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Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 9:22 am
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?
Tōtō

Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 10:58 am
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.

Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:19 am
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.

Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:52 am
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.

Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:52 am
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.

Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:53 am
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

Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:55 am
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.

Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 2:43 pm
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.

Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 2:47 pm
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!

Cheers,
j

Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 3:10 pm
by shadylane
I use the crushed shells as is. The dust is the first to dissolve.

Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 5:02 pm
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.
Lol

Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2023 2:37 am
by lest1
i run them through the dishwasher a few times

Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2023 3:09 am
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.

Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2023 3:14 am
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.

Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2023 12:17 am
by lest1
i use shells from Kilpatrick and run the through the dishwasher twice , pretty easy

gets rid of everything

Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2023 11:05 am
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

hs9

Re: Do oyster shells need prep work

Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2023 11:59 am
by Salt Must Flow
I've always used Crushed Oyster Shell straight out of the bag and never had any infections.