Do you want to make oyster stew but don’t have any fresh oysters? Why not pick up some canned oysters and cook a simple and excellent stew with them? If you live a long distance from the shore, it is difficult (and costly) to get fresh oysters, or you do not have the time to shuck them, canned oysters are a terrific and healthy alternative. Smoked oysters in a can are also a wonderful topping for crackers.
We look at some of the finest canned oysters available, whether you want whole boiled oysters for cooking or smoked oysters for cocktails. We also look at the nutritional composition of canned oysters and how it differs from fresh oysters, as well as some of the health advantages of eating canned oysters.
Best Selection
The Crown Prince Natural cooked whole oysters in water are our favorite canned oysters since they are Non-GMO Project Verified and responsibly sourced.
Budget Selection
Our budget selection for canned oysters is the Ocean Prince cocktail smoked oysters in cottonseed oil, which are nicely proportioned for cracker snacking.
Contents
- Quick Comparison: Top 8 Best Canned Oysters
- 1. Crown Price Natural Boiled Whole Oysters
- 2. Ocean Prince Cocktail Smoked Oysters in Cottonseed Oil
- 3. Reese Medium Smoked Oysters
- 4. Brunswick Smoked Oysters
- 5. Crown Prince Whole Boiled Oysters
- 6. Ekone Oyster Company Smoked Oysters
- 7. Roland Oysters Premium Smoked Oysters
- 8. MW Polar Boiled Oysters
- Considerations Before Purchasing the Finest Canned Smoked Oysters
- Conclusion
Quick Comparison: Top 8 Best Canned Oysters
Product Name | Grade |
---|---|
Crown Price Natural Boiled Whole Oysters | A |
Ocean Prince Cocktail Smoked Oysters in Cottonseed Oil | A |
Reese Medium Smoked Oysters | A- |
Brunswick Smoked Oysters | B+ |
Crown Prince Whole Boiled Oysters | A- |
Ekone Oyster Company Smoked Oysters | A- |
Roland Oysters Premium Smoked Oysters | B+ |
MW Polar Boiled Oysters | A- |
1. Crown Price Natural Boiled Whole Oysters
Highlighted Characteristics
The Crown Prince Natural boiling whole oysters in water are Non-GMO Project Verified and come in a 12 case of 8 oz cans with ring-pulls. These oysters are supplied from South Korean responsibly managed fisheries and comprise just whole oysters, water, and salt. Several people have reported that these oysters are mushier, and there is a chance of shell pieces, as with any canned shellfish.
Pros
Cons
2. Ocean Prince Cocktail Smoked Oysters in Cottonseed Oil
Highlighted Characteristics
These cocktail smoked oysters in cottonseed oil from Ocean Prince come in a case of 18 3 oz ring-pull cans. These oysters have been naturally wood smoked and come from China’s controlled fishery. As a lower-cost alternative to the finest canned smoked oysters, they may include more shell pieces and oysters of varying sizes, including smaller oysters. They may not be entire oysters, but rather tiny portions served as a drink.
Pros
Cons
3. Reese Medium Smoked Oysters
Highlighted Characteristics
The Reese medium smoked oysters are smoked in cherrywood and packaged in cottonseed oil. They are made in China and come in a ten pack of 3.7 oz ring-pull cans. Its smaller size as medium-sized oysters enables for simpler cooking without allowing their texture to dominate the meal. Some purchasers believe they have been over-smoked and dried out too much.
Pros
Cons
4. Brunswick Smoked Oysters
Highlighted Characteristics
Brunswick smoked oysters are obtained from sustainable fisheries in China in a case of 12 ring-pull 3 oz cans. While these smoked oysters are in cottonseed oil and are proportioned for crackers, some purchasers believe they lack taste when compared to other smoked oysters.
Pros
Cons
5. Crown Prince Whole Boiled Oysters
Highlighted Characteristics
Crown Prince whole cooked oysters are packed with water and salt and sourced from responsibly managed fisheries in South Korea. The size of these oysters may vary, but normally a can will be all little or all big, rather than mixing sizes in each can. These come in a 12 case of larger 8 oz cans with ring-pulls. Several purchasers said they were a tad mushy.
