How Many Pounds of Oysters per Person

Perfect for summer parties by the beach or near a pool, oysters are plump mollusks with rich, salty sea goodness that are surprisingly fresh and a great palate cleanser from the usual meat, chicken, or vegetable dishes you usually get for meals every day. 

Oysters can be prepared in a variety of ways such as grilled, baked, steamed, broiled, roasted, and fried. They’re great for parties, intimate gatherings, and even during the holidays when you’re particularly craving some seafood and like the taste of oysters. There are even so-called oyster parties that you can organize with your friends!

When you decide to plan an oyster party or any other celebratory dinner with family or friends,

How Many Oysters Per Person for a crowd: the recommended serving of oysters is 6 pieces of oysters per person which is equal to about 0.4 pounds when used as either appetizers or companions to main dishes. Or to put it another way, there are around 12 medium-sized oysters to a pound.

Crab cakes also go well when serve with oysters.

See our Handy Oyster Quantity Table below for amounts to serve to a crowd from 1-50 people.

Serving Oysters For A Crowd

Oyster Serving Sizes 

Cross-check your guest list and tally how many guests don’t eat oysters at all and how many do. This aspect of party planning is important so that you don’t cook too much or too little for the number of guests that you have. It’s better to come prepared!

For the near accurate calculations of servings, just refer to the table below:

PeopleAmount of Oysters in PoundsAmount of Oysters in Pieces
10.46
20.812
5230
10460
15690
208120
5020300
Oyster Serving Chart For A Big Group of People

Will People Need Seconds

This depends on the way you cooked the oysters and how many guests absolutely love them. Even the most enthusiastic of seafood eaters may not like oysters steamed and prefer them to be baked in butter and garlic. For this, just prepare about 2 oysters per person to be on the safe side. 

For those who won’t be eating oysters, make sure you have excellent main dishes and other appetizers to offer so that they don’t feel left out of the fun. 

How many oysters do I need for 6?
How many oysters do I need for 6? – 36 medium oysters.

What is The Best Way to Eat Oysters

You don’t have to use tools to eat oysters as you can just make use of your hands. Just lift the oyster to your lips and slurp. You can also use a tiny fork to better loosen the shell of the oyster. You can either swallow the entire oyster whole or chew them to get a better feel of the scrumptious taste you get. 

After eating, observe proper shell etiquette by placing the shell facing down on your plate. Avoid putting it back to the serving tray or to the table directly. 

Other Ways I Can Enjoy Oysters

Aside from eating them straight from the shell, you can also enjoy them in a number of ways. Make sure you clean the oysters beforehand by scrubbing them in cold water and removing barnacles and other dirt using a paring knife. 

Crumbed Oysters
Crumbed Oysters – are serve a wider range of guests at a party.

Other ways in which you could enjoy oysters are:

  • Steamed – place your oysters in a steamer bucket on top of a saucepan with boiling water. Let it steam for about 3 to 8 minutes, depending if they open quickly, before removing the oysters from the steamer. Serve them hot with some butter. 
  • Stewed – saute some chopped onions and garlic into a saucepan for 5 to 7 minutes and be wary of burning the garlic. Add some seasoning like black pepper, salt, red pepper, and paprika then stir for about a minute. Continue to cook but don’t bring it to a boil, add in oyster liquid, then the oysters. In some stews, milk and cream are added, sometimes even sherry. 
  • Fried – simply bread the oysters in the breading of your choice and then deep-fry them. This must be served with remoulade for the best seafood culinary experience, maybe even some hot sauce for a spicy kick! 
  • Broiled – these fellas are made by topping oysters with herbs, butter, and breadcrumbs before baking or broiling them. Add something zesty to the side, such as lemon or lime slices, for a better taste. 

I Have Leftover Oysters, What Should I Do With Them?

Shucked oysters can be frozen for up to 3 months but make sure they’re completely taken out of their shells. If you plan to use it again, just thaw them in the refrigerator before cooking. Cooked oysters should be refrigerated, not frozen, for only up to 3 days so you better use them within that time frame. 

Make sure the refrigerator is at a temperature of 40°F and the freezer at 0°F or lower to prevent the risk of contamination and perishing. 

What Do I Do With The Shells After The Oyster Roast?

The best answer is to recycle! You can use oyster shells for gardening since it’s a great source of calcium carbonate that can help provide plants with their calcium intake and regulate soil acidity. It can also be used in compost or as mulch for your plants—just remember to sterilize the shells by boiling them! 

Oyster shells can also be used in landscaping and decorations. They help line up pathways and are considered sustainable landscaping materials that can help fight against erosion. Oyster shells can be repurposed into ornaments and wreaths where you can even use its interior as a painting canvas. 

You can also try donating to oyster shell programs to help with their sustainable programs where they usually collect oyster shells, clean them, then use them to seed new oyster beds. Some restoration projects also include turning oyster shells into homes for other oysters in bays and rivers.

What Do I Serve With Oysters

Side dishes like corn on the cob, cornbread, baked beans, coleslaw, french fries, mac and cheese, salads (tomato, caesar, potato, or fruit), risotto, and roasted vegetables work best with oysters. The ideal sauces to use are cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, mignonette sauce, lemon bourbon sauce, and lemon aioli sauce. 

Of course French Fries Go Well – see how many french fries to serve to a crowd.

You can also try some beverages like wine (sauvignon blanc, champagne, chardonnay, chablis, sherry, or muscadet), beer, or non-alcoholic drinks such as lemonade, ginger ale, apple or sparkling cider, and soda.