How Many Oysters Are in a Sack? A Thorough Breakdown

Oysters are a popular shellfish enjoyed by many for their rich, briny taste and meaty texture. If you’re an oyster lover buying them in bulk, you’ve probably wondered – just how many oysters actually come in a sack? The number can vary quite a bit depending on the type and size of sack. In this article, we’ll provide a thorough breakdown of oyster sack sizes and how many oysters you can expect to get.

Typical Oyster Sack Sizes

Oysters are sold commercially in burlap sacks that typically come in these common sizes:

• Retail sack: around 30-40 lbs, contains 80-120 oysters
• Bushel: around 45-60 lbs, contains 100-150 oysters
• Boat sack: around 80 lbs, contains up to 220 oysters

Retail sacks are best suited for personal consumption or smaller events. Bushel sacks can feed larger gatherings. Boat sacks are mainly for commercial buyers since they contain lower quality oysters.

Now let’s look at each type of sack in more detail

Retail Oyster Sacks

Retail sacks are the most common size sold for personal use. Here’s what to expect:

• Weigh 30-40 pounds
• Contain 80-120 oysters
• Oysters are graded for consistent quality and size
• Typically costs $30-$60

A 30-40 pound retail sack provides enough oysters for a small dinner party or oyster roast for 4-6 people. The oysters will be nicely sorted for shell shape and size uniformity since they are sold commercially Expect to pay $1-$2 per oyster

Bushel Oyster Sacks

Bushel sacks are the next size up from retail sacks. Details:

• Weigh 45-60 pounds
• Contain 100-150 oysters
• Less sorting than retail sack oysters
• Prices range from $60-$150

With 100-150 oysters, a bushel sack can feed up to 25-30 people. You may get more variability in size and shape since they are less sorted than retail sacks. Price per oyster drops to $0.50-$1.50 each.

Boat Sacks of Oysters

Boat sacks are the largest size sold:

• Weigh around 80 pounds
• Contain up to 220 oysters
• Primarily sold to commercial buyers
• Least uniformity in quality and size

Boat sacks come direct from oyster boats and contain a mix of small, misshapen, and clustered oysters. Since they’re not graded for quality, you get more oysters per sack but of lower quality than retail or bushel sacks. Stick to boat sacks only if buying large quantities for commercial use.

Why Oyster Counts Vary

Even with typical size ranges, oyster counts per sack can vary slightly. Here are some factors that affect the numbers:

• Oyster size – Larger oysters mean fewer per sack, smaller means more.

• Shell shape – Misshapen oyster shells take up more space.

• Clustering – Clumped oysters reduce the number that fit in a sack.

• Regional differences – Oyster size varies between growing regions.

• Time of year – Oysters grow more over summer, increasing size.

Your best bet is to ask sellers for an approximate count if you need to know exactly how many oysters you’re getting.

Storing Oyster Sacks

To keep sack oysters fresh until use:

• Keep sacks chilled at 38-40°F constantly.

• Don’t let oysters sit in standing water which speeds spoilage.

• Discard any oysters with cracked shells or foul odors.

• Store shucked oyster meat drained on ice in a covered container and use within 4 days.

Proper icing and drainage preserves shelf life. Only buy sacks far in advance if you have refrigeration to store them.

Enjoying Oysters from a Sack

No matter which size sack you get, there are endless ways to serve and eat delicious oysters:

• Shuck and serve raw over crushed ice with mignonette, lemon, and cocktail sauce.

• Grill, fry, bake, or smoke oysters for appetizers.

• Add chopped oysters to pasta, soups, stews, and stuffing.

• Rockefeller, Casino, Oregano, or Bienville baked oyster recipes.

So now that you know approximately how many oysters come in retail, bushel, and boat sacks, you can better plan for your next oyster feast!