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    Home

    Air Fryer Oysters (Opening Oysters The Easiest Way)

    Last Updated: May 12, 2023 by Suzy Sakamoto · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

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    Air Fryer Oysters gets the fuss of shucking done for you so you can get right back to popping the bubbly and hosting your guests! This is the easiest way to opening oysters on the shell without a shucking knife and a minimal mess.

    Pair this easy oyster opening method with my go-to Mediterranean-style oyster vinaigrette sauce and serve in under 10 minutes! You really can't beat this quick appetizer!


    Table of Contents

    • Opening Oysters In The Air Fryer?
    • EASIEST WAY TO SHUCK OYSTERS
    • RECIPE INGREDIENTS
    • HOW TO COOK OYSTERS IN AIR FRYER
    • Sign up to receive our Seafood & Wine Pairing!
    • TOP TIPS
    • STORAGE TIPS
    • FAQ
    • WHAT TO SERVE WITH THIS RECIPE
    • BEST WINE WITH OYSTERS
    • MORE SEAFOOD APPETIZERS
    • Air Fryer Oysters (And Opening Oysters The Easiest Way)
    • MORE SEAFOOD RECIPES

    Opening Oysters In The Air Fryer?

    Absolutely! Opening oysters in the Air Fryer is the next best thing to air frying frozen fish and air frying frozen shrimp.

    Air fryer oysters easily is my best expert trick to easily shuck oysters while juggling hosting a crowd. It also cooks them slightly, which is the sweet spot in my book.

    So, next time you have oysters on the menu, try this amazing hack that's been a lifesaver for me! Experiment with various oysters and different mignonettes to find which one works best for you.

    oysters open when cooked in airfryer

    Although, Wikipedia says you need special skills to shuck an oyster (and you really do, if you want to shuck yourself) but they sure need to keep up with the fun hacks that don't require any skills and little time, thanks to the air fryer for being such a staple in many homes.

    EASIEST WAY TO SHUCK OYSTERS

    With this simple and efficient technique, you can effortlessly open oysters and savor them without any hassle.

    When using an air fryer, wait for them to pop open and immediately remove them if you prefer them to stay raw. When they open, they make a popping noise, so stay close by!

    I like to plate them on ice at this point and add the mignonette of choice.

    If you want to cook them a little bit longer, then keep them in the air fryer for an additional minute or two.

    oysters in air fryer

    And, yes we have an oyster shucking knife and all, but sometimes one less thing to do when you're hosting a crowd, is well, one less thing to do. And, everyone needs a good seafood hack from time to time.

    The air fryer is my favorite tool when I'm working with seafood on a time crunch. There's almost nothing you can't cook in the air fryer. I love making air fryer halibut with pesto, to air fry frozen fish, air fry frozen shrimp, and these air fryer crab rangoons are one of the best things to come out of an air fryer!

    So, take this trick and grab local oysters from a nearby seafood market, and try it out for yourself!

    And, don't forget to try my Mediterranean-style Oyster vinaigrette sauce, where I take a spice staple in my pantry and add to this sauce that makes it unique and phenomenal!

    RECIPE INGREDIENTS

    • A dozen fresh raw oysters. There are a wide range of stores in metro areas that sell fresh oysters. Shop around for the best quality.

      A few tips on shellfish safety: The rule of thumb is if they smell like fish, don't buy them. They should smell like salt water. Some stores include fish markets, grocery stores with a large seafood/meat counter, or turn to online shellfish distributors. Order online and they ship to your order.

    • Hot sauce or use my oyster topping sauce.

    EQUIPMENT & SPECIAL INGREDIENTS

    My favorite Air Fryer and Indoor Grill. I use this almost daily and a must for easily opening oysters.
    This air fryer has a built-in thermometer that comes in so handy for cooking other seafood.

    oysters in the air fryer with time and temp listed

    HOW TO COOK OYSTERS IN AIR FRYER

    Step 1. Oyster Safety Check. Make sure all the oysters are completely closed. If any of them are open, and don't close after you're touching them, toss them.

    Step 2. Preheat air fryer to 425 Degrees F.

    Step 3. Air fry oysters for 8-10 minutes. Depending on the size of your oysters and how cold they were. Aim to cook them for another 2 minutes after you hear them pop open, which typically happens around 7 minutes in. Allow them time to cool off before handling.

    Step 4. Transfer them to an oyster platter, or a plate and top them with sauce of choice, either hot sauce, or try this oyster vinaigrette.

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    checking oysters for safety

    TOP TIPS

    1. Make sure oysters are fresh and safe to consume (they don't have a foil scent, and they're completely closed prior to cooking).

    2. Don't over cook them. They will become rubbery, and no one likes that. That can be easily done with cooking oysters in air fryers, so keep a close eye.

    3. Stay close by! Staying close to the air fryer to hear them pop, and making sure they only cook for another minute or two tops. Opening oysters in the air fryer couldn't be easier!

    STORAGE TIPS

    Store them on the shell.

    Choose a large enough container that has a lid to close air tight. Store in the fridge for up to 2 days with or without sauce.

    Store them shelled.

    Shelling them creates less room in the fridge of course, and though there's less ambiance with shelled oysters, there's still plenty of ways to enjoy them. Top them to a sandwich, a salad, or make my absolutely mouthwatering Oyster Croissant Stuffing Recipe that typically uses smoked oysters, but can be subbed for fresh.

    FAQ

    What's the best way to cook an oyster?

