4 reasons oysters deserve a place on your plate

In our experience, oysters are the Marmite of the seafood world – consumers seem to either love them or hate them! We see a lot of questions around whether oysters are healthy choices. Here at ASC we think oysters are under-appreciated and are actually an amazing addition to the diet of any seafood lover.

In this blog we’re diving into why we’re such big advocates of this humble bivalve, for taste, environmental impact and the impressive health benefits oysters offer…

🦪 Oysters pack a nutritional punch

Oysters are high in protein and other essential nutrients. A 100g serving of cooked oyster meat (the soft part inside the shell) delivers 9 grams of protein, alongside a broad range of vitamins and minerals.

This includes your entire daily recommended amount of zinc, copper and Vitamin B12, and 40% of the iron intake your body needs each day. Oysters are also considered a complete protein, meaning that they contain all 9 amino acids that we need to consume via our diet every day because we can’t make them ourselves.

The 3g of fat per serving also gives you omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain and heart health as well as helping to manage inflammation in the body. There’s so much goodness in those little shells!

🦪 Oysters have a positive environmental impact

Oysters, like other bivalves, are filter feeders, which means that to feed themselves oysters filter the water around them, extracting phytoplankton or algae. This helps improve the water quality around them by removing excess nutrients, as well as helping control algae blooms, which can negatively impact the marine ecosystem. One oyster can filter up to 50 galleons of water every day – that’s the equivalent of a 10 minute shower!

And don’t worry – oysters don’t take in any toxins from the water that could then be transferred to humans during consumption, those are all collected in the sediment in the water.

🦪 Oysters are fighting climate change

Responsibly farmed oysters are one of the lowest carbon emitters of all seafood, alongside clams, mussels, scallops and seaweed. This is because they don’t need feeding, antibiotics or other chemicals to support their growth, so the human intervention needed in responsible oyster farming is minimal.

Alongside a low environmental impact, oysters are also contributing to the fight against climate change by sequestering carbon within their shells, meaning that they extract carbon from the surrounding water and keep it from seeping into our atmosphere.

🦪 Oysters are super simple to prepare but are still sure to wow your guests!

Shuck your oysters by holding the shell firmly and guiding a knife between the shell halves at the hinge-end. Wiggle your knife to the other end of the shell until it opens then use the knife to gently separate the meat from the shell.

We love fresh oysters eaten raw and served simply with a splash of Tabasco sauce, a squeeze of lemon juice, or a French shallot vinegar. Nothing says decadent dining like a dozen oysters served on ice!

But if raw oysters aren’t to your taste, there are plenty of other ways to incorporate cooked oysters into your meal plan. Try our oysters with leek fondue, bake them with breadcrumbs and herbs, fry them with garlic butter or add them to your pasta dishes alongside other seafood or instead of the more traditional chicken or salmon. Delicious!

Look for the teal ASC label

When you shop for oysters, be sure to look for the teal ASC label. Our label tells you that the seafood in your basket has been responsibly farmed with care for the seafood itself, the people involved in its production and the planet. It’s a really easy way to ensure you’re making responsible, sustainable choices for yourself and your family.

To find out more about responsibly farmed seafood, follow ASC on Instagram. We regularly share recipe inspiration and news from the responsible farming community.

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