Pacific Oyster
Crassostrea gigas; Magallana gigas
Also known as Japanese oyster, Miyagi oyster, Pacific cupped oyster
Culinary Profile
Ranges from sweet to briny.
Oysters are low in saturated fat and excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and zinc.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Pacific oysters can be long-lived, reaching up to 10-12 inches. Their shells—known as valves—are naturally long, thick, rough, and sometimes sharp around the edges. The inside of the shell is white to off-white, with purple stains where the abductor muscle attaches to both valves. The outer shell can be white or off-white, sometimes with purple streaks from the hinge (umbo) to the valve edge.
Biology
Oysters are a type of shellfish—specifically bivalve mollusks—which means they have a hinged shell with two parts, similar to mussels, clams, cockles, and scallops. Adult oysters are sessile—they stay in one place. They inhabit both intertidal and subtidal areas. Pacific oysters can grow quickly, depending on plankton (food) availability and water quality conditions.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Available year-round.
Source
Estuaries, mostly in the Pacific Northwest.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 106 Species
Where Pacific Oyster ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin B12 | 16 µg | 1 / 106 | 99% |
| Iron | 5.11 mg | 1 / 111 | 99% |
| Zinc | 16.62 mg | 1 / 111 | 99% |
| Selenium | 77 µg | 4 / 106 | 96% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 438 mg | 11 / 104 | 89% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 250 mg | 50 / 104 | 52% |
| Phosphorus | 162 mg | 99 / 111 | 11% |
| Protein | 9.45 g | 110 / 111 | 1% |
Other Alaska Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Pacific Oyster.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Bocaccio
Sebastes paucispinis
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Canary Rockfish
Sebastes pinniger
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Chinook salmon has a pronounced buttery, rich taste. They are the most highly prized salmon in the culinary world.
Chum Salmon
Oncorhynchus keta
Chum salmon has a lower oil content than other wild salmon, so it has a relatively mild flavor.
Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Smaller coho have a delicate flavor. Fillets from larger fish have a mild taste.
Dover Sole
Microstomus pacificus
Mild and sweet.
English Sole
Parophrys vetulus
Mild taste with a slight shellfish flavor.
Flathead Sole
Hippoglossoides elassodon
Mild and delicate flavor.
Geoduck
Panopea generosa
The neck is tough and crunchy, while the belly meat is tender and sweet.
Similar by Flavour: Other Sweet-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the sweet flavour profile of Pacific Oyster, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Snow Crab
Chionoecetes opilio
Sweet.
Almaco Jack
Seriola rivoliana
Almaco jack has a clean, sweet, rich, slightly nutty, buttery flavor.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
American Plaice
Hippoglossoides platessoides
Subtle, sweet flavor.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much protein is in 100 g of Pacific Oyster?
A 100 g raw serving of Pacific Oyster provides 9.45 g of protein — roughly 19% of the FDA 50 g daily value.
Is Pacific Oyster a good source of iron?
Per 100 g raw, Pacific Oyster provides 5.11 mg of iron — the protein matrix in fish flesh makes this heme iron, which absorbs more efficiently than the non-heme iron in plant sources.
How does Pacific Oyster reproduce?
Oysters are a type of shellfish—specifically bivalve mollusks—which means they have a hinged shell with two parts, similar to mussels, clams, cockles, and scallops. Adult oysters are sessile—they stay in one place. They inhabit both intertidal and subtidal areas. Pacific oysters can grow quickly, depending on plankton (food) availability and water quality conditions.
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 20 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.