    The best way to cook oysters is actually in the air fryer! Gone are the days where you relied on your grill or oven, with an air fryer in almost every home it's a quick and easy way to opening oysters and cooking them. It takes just about 7-8 minutes from start to finish on a 425F preheat air fryer.

    How long should oysters be cooked?

    Cooking oysters in the air fryer can be done in just about 8 minutes. Since they come in all kinds of sizes, gauge the time by staying nearby and listening to them pop open from their shell, and time another 2 minutes to further cook them.

    oysters cooked in air fryer with vinaigrette topping and garnished with parsley

    WHAT TO SERVE WITH THIS RECIPE

    Serve Air fryer oysters with a Mignonette or Vinaigrette. I've made a few sauces for oysters in the past, but my current favorite is this Mediterranean style sauce. I brought my roots into it, and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.

    Try this Fried Feta and Strawberry Salad alongside! and if you're going to use the Mediterranean oyster vinaigrette sauce that I pair with this recipe, you would love this Tabouli Salad to enjoy as a side salad.

    As far as main dishes, the options are endless, since we're definitely not limited with seafood in the PNW. If you're in the salmon mood, you have to try this Smoky Bourbon Brown Sugar Salmon. If you're looking for a white fish or rock fish recipe, go for this Rosemary Parmesan Crusted Fish or this amazing 3 ingredient Boursin Bacon Fish recipe that knocks it out of the park in both simplicity and taste!

    Don't forget to air fry shrimp to make a speedy dinner!

    Make this Croissant Oyster stuffing with any leftovers!

    BEST WINE WITH OYSTERS

    The best wine to pair with oysters is either Pinot gris, Prosecco, Brut, or Champagne. Going for a bubbly is the go-to choice for shellfish.

    If you'd like more wine and seafood pairings, make sure you subscribe to get a full list of all of our favorite wine and what seafood to pair with.

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    I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU! When you make this air fryer oysters recipe, please RATE using the stars in the recipe card, and COMMENT at the end of the page how you enjoyed this dish.

    BONUS: Share this recipe with others (there's an easy SHARE on FB button in the recipe card!).

    oysters cooked in air fryer with vinaigrette topping and garnished with parsley

    Air Fryer Oysters (And Opening Oysters The Easiest Way)

    Air Fryer oysters are the easiest and fastest way to opening oysters on the shell without a shucking knife and sacrificing your hands!
    Pair with my go-to Mediterranean-style oyster vinaigrette sauce and serve in under 10 minutes! You really can't beat this quick appetizer!
    5 from 9 votes
    Cuisine: Pacific Coast, Seafood
    Course: Appetizer
    Prep: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook: 9 minutes minutes
    Total: 14 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 servings
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    Equipment

    • 1 Air fryer

    Ingredients

    • 12 whole oysters
    • sauce of choice I suggest using my Oyster Vinaigrette Sauce

    Instructions

    • Always test the oysters before cooking, to make sure none are open or smell foul. Preheat the air fryer to 425°F.
    • Place as many oysters as can fit in one layer and cook until they pop open, about 7 minutes. Then cook another 2 minutes if you prefer to further cook them.
    • Repeat until all oysters are cooked. Top with a mignonette, vinaigrette, or hot sauce and let cool prior to enjoying.

    Notes

    Cooking Time Varies: Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your oysters, as well as their temperature upon cooking. It's best to stay close to the air fryer as you're cooking to listen for their pop and time another 2 minutes. 
    Storage: Store extras in an airtight container either shelled or on their shell. Completely depends on what you're using them for. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 29kcal
    Keywords: 15 minute meal, how to easily open oysters, opening oysters with heat, oysters on the half shell

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 9 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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    1. Ben Wheeler

      May 29, 2023 at 9:02 pm

      5 stars
      You just saved my hands! We tried this tonight and it turned out great. Opened the oysters faster than the oven or bbq! Thank you for sharing this easy trick!

      Reply
      • Suzy Sakamoto

        May 29, 2023 at 9:11 pm

        Hi Ben! I love sharing my seafood tricks and there's a ton with the air fryer if you haven't checked out my other great air fryer recipes!

        Reply
    2. Rhonda Olnick

      January 16, 2024 at 6:14 pm

      Went to see her presentation and tonight I made Brady’s fresh oysters in the air fryer! . Tasted like summer! Thanks for the inspiration.

      Reply
      • Suzy Sakamoto

        January 17, 2024 at 6:18 am

        Yay! I'm glad you got to try this recipe mid-winter 🙂 Thank you for your kind words, Rhonda! -Suzy

        Reply

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    seafood blogger in the pacific northwest

    Hi, I'm Suzy! Welcome to my Pacific Coast kitchen!

    Here you will find authentic Mediterranean recipes and a variety of fresh seafood recipes that are easy to achieve, feature fresh ingredients, and are packed with flavor! Growing up on the Mediterranean I cherish our current catch-and-cook lifestyle, and my seafood recipes are tested, perfected, and easy to re-create! Subscribe to get them via email, and in the meantime you can Shop My Kitchen!

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    seafood blogger in the pacific northwest

    Hi, I'm Suzy! Welcome to my Pacific Coast kitchen!

    Here you will find authentic Mediterranean recipes and a variety of fresh seafood recipes that are easy to achieve, feature fresh ingredients, and are packed with flavor! Growing up on the Mediterranean I cherish our current catch-and-cook lifestyle, and my seafood recipes are tested, perfected, and easy to re-create! Subscribe to get them via email, and in the meantime you can Shop My Kitchen!

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