Pros
Cons
6. Ekone Oyster Company Smoked Oysters
Highlighted Characteristics
The Ekone Oyster Company’s smoked oysters are sustainably farmed from fisheries in Willapa Bay, Washington, and are processed and canned in the United States. They come in six 3 oz cans with ring pulls and are steamed open rather than shucked to maintain moisture before being brined and smoked in small batches with maple chips.
They are also longline grown, which means they do not accumulate as much sand and grit, but this allows the oysters to develop into a huge and strong form and helps conserve seabed ecosystems. These finest canned smoked oysters do have a price premium since they are obtained in the United States, and a tiny percentage of consumers have reported them to be dried out with a rubbery feel. Despite the fact that they were longline farmed, a tiny percentage of consumers found them to be exceptionally rough oysters.
Pros
Cons
7. Roland Oysters Premium Smoked Oysters
Highlighted Characteristics
The premium smoked oysters (petite) from Roland Oysters are obtained from Pacific seas and packaged in cottonseed oil. These smoked oysters, which come in a case of ten 3 oz cans with ring-pulls, can be more mushy than other smoked oysters, and some have felt them to be overdone. There is also no information on what wood they were smoked with or if the taste is just smoked.
Pros
Cons
8. MW Polar Boiled Oysters
Highlighted Characteristics
The MW Polar oysters are whole oysters in water and salt that come in a 12 case of bigger 8 oz cans. These oysters are farm farmed and imported from Korea. Biotoxins and heavy metals are likewise absent in these entire oysters. These cans may be broken during shipment, and since they lack ring pulls, they may be more difficult to open.
Pros
Cons
Considerations Before Purchasing the Finest Canned Smoked Oysters
Before going through the canning process, oysters are normally removed from their shells by heating then shucking, or just shucking. Ordinary canned oysters come in a variety of sizes, however canned smoked oysters are typically only available in 3 oz cans.
Because canned oysters may contain shell fragments, it is usually recommended that you rinse them before using them. However, as you will see in this article, the brine and oil of canned oysters can be just as nutritious as the oysters themselves, so be careful not to remove too much when washing the oysters.
Canned oysters have more nutrients, such as vitamins B and K, than raw oysters, but since part of this nutrition is in the brine or oil of the can, this must be consumed in order to get the most nutrition from the can. While oysters are naturally rich in sodium, canned oysters have more sodium than fresh oysters because salt is frequently added to the water in which they are kept.
Since smoked oysters are often stored in oil, the additional fat may contribute to daily calorie consumption. Cottonseed oil is often used in the packaging of smoked oysters. Cottonseed oil has some anecdotal and small-scale studies tying it to health advantages, but since it is heavy in saturated fat, it may lead to increased levels of LDL and total cholesterol. Cottonseed oil is abundant in polyunsaturated fat, which, like olive oil, may help decrease LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL cholesterol.
Oysters are naturally rich in protein, making them appropriate for a variety of diets, including keto.
Using Canned Oysters in Recipes
Canned oysters with creamed soup and spice create a fast oyster stew, or canned oysters with milk and veggies make a quick and excellent soup. Additional possibilities include combining canned oysters with bacon, stock, and herbs to create oyster stuffing for meats or utilizing them in pasta recipes. Canned oysters may also be drained, coated, baked, or deep fried.
The finest canned smoked oysters are delicious on crackers or in salads or pasta dishes. You may create a sandwich filling or bruschetta topping using olive oil, lemon juice, celery, and spices, or replace clams for smoked oysters in a chowder dish.
If you wish to reheat your smoked oysters, just open the seal and gently warm the tin in the oven before serving.
Keeping Canned Oysters Safe
When stored in a cool, dry area, canned oysters may be kept for up to a year. They may be OK to use beyond the best by date, but you should inspect the can for any indications of damage or rotting before eating.
