# Why raw oysters miss best flavor, chef says

> Celebrity chef explains why raw oysters often lack best flavor.
- Title: Why raw oysters miss best flavor, chef says · Fox News
- Summary: Celebrity chef explains why raw oysters often lack best flavor. Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern says oysters' flavor depends on where they're harvested, not…
- Keywords: andrew zimmern, oysters, flavor, raw oysters, cooking, west coast oysters, east coast oysters, news, politics, raw, miss, best
- Source: Fox News — https://foxnews.com/food-drink/why-eating-oysters-raw-may-mean-missing-out-best-flavor-celebrity-chef-says
- Author: Peter Burke
- Published: 2026-10-17T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: andrew zimmern, oysters, flavor, raw oysters, cooking, west coast oysters, east coast oysters, news, politics
## Oyster flavor depends on location
Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern says oysters taste of place based on water conditions and geography.

> Oysters really taste of place
## Oysters vary dramatically by location
Oysters harvested just a few hundred yards apart can taste very different: one sweet, one saline.

> One's very sweet, one's very saline
## Zimmern prefers coppery oysters
He likes oysters that taste like pennies and celery with enough salinity to carry the oyster.

> I like oysters that are coppery, taste like a cross between pennies and celery and have enough salinity to sort of carry the oyster
## West Coast oysters favored
Zimmern prefers West Coast oysters but notes East Coast growers are matching their flavor profiles.

> He's particularly fond of West Coast oysters
## Cooked oysters preferred
Zimmern says raw oysters are unremarkable but grilled, fried, or baked versions are better.

> I love cooked oysters
## Key takeaway

Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern says oysters' flavor depends on where they're harvested, not how they're cooked.