[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.
Storage temperature for oysters should remain between 33-40 degrees. If these temperature requirements are met your oysters should stay good for 2 weeks. Store live oysters flat side up to keep them in their own liquor. Also, live oysters need to breathe. Never store them in airtight bags or containers.