After opened, canned oysters should be refrigerated in a glass or plastic container and consumed within two days. Canned oysters may also be frozen in the same manner as raw oysters can. This enables you to keep them for much longer once they’ve been opened.
Nutritional Value of Oysters
A cup of raw oysters or canned oysters that haven’t been drained contains the following:
Oysters, raw |
Oysters in Cans |
|
Calories |
126 |
169 |
Protein |
14 grams |
17.5 grams |
Fat in total |
4.3 grams |
6 grams |
Sodium |
211 micrograms |
278 micrograms |
Calcium |
146 micrograms |
112 micrograms |
Iron |
11.43 micrograms |
16.6 micrograms |
Canned oysters include more vitamin A and Bs, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium than fresh oysters, and since acid is added during the canning process, canned oysters also contain vitamin C.
Fresh oysters have more vitamin K than canned oysters, but both contain the same amount of vitamin E. Oysters of all varieties are high in selenium and contain all nine necessary amino acids (those which the body has to obtain from the diet). Amino acids, sometimes known as the building blocks of life, are what remain after proteins are digested or broken down in our bodies. The body subsequently converts these amino acids into proteins, which aid in tissue repair, development, food digestion, and a variety of other tasks.
Canned smoked oysters are a very high-iron food, with one serving carrying up to 200% of the recommended RDI for adults. Iron serves several functions in the body, including energy, immunity, body temperature control, and gastrointestinal systems. Anemia is caused by a shortage of iron and is characterized by tiredness, pale complexion, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations.
Pregnant women should ingest extra iron, around 27 milligrams per day, since the formation of red blood cells and the volume of blood must grow considerably during pregnancy in order to support the baby. Iron deficiency not only causes anemia, but it also increases the risk of preterm delivery and lower birth weights.
When it comes to nutrition, one cup of drained canned oysters may have a wide range of values. This is due to the fact that certain water-soluble vitamins, like as Bs, leach into the water during the canning process. This implies you’ll need to use at least portion of the canning liquid to get the most of these vitamins.
The salt level of raw or canned oysters may range from 7.7% to 18.5%, accounting for over one-fifth of the American Heart Association’s recommended daily sodium consumption of 1,500 mg. Canned smoked oysters may have salt levels as high as 330 mg per serving.
Canned smoked oysters with olive oil include extra vitamin E and polyphenols, which may help decrease LDL cholesterol. While most of the oil is generally drained from the oysters, leaving enough oil to cover them can help maintain the extra nourishment when the oysters are served.
The Advantages of Eating Oysters
Experts believe that the increased levels of vitamin C and zinc in oysters contribute to their long-standing reputation as a libido enhancer!
Oysters are also high in omega-3 fatty acids, with a serving of smoked oysters having over half a gram. Since the body cannot generate omega-3, we must receive it from foods such as fatty fish.
Omega-3 fatty acids may help avoid heart disease. They have been proven to lower blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure, produce significant reductions in triglyceride levels of up to 30%, and protect our blood platelets from clumping, which may help minimize the chance of blood clots that can hurt the body.
They have also been proven to help reduce plaque formation in arteries and boost HDL (good cholesterol) levels.
Omega-3s have also been shown to reduce levels of chemicals and molecules associated with the inflammatory response in the body. Most major illnesses, including heart disease, are associated with chronic inflammation.
Omega-3 fatty acids may also enhance mental health, with omega-3 supplementation possibly reducing mood swing frequency in those with bipolar illness and schizophrenia. They may also aid in the prevention of age-related mental decline and play a role in the start of Alzheimer’s disease.
Omega-3 fatty acids have been associated to a lower incidence of some malignancies, asthma in children, improvements in joint and bone health, a decrease in liver fat, better sleep, and skin advantages.
Oysters are high in selenium, a vital trace mineral. This mineral is required for DNA synthesis, thyroid hormone metabolism, and protection against infection and oxidative stress. Selenium may help protect against heart disease, cognitive decline with age, and thyroid diseases.
