[This essay was put together after Emerson's death from a number of commencement and similar addresses he had made. It appears in The Complete Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, edited by Edward Emerson].
Freshly shucked oysters can be immersed in water and placed in shallow, air-tight containers in the freezer. Freezer temperatures should be below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Oysters can be frozen for up to three months.
Upon thawing out they should be consumed within the day and not frozen again. Opened oysters held in a 1-4 degree Celsius environment will last safely for up to 5 days. Unopened oysters can easily last 7 â 10 days in a clean 1-4 degree Celsius environment. If oysters are gaping (which they do naturally) give them a firm tap and they should close up again and not stay sprung open. Important-if they do not close discard them.