They maintain the balance of a marine ecosystem by reducing excess algae and sediment. This is one reason healthy oyster populations are so important. 

  3. Oysters change their gender. They start as males and usually end up as females.

  4. The cultivating and eating of oysters dates back thousands of years to prehistoric times. Native Americans who lived on the South Carolina sea islands ate a ton of oysters as evidenced by the massive mounds of shucked shells left behind. 

  5. Oysters are rich in vitamins and nutrients. They contain zinc, calcium magnesium, protein, selenium, iron, and Vitamins A and B12. 

  6. Oysters can be described by their flavors, much like wine. Buttery, sweet, metallic, mild, and briny are a few words used. Our local oysters tend to be salty and earthy, but it varies depending on where they are grown. 

  7. South Carolina’s oysters are Crassostrea virginica, or the Eastern Oyster.  

 

Make plans now for a stay during the Murrells Inlet Oyster Roast, or just come whenever you get the craving for fresh oysters.