5 Best Oyster Shucking Gloves Of 2023
Shucking oysters is not an easy task. If you want to enjoy restaurant-quality fresh oysters at home, you need to master the art of shucking them.
Luckily, there are many tools that can make things easier, including cut-resistant oyster shucking gloves.
What are the best oyster shucking gloves? The best oysters shucking gloves are the ones that provide the highest level of protection for your hands. Aside from being cut-resistant, oyster shucking gloves should also be comfortable, easy to clean, have a good grip, and come in multiple sizes.
In this article, you will not only learn about the importance of oyster shucking gloves and how to choose a pair but also find five of the best oyster shucking gloves out there.
Do You Need Oyster Shucking Gloves?
If you have ever come across a stubborn oyster, you know that neither a sharper knife nor more pressure applied to it can help the situation.
The only way to open the oysters without damaging the meat inside or the shell is to have a good grip on the oyster. You also need to be careful not to cut yourself. This is when oyster shucking gloves come in handy.
There are three reasons why you absolutely need oyster shucking gloves.
First off, oyster knives are sharp. You need to use a very sharp shucking knife to be able to remove the top shell and reveal the beautiful meat.
But using a sharp knife also puts your fingers at risk, especially if you are not a pro and haven’t been shucking oysters for years. Even then, protecting your hands is important.
Secondly, you need a good grip on the oysters. To successfully pull the top shell off while leaving the meat undamaged you need to hold the oyster firmly.
Some people use a kitchen towel for this purpose. But a glove is certainly way more convenient and secure.
And lastly, oyster shells are sharp too. It is not only the knife that can cut your fingers. While trying to get a good grip on the oyster and shuck it, the razor-sharp shells can give you deep cuts.
How to Choose Oyster Shucking Gloves?
If you have decided to buy a pair of oyster shucking gloves to make it easier and safer to shuck oysters, here are a few things to consider.
Protection Level
When buying oyster shucking gloves, the primary criterion to take into account is the protection level of the gloves. It is best to buy Level 5 gloves with the highest protection.
Different manufactures may test the cut resistance of the gloves with different tests and methods. Make sure the gloves are certified to be cut-resistant. Reading the reviews and learning about the uses would be helpful too.
Material
Oyster shucking gloves can be made of different materials, including polyethylene, rubber, and stainless steel. The cut-resistance, grip, and comfort of the gloves largely depend on the material they are made of.
If you are new to oyster shucking, you can pick gloves made of stainless steel and chainmail. If you are after comfort, form-sitting polyethylene or cloth gloves are the best. For better grip, rubber gloves are a good pick.
Size
One-size-fits-all is not a good option for oyster shucking gloves. You need to have control over the oyster to be able to place the knife precisely and remove the top shell.
One-size gloves are on the bigger side to fit most hands. Thus, they probably won’t provide those with average to small hands with a good fit.
See what sizes the manufacturer offers and buy a pair only after measuring your palm.
Cleaning
You need to keep your oyster shucking gloves clean. Some gloves can be washed in the washing machine while others need to be hand-washed.
If you want machine washable gloves, look into the rubber, polyethylene, and cloth gloves. Some stainless steel gloves can also be washed in the machine.
Whatever material your gloves are made of, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to clean them. This is key to making your gloves last long.
5 Best Oyster Shucking Gloves
We have picked five pairs of oyster shucking gloves that will provide the highest level of protection and comfort for your hands while you undertake the uneasy task of opening oysters.
| Rank | Product | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | G & F Products Cut Resistant Gloves | Anti-slip silicone palm coating |
| 2. | NoCry Cut Resistant Protective Work Gloves | Rubber grip dots |
| 3. | Glove Station Cut Resistant Gloves | Form-fitting fabric |
| 4. | YINENN Cut Resistant Gloves | Six sizes (XXS – XL) |
| 5. | Rockland Guard Oyster Shucking Set | Comes with oyster knife |
Let’s look at each one more closely, shall we?
