Can you put oysters in an air fryer? Absolutely! This air fryer oysters recipe is the best way to cook oysters. These air fried oysters are gluten free, low carb, keto, and delicious! Get tips on how long to cook oysters in air fryer, what goes with breaded oysters, and more! This appetizer or main dish works with canned oysters, fresh oysters, or air fryer frozen oysters.
Have you tried fried oysters in air fryer yet? If not, consider this your sign.
These keto air fryer oysters use panko breadcrumbs made of pork rinds to keep the carbs down but flavor up! Though you can make air fryer oysters in the shell, using canned oysters instead offers several benefits:
- No shucking oysters
- Easy and low effort (minimal prep time!)
- Saves money
- No food safety issues (canned oysters are already cooked, so no worries about getting them to a safe temp)
I hope I’ve convinced you to give air fryer oysters no shell a try. Let the restaurants handle the oysters Rockefeller on the half shell, and try these easy air fried oysters with panko at home. You could also use this air fryer recipe to make air fryer mussels.
You’re going to love how tasty these air fryer fried oysters are without deep frying. We can make so many lower fat dishes with the air fryer, since we don’t need lots of added oil. (To make this oysters air fryer recipe low fat, simply swap the pork panko for regular panko bread crumbs.)
Oysters often get forgotten among the seafood options because they’re so pricey. I hope this inexpensive baked oyster recipe (no shell) encourages you to give them a go!
Jump to:
- ⭐ Do you rinse oysters before frying?
- 🦪 Air Fryer Oysters Ingredients
- 🔪 How to Air Fry Oysters
- ⏲️ Air Fryer Oysters Time and Temp
- 🥶 How long to air fry frozen oysters?
- ❓️ Can you overcook oysters?
- 🧂 Oysters Dipping Sauces
- 🌡️ Can you reheat oysters?
- 🥗 What pairs well with oysters?
- 📋Calories, Net Carbs, Protein
- 💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
- FAQs
- 👨🏾🍳 More Air Fryer Recipes for Seafood
- The Disclaimer…
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
⭐ Do you rinse oysters before frying?
Yes, you should rinse fresh oysters and canned oysters in cold water before cooking. Fresh oysters collect sand, dirt, and other debris in their shells that should be rinsed away. Canned oysters should be rinsed and patted dry with paper towels to help the breading stick.
🦪 Air Fryer Oysters Ingredients
Here’s your shopping list for oysters in the air fryer:
- Oysters (canned in water or fresh)
- Large egg
- Old Bay seasoning
- Pork panko
- Garlic powder
- Dried parsley
- Salt and pepper
- Lemon wedges and cocktail sauce for serving
Specific quantities of ingredients are located in the recipe card at the bottom of the post!
I’m using shucked whole oysters canned in water for this recipe, and they are what I recommend. The only ingredients are oysters, water, and salt.
Canned smoked oysters will give you a different flavor. The cooking time and amount of breading you need may change if you use oyster pieces.
Old Bay has salt in it, so you will likely not need much additional salt. Most brands of pork panko also contain a significant amount of salt.
I tested this recipe with a 10-Quart Kalorik Digital Air Fryer Oven. You can make air fryer oysters in a Ninja Foodi, Philips, Nuwave, Pampered Chef, Actifry, Instant Pot Vortex, Cosori, Breville, or another air fryer.
Cooking times may need to be adjusted depending on the air fryer you use. Always check the food early the first time you try any new air fryer recipe.
If you’re using fresh oysters, you’ll also need a meat thermometer to check the temp. Canned oysters are precooked, so there’s no need to check them. (Technically, it’s safe to eat canned oysters right from the can.)
What are the best canned oysters?
I find Crown Prince oysters the best in terms of flavor. Unfortunately, I can’t always find them in my local stores.
I used Bumblebee oysters in this recipe. Since most of the flavor in this recipe is coming from the seasoning and panko, the brand of oysters you use matters less. Find a brand of whole oysters packed in water, and you have a winner.
🔪 How to Air Fry Oysters
Here are the step-by-step directions for how to make oysters in an air fryer:
- Drain the canned oysters in a colander. Rinse them in cool water and dry them on clean paper towels.
- Put the egg and Old Bay in a medium size bowl. Whisk them together.
- In a large bowl, whisk the pork panko, garlic powder, parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Put the clean and dry oysters in the egg mixture. Stir to coat well.
- Carefully lift the oysters out of the egg with a fork. Place them in the bowl of herbed crumbs. Stir to coat each piece.
- Place the coated oysters in a single layer in your air fryer basket or air fryer tray. Try to space them out as much as possible for more even cooking. Now it’s time to air fry them!
⏲️ Air Fryer Oysters Time and Temp
How long to air fry oysters? What temp to air fry oysters? Air fry oysters for a total of 8 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177C). Let them cool for 2 minutes before serving.
There is no need to preheat the air fryer and no need to flip the oysters. Use the top rack position if you have an air fryer oven.
If using fresh oysters, check with a meat thermometer to ensure they're at 145F (63C). Add more cooking time if needed.
Serve the oysters with your favorite dipping sauce and a squeeze of lemon juice. You could also garnish with a little fresh parsley. Enjoy!
🥶 How long to air fry frozen oysters?
To make air fryer frozen oysters, first thaw the air fryer oysters without breading. After you have your defrosted air fryer oysters no breading, you can proceed with the recipe above.
