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Oysters

Fish & seafood · Molluscs

Oysters

Briny bivalves eaten raw on the half shell or cooked in stews, fritters and omelettes.

Also called: oyster, fresh oysters, shucked oysters, pacific oysters, o-a, hau

Around the world: 蚵仔, 牡蠣, 蚝 (zh)

A kind of shellfish

1 recipe with it

Photo: David Monniaux, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

What it is

Oysters are bivalve molluscs with rough, irregular shells. The plump, grey-cream meat sits in its own briny liquor. Flavour depends heavily on the water they grow in. Pacific (rock) oysters are the most common; native flat oysters are rounder and stronger. They are sold live in the shell or shucked.

Magallana gigas (Pacific oyster)

How it’s used

  • Raw on the half shell with lemon or mignonette
  • Taiwanese and Hokkien oyster omelette
  • Oyster stew and chowder
  • Fried or grilled oysters
  • Thai and Vietnamese raw oyster dishes

Characteristics

Taste
Briny, sweet and mineral.
Texture
Soft and slippery raw; firmer when cooked.
When cooked
Cook only until the edges curl, about a minute; longer and they turn rubbery.
Sold as
fresh, frozen, canned, smoked
Cooking uses
Usually eaten raw, Commonly cooked, Suitable for frying

Storage

Refrigerated. Keep live oysters cup-side down in the fridge under a damp cloth and eat within a day or two. Shucked oysters should be kept in their liquor and used quickly.

Diet, allergens and safety

Contains Molluscs.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Contains molluscs, a recognised allergen separate from crustaceans; some people react to both.
  • Raw oysters can carry norovirus and Vibrio; pregnant people, young children, older adults and anyone with liver disease or a weakened immune system should eat only thoroughly cooked oysters.
  • Discard oysters that are open and do not close when tapped, or that smell bad.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
81 kcal
Protein
9.45 g
Carbohydrate
4.95 g
Fat
2.3 g
Fibre
0 g
Sugars
— g

USDA FoodData Central: Mollusks, oyster, Pacific, raw.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Clams — In cooked dishes such as stews and omelettes.

Related ingredients

Recipes with oysters

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