How Many Shucked Oysters Are In 8 Ounces? A Detailed Breakdown

Oysters are a delicious and nutritious shellfish that can be prepared in many ways. Whether enjoying them raw on the half shell, fried, stewed, or smoked, their briny flavor and soft texture make them a seafood favorite. When cooking with oysters, it’s important to understand how they are measured so you can purchase and portion them correctly So how many shucked oysters are in 8 ounces? Let’s find out.

What are Shucked Oysters?

Shucked oysters refer to oysters that have been removed from their shells. This leaves just the edible oyster meat behind. Shucking oysters involves cutting the muscle that attaches the oyster to its shell and separating the two halves. Freshly shucked oysters are available for purchase at many seafood markets and grocery stores. Canned and pre-packaged oysters have also been pre-shucked for convenience.

When measuring oysters for recipes, volumes like cups, pints and quarts typically refer to the amount of shucked oyster meat, not oysters still in their shells. So knowing how many shucked oysters are in common amounts like 8 ounces is helpful for cooking.

Estimating Shucked Oysters in 8 Ounces

In general, 8 fluid ounces of shucked oyster meat contains approximately 16 to 20 small oysters. However, the exact number can vary quite a bit based on the size and type of oysters.

Larger oyster varieties like Pacific gigas can yield as few as 4 or 5 oysters per 8 ounces. Smaller Atlantic or Olympia oysters may have as many as 25 to 30 oysters in 8 ounces. There are just too many variables in oyster sizes to provide an exact count.

As a guide here are some estimates for the number of shucked oysters in 8 ounces

• Small oysters: Approximately 16 to 20 oysters
• Medium oysters: Approximately 12 to 16 oysters
• Large oysters: Approximately 8 to 12 oysters
• Extra large oysters: Approximately 4 to 8 oysters

Rather than counting individual oysters, it’s easier to think in terms of total meat weight. An 8 ounce container will provide around 1/2 pound of shucked oyster meat regardless of the specific number of oysters inside.

Common Serving Sizes of Shucked Oysters

In addition to 8 ounces. here are some other common serving sizes for shucked oyster meat and their approximate weights

• 1 pint (16 oz) = 1 pound of oyster meat
• 1 quart (32 oz) = 2 pounds of oyster meat
• 1 gallon (128 oz) = 8 pounds of oyster meat
• 1 cup = 8 oz = 1/2 pound of oyster meat

These serving sizes are useful for estimating how much shucked oyster meat you need to purchase for recipes. For example, to make oyster stew for 4 people using 1 pint of oyster meat, buy a 1 pound container of shucked oysters.

Factors Affecting Oyster Counts

Several factors influence the number of oysters found in typical serving sizes:

• Oyster size – Smaller oysters means more will be needed to meet a weight amount. Larger oysters provide less meat per oyster.

• Shell thickness – Thicker, heavier shells reduce oyster meat yield when shucking.

• Season – Oysters tend to be smaller in summer months when they are spawning. Larger oysters are harvested in winter.

• Growing region – Geographic areas produce different sized oysters on average based on factors like water temperature, food availability, etc.

• Farm-raised vs. wild – Cultivated oysters tend to be more uniform in size while wild oysters vary more.

• Shucking technique – Professional shuckers are able to yield the maximum amount of meat cleanly removed from shells.

Tips for Cooking with Shucked Oysters

When working with shucked oysters in recipes, keep these tips in mind:

• Focus on the total quantity needed rather than the number of individual oysters.

• Allow for some variability in counts depending on oyster size.

• For soups or casseroles, round up to the next whole pint or quart to have extra oysters on hand.

• Store shucked oysters in their liquid in sealed containers in the refrigerator. Use within 7-10 days.

• Add oysters at the end of cooking to prevent overcooking and rubbery texture.

• Avoid freezing previously shucked oysters which damages texture. Freeze unopened oysters instead.

• If breading oysters for frying, choose medium or large oysters which hold up better.

Sample Recipes with 8 Ounces of Oysters

To give you an idea of how 8 ounces of shucked oysters are used, here are a couple recipe examples:

Oyster Po’ Boy Sandwich

Makes 2 sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 8 oz shucked oysters, drained
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
• Vegetable oil for frying
• 2 po’ boy rolls
• Shredded lettuce, tomatoes, remoulade sauce

Directions:

1. Drain oysters and pat dry. Coat with cornmeal mixture.
2. Fry in batches until golden brown, about 2 minutes.
3. Build sandwiches with fried oysters, lettuce, tomato and remoulade on rolls.

Oyster Stuffing

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 8 oz shucked oysters, drained and chopped
• 6 cups bread cubes
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Sauté onion and celery in butter.
2. Add bread cubes and toss to coat.
3. Stir in oysters, broth, parsley and season with salt and pepper.
4. Bake at 375°F until golden brown, about 30 minutes.

The Takeaway

Determining oyster counts can be tricky given the many variables involved. For simplicity’s sake, an 8 ounce serving of shucked oysters contains approximately 16-20 small oysters on average. Focus on the total quantity in pounds or liquid volume rather than individual oyster counts for recipes. And be sure to buy fresh shucked oysters from reputable sellers for the best results.