To thaw the oysters, air fry for 2-3 minutes at 400F (200C). After they’ve thawed, pat them dry on paper towels before breading and cooking.
❓️ Can you overcook oysters?
Yes, you can overcook oysters. Overcooked oysters may be overly dry, rubbery, or even burned. Fresh oysters are easier to overcook than canned.
🧂 Oysters Dipping Sauces
Air fryer oysters are made for dipping! Here are some ideas for fried oyster dips:
- Cocktail sauce
- Tartar sauce
- Garlic butter
- Lemon butter sauce
- Hot pepper sauce (Tabasco)
- Sweet chili sauce
- Keto cheese sauce
You could also try flavoring them with Worcestershire sauce or some horseradish.
🌡️ Can you reheat oysters?
This recipe makes a small number of servings and is best prepared and enjoyed fresh. If you must, you can keep leftover oysters in a covered airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Reheat cooked oysters in an air fryer at 350F (177C) for 4 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time.
Can you freeze oysters?
I do not recommend freezing leftovers of this recipe, as the breading will not be as crispy when thawed. Fresh oysters in the shell should only be frozen live (source). Freezing will change the flavor and texture of the oysters.
How long can oysters be frozen?
According to Foodsafety.gov, properly frozen oysters can be kept in the freezer for 3-4 months.
🥗 What pairs well with oysters?
What goes with fried oysters? This oysters recipe is great by itself as an appetizer with a dip and lemon slices. Here are some side dishes for oysters if you’d rather make them a meal:
📋Calories, Net Carbs, Protein
One serving of air fryer oysters has 489 calories, 3.7 gram net carbs, and 54.6 grams protein. This is for half the recipe; you’ll likely have a smaller portion if enjoying as an appetizer.
💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). Are oysters good for you? Oysters are a nutrient-dense shellfish that are rich in protein as well as highly bioavailable heme iron, vitamin B12, and zinc. For most people, I would consider oysters to be a healthy and low calorie lean protein option.
Are fried oysters healthy? Fried oysters that have been breaded or battered are much higher in calories than plain oysters. Added oil from frying and white flour add a lot of (mostly) empty calories to this otherwise nutritious seafood.
Air frying reduces the fat in fried oysters compared to deep frying. Unfortunately, the delicious pork panko brings the fat content right back up.
Using whole wheat panko in place of pork panko in this recipe can lower the fat and calories. However, you may want to use a cooking spray on the oysters in this case. Otherwise, they may turn out too dry.
According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch List, most types of oysters are sustainable seafood choices. Oysters are also some of the best choices for low mercury seafood (FDA).
If you’re looking for a heart healthy seafood option, oysters are a great choice. It’s what we add to the oysters that makes them a bit less healthful, not the oysters themselves.
FAQs
Some reasons fried oysters didn’t crisp include they weren’t cooked long enough and they were put in the oil too early. The oil needs to get hot enough to properly crisp and fry oysters. In this recipe, the oysters may not get crispy if they weren’t dried thoroughly before breading.
A popular myth in the US is that oyster season is during months that have the letter “r.” It's true that the risk of Vibrio is a bit higher in warmer months (FDA). However, properly handled and prepared oysters are safe to eat at any time of year.
Oysters remind me of whole belly clams and other slightly chewy, briny shellfish. They shouldn’t taste overly fishy, and some say they even taste a bit sweet and buttery.
It’s better to make air fryer breaded oysters, because battered oysters tend to drip in the air fryer. Your clean-up will be much easier if you stick to breaded air fryer oyster recipes.
Yes, fried oysters should be safe to eat if they were properly handled and cooked to a safe temp. The minimum safe internal temp for oysters is 145F (63C). Raw and undercooked oysters may make you sick from the foodborne illness Vibriosis (CDC).
👨🏾🍳 More Air Fryer Recipes for Seafood
Enjoyed the oyster recipe air fryer idea and want more? Here are some other seafood recipes for the air fryer:
- Air Fryer Calamari
- Air Fryer Tuna Steak
- Frozen Cod in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Sea Bass
- Frozen Salmon in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Scallops
- Air Fryer Tilapia
Don’t miss our entire collection of Air Fryer Recipes while you’re here! (Psst... this Air Fryer Oyster Mushrooms recipe has the perfect “oysters” for vegan diets!)
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The Disclaimer…
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be wildly inaccurate, so please don't sweat the numbers too much.
For more information on how the three recipe levels may help with a weight management goal, refer to my overnight oats no sugar post. Let's get cooking!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Oysters Recipe (Time and Temp)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces oysters 226 grams (whole shucked oysters canned in water)
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 cup pork panko
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- salt and pepper, to taste
- cocktail sauce and lemon wedges (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Drain the canned oysters in a colander. Rinse them in cool water and dry them on clean paper towels.
- Put the egg and Old Bay in a medium size bowl. Whisk them together.
- In a large bowl, combine the pork panko, garlic powder, parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Put the clean and dry oysters in the egg mixture. Stir to coat well.
- Carefully lift the oysters out of the egg with a fork. Place them in the bowl of herbed crumbs. Stir to coat each piece.
- Place the coated oysters in a single layer in your air fryer basket or air fryer tray. Try to space them out as much as possible for more even cooking.
- Air fry oysters for a total of 8 minutes at 350°F (177°C). Let them cool for 2 minutes before serving.
- Serve the oysters with cocktail sauce or your favorite dipping sauce and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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