The FDA said in 2003 that some scientific data indicated that consuming selenium may lessen the risk of some types of cancer. It may also assist to prevent cancer.
While the body can produce vitamin K, which is found in green leafy vegetables, oysters, fish, and seafoods are also good sources of vitamin K. Vitamin K aids in the production of four of the 13 proteins required by the body for blood clotting, and it also collaborates with vitamin D to ensure calcium flows to bones to promote their growth.
Since vitamin K improves bone mineral density, it reduces the risk of fracture. According to research, women who consume enough vitamin K in their diet had a lower chance of fracturing their hip.
DHMBA is an antioxidant.
Oysters, in addition to being nutrient-dense, contain the novel antioxidant DHMBA (3,5-Dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol), which was just recently found.
This chemical is able to operate as a potent antioxidant and laboratory investigations revealed that it was 15 times more effective in combating oxidative stress than a synthetic version of vitamin E which is often employed to prevent oxidative stress damage.
DHMBA may be useful for liver health since one study found it to be capable of protecting human liver cells from damage or even cell death caused by induced oxidative stress. Another research found that DHMBA might lower oxidation of bad or LDL cholesterol, a chemical process that leads to plaque buildup in the arteries. This is known as atherosclerosis, and it is a major risk factor for heart disease.
Canned Oyster Safety
Unlike raw oysters, which may be infected with Vibrio bacteria, canned oysters are not at danger of contamination since the canning process kills these and other pathogens. Canning also makes oysters a safer alternative for folks who are pregnant or have a lower immune system.
The majority of vibriosis infections are caused by eating raw or undercooked oysters, mussels, or clams. Since oysters absorb water, they also absorb germs and viruses, which accumulate in the oyster and may infect humans when we eat them raw or undercooked. Every year, over 80,000 persons in the United States develop vibriosis, and although many experience just moderate disease with vomiting and diarrhea, there are approximately 100 fatalities from vibriosis; mainly between May to October when water temperatures are higher.
Canned oysters, on the other hand, are rich in zinc, with canned smoked oysters containing the greatest zinc. Taking more than 200 mg of zinc per day might result in stomach trouble, irritation, and even anemia. Even tiny dosages of zinc may have an effect on food absorption as well as long-term effects on blood lipids, immunity, and heart function.
Many people are concerned about mercury levels in seafood. While mercury is a natural element present in all living things, water, and air, it enters the food chain via pollution, fossil fuel combustion, and natural recycling.
All fish and seafood contain trace amounts of mercury, which vary widely. Fish such as shark, swordfish, and bluefin tuna often have the greatest amounts of mercury, but salmon and cod, as well as shellfish such as oysters, scallops, shrimp, and clams, have relatively low levels of mercury.
The FDA is in charge of all fish and seafood products entering the United States. The FDA examines safety and compliance in a variety of methods, including sampling seafoods offered for import into the US, inspecting importers, sampling imported goods, and foreign country evaluation and inspection of foreign processing facilities.
Smoked oysters, like any other smoked food or meat, contain compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). They are produced during the smoking of meats, fish, shellfish, and other items. PAHs can only cause DNA damage if they are bioactivated in human systems, which means they must be digested by certain enzymes.
Various persons have varied levels of activity in these enzymes, which may have an influence on any direct cancer risk related with PAH exposure. While the majority of the study focuses on meat smoking, the results also apply to fish and shellfish, which are protein-rich diets like meat.
Conclusion
Canned oysters are the simplest method to guarantee you always have oysters on hand for a recipe or a fast snack. Canned oysters are also safer than fresh oysters since the canning process eliminates hazardous organisms such as Vibrio, which may cause food poisoning in raw or undercooked oysters. While canned oysters have fewer nutrients than raw oysters, they contain more of others.
We hope you liked our study of canned oysters and everything connected to them, and that we have given you with the knowledge you need to choose the finest canned oysters for your kitchen cabinet, even if you just want the odd can on hand for a late-night snack on some saltines.