It is affordable to cook with canned or jarred foods in place of expensive ingredients. There are countless ways to prepare oysters in the kitchen – whether canned or jarred.

It is easy to incorporate oysters from jars into a variety of dishes. Make sure you read the label of your jar before you try the cooking methods below.

Other companies, more premium brands, may suggest rinsing their oysters before using, while others may pack their oysters in a type of “liquor”.

You do not want to rinse the jars if they have this liquor, which is the salty liquid that is found inside a live oyster.

So, how do you cook oysters from a jar? In general, breading oysters from a jar and frying them in neutral oil over medium heat is the best method for preparing them. Also, you can add them to soups or chowders, saute them in butter and herbs, or bake them with seasonings and cream.

Learn how to cook oysters from a jar and the differences between fresh and jarred oysters in this article.

What’s The Difference Between Fresh And Jarred Oysters?

Generally, raw-shucked oysters can be enjoyed right off the shell, however, cooking oysters from a jar is recommended as a precautionary measure.

For best results, rinse and cook jarred oysters.

Because fresh oysters are not packed in the same liquor as those in jars, they might have a briney flavor as compared to those in jars.

However, this doesn’t mean they won’t taste great; just that they taste and feel different from the fresh version.

Best Ways To Cook Oysters From A Jar

You can cook oysters from a jar in a number of ways, but some of the best are listed here.

How To Fry Oysters From A Jar

1. Rinse and dry oysters.
2. Mix plain white flour into your oysters.
3. Add an egg to a bowl and whisk.
4. Dip the oyster into the egg, then in the panko bread crumbs or flour. A second flour or panko mix can be seasoned with salt and herbs for more flavor. Garlic powder and parsley powder are good combinations.
5. Pour a thin layer of oil over the pan’s bottom and heat it over medium heat.
6. Add your oysters to the pan once the oil is hot, layering each one separately.
7. Depending on the size of the oyster, you will have to cook it for 2 minutes or until the bottom is golden brown before flipping it over and cooking it for 1-2 minutes on the other side.
8. Lay out a paper towel on a plate while the oysters cook. Put a little ocean salt on the oysters after they are cooked.
9. Afterward, enjoy your dip with cocktail sauce.

How To Use Oysters From a Jar In A Chowder Or Soup

To prepare oysters for soup or chowder, you need to follow a few steps. If you like seafood chowder or soup, you can use jarred oysters in virtually any recipe.

It’s best to add oysters at the end of cooking since they cook quickly. The oysters should be cooked for about three to five minutes.

1. Put the oysters in the colander over a sink and rinse them well.
2. Chowders or soups are almost ready when oysters are added. So that they don’t get too chewy and overcooked, you’ll want to wait until they have about 3-5 minutes to cook.
3. Salt the soup to taste and enjoy.

How To Saute Oysters From a Jar

Sautéing oysters with fresh ingredients such as parsley and chili, garlic, butter, and butter is a delicious way to enjoy their natural flavor.

1. Use a paper towel to pat your oysters dry after draining and rinsing. Place them aside to dry.
2. 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tablespoon parsley, and 1 shallot should be finely minced. Place aside.
3. A frying pan should be heated on the stovetop at medium heat.
4. The frying pan should be filled with butter. Put the butter and garlic in a pan, add shallot, parsley, a sprinkle of chili flakes, and half a teaspoon of salt, and stir to melt. Add kosher salt to taste.
5. For a bright and fragrant aroma, saute the aromatics for 2-3 minutes.
6. Your oysters should be ready in 4-5 minutes after adding the herbs and spices.
7. Scrape the contents of the frying pan into a bowl and remove the frying pan from the heat.
8. A sprinkle of sea salt and a squeeze of lemon will complete this dish. This dish is best enjoyed with crusty bread.

How To Broil Oysters From a Jar

For a delicious snack made out of jarred oysters, bake them in the oven with cream, cheese, and herbs.

1. The baking rack should be placed on the second rack from the top of the oven while it is preheated to broil.
2. Set aside a baking dish that can be broiler-safe by lightly greasing it with oil.
3. In a mixing bowl combine:
   1. Parsley, chopped, 2 tablespoons
   2. Chop 1 clove of garlic
   3. Finely chopped half a shallot
   4. One and a quarter teaspoons of red chili flakes
   5. One-fourth cup of heavy cream
   6. Olive oil, 2 tbsp
   7. 2 teaspoons champagne or white wine vinegar
4. Combine 2 dozen oysters in a jar, once mixed.
5. Prepare a baking dish that can be broiler-safe by greasing it.
6. Cover with 1/2 a cup of grated Parmesan cheese and a few twists of pepper.
7. The dish should be broiled for approximately 2-3 minutes or until the cheese has melted and is bubbling.
8. Once the baking dish has been removed from the oven, allow it to cool before serving.

How To Cook Shucked Oysters

Using shucked oysters is similar to using jarred oysters. Alternatively, you can also use fresh oysters instead of jarred oysters if you have them on hand.

A mignonette sauce or hot sauce is usually topped with them or eaten raw straight from the shell. The liquor in a shucked oyster should not be thrown away when cooking.

Shucked Oysters With A Classic Mignonette Sauce

The mignonette is a different type of cooking compared to traditional methods, but the acid in it does actually cook the oyster, in a similar way to lime or vinegar cooking fish in a ceviche.

1. Finely chop a small shallot.
2. Finely chop a clove of garlic.
3. Combine the shallots and garlic in a small bowl with 1/4 tsp. red wine vinegar and 1/4 tsp. pepper.
4. Before pouring over the freshly shucked oysters on the shell, let the mignonette set for 1-2 hours in the fridge.

Other great additions to a mignonette include:

• Finely diced cucumber
• Finely diced celery
• Finely diced apple
• Finely diced fennel
• Finely diced peach, apricot, or nectarine
• Lemon juice
• Hot sauce
• Lime juice
• Apple cider vinegar

How To Cook Oysters In The Shell

The shell is the perfect baking dish for freshly shucked oysters.

Cooking oysters with their liquor should not be done. From steaming to grilling to baking, oysters can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.

How To Steam Oysters In The Shell

1. Get rid of dirt and grit by washing your oysters.
2. Put three cloves of minced garlic, one chopped shallot, and some fresh chopped parsley into a large saucepan.
3. Cover the pot with a lid and add the oysters in a single layer, cup side down.
4. Approximately 5-7 minutes of steaming should be sufficient. If you cook your oysters longer, they will become rubbery and chewy.
5. After the oysters have cooled, remove them from the pot carefully with tongs. Do not discard the sauce.
6. The oyster may need to be separated from its shell with a small paring knife. It is advisable to wear gloves to protect yourself from cuts.
7. Dip crusty bread into the sauce with your oysters and squeeze of lemon.

How To Bake Oysters In The Shell

1. A parchment-lined baking sheet should be ready as soon as your oven reaches 400 degrees.
2. Don’t spill any liquor on your oysters when shucking them.
3. Immediately after shucking, arrange the oysters on a baking sheet in one layer.
4. Next, top the shell with butter, herbs, and cheese of your choice. Trying to find a blend that interests you on google is the best way to find possible combinations.
5. The cheese should be melted after 10 minutes of baking. Broiling them for three to five minutes would also work.
6. After it has cooled, add lemon juice and hot sauce.