1. G & F Products Cut Resistant Gloves
Key Features:
- Material: Fiber, silicone
- Protection: Level 5
- Sizing: M–XL
G & F Products cut-resistant gloves are a great pick if you do a lot of hazardous tasks around the house, including shucking oysters.
These gloves are not only made of 100% cut-resistant materials but also have anti-slip silicone blocks on the palm and fingers. These will provide you with a nice grip on the oyster shells. Moreover, these gloves are heat-resistant too.
The G & F products protective gloves are made of food-grade materials. You can use them safely for unlimited cooking tasks, oyster shucking, cutting, slicing, etc. And even if you break a glass or two, your hands will be protected from scratches and cuts.
These protective gloves also fit nicely and can be safely washed in the machine, making them even more user-friendly.
2. NoCry Cut Resistant Protective Work Gloves
Key Features:
- Material: Stainless steel, polyethylene, glass fiber, spandex
- Protection: Level 5
- Sizing: S–L
The NoCry cut-resistant gloves might be the most innovative pair of protective gloves you can buy. Being made of a blend of stainless steel, polyethylene, glass fiber, and spandex, these gloves not only have the highest level of durability but are also very comfortable to wear.
You can use these gloves for shucking oysters and handling tasks that include dealing with sharp objects and blades.
The silicone dots make it easy to grip the slippery oysters and hold them firmly while you are trying to snap the top shell off.
These gloves come in three sizes. Measure your palm to find the best fitting pair for you and you can work both comfortably and safely.
NoCry protective work gloves can be washed in the washing machine with cool water and a small amount of detergent. Let the gloves drip dry to maintain them in good condition.
3. Glove Station Cut Resistant Gloves
Key Features:
- Material: Knitted glass fabric, nylon, spandex
- Protection: Level 5
- Sizing: S–XL
If you have always struggled with finding comfortable protection gloves, then the Glove Station cut-resistant gloves are something you should definitely give a try. Due to their unique composition, these gloves are form-fitting and won’t cause any inconvenience while you are wearing them.
One of the best features of these gloves that anyone using smartphones and tablets while working will appreciate is the conductive threading on the index finger and thumb tips. These gloves are also machine washable.
Coming in four sizes, everyone can find a fitting pair of these Glove Station ultra-durable gloves.
These gloves are not puncture-resistant. However, due to their well-fitting design and cut-resistant materials your hands will be safely protected while shucking oysters.
4. YINENN Cut Resistant Gloves
Key Features:
- Material: Nylon
- Protection: Level 5
- Sizing: XXS – XL
If you need a comfortable pair of cut-resistant gloves for oyster shucking, YINENN protective gloves are definitely worth a try.
You get two pairs in a pack at a very affordable price. But the quality is there two. Made of nylon material, these gloves will fit your hands perfectly, promoting dexterity and easy movement.
With these gloves, you will also have a good grip on the oysters. This is one of the main factors that reduce the risk of getting injured with the shucking knife.
The flexibility of these gloves isn’t affected even after washing them in the machine. You can wash them as you do your kitchen towels.
5. Rockland Guard Oyster Shucking Set
Key Features:
- Material: Polyethylene, glass fiber, spandex
- Protection: Level 5
- Sizing: S – XL
There is certainly a learning curve in shucking oysters but if you have a good shucking knife and cut-resistant gloves, you will eventually succeed.
If you have decided to start cleaning your oysters yourself and enjoy them raw and fresh at home, you might need a good set of protective gloves and an oyster shucking knife.
This is exactly what Rockland Guard offers. The gloves are made of superior quality cut-resistant materials.
These gloves have a snug fit and provide a good grip on whatever product you are working with, be it an oyster, fish fillet, or vegetables. Keeping these gloves clean is easy as they are machine washable.
The shucking knife that comes in this set has a non-slip ergonomic handle and a stainless steel sharp blade.
