Bad Fried Oysters?

[steinpilz]

I had a Po'boy at a local restaurant (microbrewery) and some of the fried oysters had ugly black stomach contents rather than the usual green.

This was very off-putting and I wonder if it meant that the oysters were bad, or old, or some other problem that I should know about.

Does anyone know what causes this, and also how often it occurs - as I don't look forward to having more fried oysters with this problem (haven't ever seen it in raw oysters thankfully)!!

[steinpilz]

You're sure you aren't joking about this, it was really gross......

[Veggo]

When I poach oysters for stuffing I then coarsely cut them up, and stomach contents are usually closer to black than green. I find this perfectly normal. I would guess that their habitat has someting to do with it, the same with clams and the veins in lobsters and shrimp.

[Bacardi1]

Same here - I find cooked shellfish innards black far more times than green, & the flavor has always been just fine.

[steinpilz]

Thanks Veggo and Bacardi1.

@castorpman

[knucklesandwich]

You've made several posts out of this issue without even mentioning how the oysters in question tasted. Isn't that important to you?

[steinpilz]

Didn't taste or smell bad at all, I was just distracted by the appearance. Eating them whole does seem to be the best solution.

@castorpman

[Veggo]

Eat fried oysters in one bite and you'll never know or care.

[steinpilz]

Good suggestion, I do really like them fried as well as raw. Thanks!

@castorpman

[jrvedivici]

Throw some cajon seasoning or cayenne pepper in the flower and mix up some chipotle mayo on the side! Oh yeah that's good eats!

[fourunder]

The black as you describe is normal for cooked oysters.

[jrvedivici]

Fourunder is as usual correct! Plus you can tell right away if an oyster is bad very little second guessing.

[Bacardi1]

Completely normal - you're freaking out for no good reason.

[steinpilz]

Thanks very much to all of you, I feel slightly better. :-)

@castorpman

[knucklesandwich]

How did it taste?

[steinpilz]

Didn't taste or smell "bad" but it looked terrible, like something out of a transmission!

@castorpman