Do oyster shells need prep work

Production methods from starch to sugars.

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Tōtōchtin
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Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by Tōtōchtin »

I was wondering if oyster shells need to be boiled or cleaned in any way. Or can I just bring them home from the beach and just wash them off?
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Tōtōchtin
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Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by Tōtōchtin »

What I was wondering really, do they need to be acid etched,or baked so the calcium is more accessible to the mash.
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NZChris
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Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by NZChris »

I don’t need them for every ferment, but when I do use them, I pour boiling water over them to kill any bacteria.
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Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by squigglefunk »

NZChris wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:19 am I don’t need them for every ferment, but when I do use them, I pour boiling water over them to kill any bacteria.
this is what I did with my shells and they worked fine, no weird clam infections.
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Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by Stonecutter »

I also boil mine. I’ve only used them for sugar wash where my end goal was something with little to no flavor and so I figure it’s just one more step I can take to keep those kinds of ferments “clean” or controlled.
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Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by squigglefunk »

Tōtōchtin wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 10:58 am What I was wondering really, do they need to be acid etched,or baked so the calcium is more accessible to the mash.
no
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Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by Stonecutter »

squigglefunk wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:52 am
no weird clam infections.
+1
I can’t imagine that would be good for any type of ferment.
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Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by zed255 »

I use crushed shell sold as a chicken supplement and have not done anything aside from a rinse in fresh water. No issues with an infection.
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Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by jonnys_spirit »

zed255 wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 2:43 pm I use crushed shell sold as a chicken supplement and have not done anything aside from a rinse in fresh water. No issues with an infection.
Same here. There's usually quite a bit of "dust" to be rinsed off and in my heart I always know deep down that it's really dried chicken shti... But oh well!

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Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by shadylane »

I use the crushed shells as is. The dust is the first to dissolve.
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Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by Deplorable »

jonnys_spirit wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 2:47 pm
zed255 wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 2:43 pm I use crushed shell sold as a chicken supplement and have not done anything aside from a rinse in fresh water. No issues with an infection.
Same here. There's usually quite a bit of "dust" to be rinsed off and in my heart I always know deep down that it's really dried chicken shti... But oh well!

Cheers,
j
Chicken sh*t is high in nitrogen.
Probably higher than DAP and people put that in their ferments.
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Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by lest1 »

i run them through the dishwasher a few times
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Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by Canuckwoods »

jonnys_spirit wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 2:47 pm
zed255 wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 2:43 pm I use crushed shell sold as a chicken supplement and have not done anything aside from a rinse in fresh water. No issues with an infection.
Same here. There's usually quite a bit of "dust" to be rinsed off and in my heart I always know deep down that it's really dried chicken shti... But oh well!

Cheers,
j
The chickens haven't seen them yet so it's not chicken shit it's just shell dust I toss it in as it's fast acting and the larger pieces work slower.
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Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by BoomTown »

I use, personally emptied, Bluestone oysters, after a brief boil and light scrubbing (no soap) to remove lingering proteins, I reuse them as often as they last, though they eventually disappear, like socks in the wash. Two shell halfs per fermenter. Never have had intruder bacteria result.
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Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by lest1 »

i use shells from Kilpatrick and run the through the dishwasher twice , pretty easy

gets rid of everything
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Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by Hoosier Shine9 »

We Shuck em, then we flour & fry.
make into a Po-Boy, dressed of course.

shells go in the sun for a little while

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Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Post by Salt Must Flow »

I've always used Crushed Oyster Shell straight out of the bag and never had any infections.
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