Oysters are a delicious and nutritious seafood that can be enjoyed in many ways While some people prefer to eat them raw on the half shell, others like to cook them in recipes like Oysters Rockefeller or fried oysters Canned oysters provide a convenient way to enjoy oysters anytime without needing to shuck them yourself. But exactly how many oysters are in a typical 8 ounce can? Let’s take a closer look.
Typical Oyster Sizes
To determine how many oysters can fit in an 8 ounce can, we first need to know the average size of a single oyster Oysters can vary greatly in size depending on the species, age, and growth conditions Here are some typical sizes
- Pacific oysters – 2.5-4 inches
- Eastern oysters – 3-5 inches
- European flat oysters – up to 6 inches
- Olympia oysters – 1.5-2.5 inches
The small Olympia oysters could potentially allow you to fit more in an 8 ounce can, while the larger European flat oysters would result in fewer oysters per can. For a standard sized oyster in the 3 inch range, let’s estimate how many would fit.
Estimating Oysters per 8 Ounce Can
An 8 ounce can is approximately 7.25 inches tall with a 2.5 inch diameter. Assuming 3 inch oysters stacked vertically in the can, you could fit about 2-3 oysters per layer. With around 5-6 layers possible in the can, a rough estimate would be:
- 2 oysters per layer
- 5 layers
- = 10 oysters per 8 ounce can
But oysters are irregularly shaped, so we can’t pack them perfectly. There would be empty spaces between the oysters, reducing the number that can fit. Additionally, the can includes liquid that takes up volume. So in reality, many 8 ounce cans of oysters contain around 8-12 oysters on average.
This estimate matches up well with consumer experiences purchasing canned oysters. For example, on Amazon’s customer Q&A section for a brand of canned oysters, two buyers responded:
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“Do you find this helpful? Yes. There are 8 oysters in a 8 oz can.”
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“Do you find this helpful? Yes. There are 20 to 30 oysters in a 8 oz can.”
While their responses differed, they fell within the expected range of 8-12 oysters per 8 ounce can.
Actual Count Per Brand and Product
To get an exact oyster count, you need to look at the specific brand and type of canned oysters:
- Bumble Bee Smoked Oysters in Oil – 8 oysters in an 8 ounce can
- Ocean Prince Smoked Oysters – 8-9 oysters
- Chicken of the Sea Smoked Oysters – 10 oysters
- Crown Prince Natural Whole Boiled Oysters – 11-13 oysters
- Reese Full Smoked Oysters – 10 oysters
- Season Smoked Oysters in Oil – 9 oysters
- Brunswick Smoked Oyster Stew – 17 oysters
The smoked oysters packed in oil generally have 8-10 oysters for an 8 ounce tin, with a range of up to 13 for the whole boiled variety. Specialty products like oyster stew may have even more per can.
If an exact count matters for your recipe, examine the product details closely or contact the manufacturer to confirm the number of oysters. Don’t rely on rough estimates.
Does More Oysters Mean Better Quality?
When looking at different brands of canned oysters, you may think that ones with more oysters per can are a better value. However, that’s not necessarily true. Here are a few reasons why:
- More small oysters could indicate lower quality or broken pieces rather than whole oysters.
- Higher priced brands often have fewer oysters that are larger and higher quality.
- Flavor and texture varies based on processing method, freshness, and season harvested.
- Liquid vs. oil packing also impacts taste and how oysters are used.
Instead of just counting oysters, it’s better to read reviews of the specific brand and product to determine quality based on customer experiences. While a good deal is nice, you don’t want to buy canned oysters that have an unpleasant fishy taste or rubbery texture.
Buying Canned Oysters
When purchasing canned oysters, here are some tips to follow:
- Check the packaging for the oyster count to understand what you’re getting.
- Read online reviews and specialty seafood site ratings for that brand.
- Look for plump oysters packed in brine or oil in a sturdy can or jar.
- Avoid cans with many broken pieces or milky liquid, which may indicate lower quality.
- Understand flavor and texture differs between smoked, boiled, and stew oysters.
- Buy a smaller size if you need just a few oysters for a recipe dish.
- See if local oysters from your region are available canned.
- Always inspect canned seafood and never eat from bulging, dented, or damaged cans.
Avoiding getting a bad batch of canned oysters depends more on brand reliability and handling than just the number of oysters stuffed in the can.
Using Canned Oysters
Once you’ve purchased high-quality canned oysters, how can you use them? Here are some popular ways to eat canned oysters:
- Raw – Drain and eat plain or with lemon, hot sauce, or mignonette sauce.
- Apps – Add to oyster shooters, ceviche, smoked oyster dip, or clam chowder.
- Toppings – Put on pizza, nachos, pasta, Caesar salad, or tacos.
- Eggs – Fold into scrambled eggs, omelets, or frittatas.
- Seafood – Mix into casseroles, seafood pasta, gumbo, or chowders.
- Snacks – Serve on crackers or mini toasts for appetizers.
- Holiday Dishes – Add to stuffing, paté, New Year’s Eve seafood platters.
The small size makes canned oysters perfect for dips, spreads, stuffings, and toppings rather than main dishes. Their intense flavor goes a long way.
Be sure to drain or rinse canned oysters well to reduce the sodium content if concerned about your salt intake.
Shucked vs In-Shell Oysters
Canned oysters provide a less expensive and more convenient option compared to raw in-shell oysters. However, there are some definite trade-offs:
Canned Oysters
- No shucking required
- Long shelf life
- Lower cost
- Flavor affected by packing and pasteurization
- Texture not as fresh
Raw In-Shell Oysters
- Fresher, ocean-like taste
- More elegant presentation
- Texture is plump and firm
- Higher price per oyster
- Shorter shelf life
- Labor intensive shucking
Ultimately it depends on how you plan to use the oysters. For cooking, canned oysters work very well. But for luxury experiences like oysters on the half shell, raw in-shell oysters can’t be matched. Try both!
Final Takeaways
Hopefully this provided some useful insight on how many oysters are typically found in those small 8 ounce cans at the grocery store. The range is most often 8-12 oysters for standard canned varieties, with higher counts in some specialty products. Rather than focusing solely on oyster count, pay more attention to the brand’s reputation and whether the oysters look plump and intact. Canned oysters offer convenience for recipes, though raw in-shell oysters provide the premium eating experience. With a bit of clever use, canned oysters can deliver big oyster flavor without much shucking effort. Give them a try if you haven’t already.