Food database · Seafood

Protein content

Protein in Oysters

A 3 oz cooked serving of oysters contains 16.1 g of protein - a very good source of protein, about 32% of the 50 g Daily Value.

16.1 g
per 3 oz cooked

Protein breakdown

Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is very protein-dense.

Protein 46% of caloriesOther 54%
Protein and calorie figures for Oysters, per 3 oz cooked serving and per 100 g.
Serving3 oz cooked (85 g)
Protein per serving16.1 g
Protein per 100 g18.9 g
Calories per serving139 kcal
Protein density46% of calories
Share of 50 g Daily Value32%
Protein qualityComplete protein
CategorySeafood
Food typeWhole food
USDA recordFoodData Central #174250
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How much protein is in oysters?

A typical 3 oz cooked serving of oysters contains 16.1 grams of protein (18.9 g per 100 g), which makes it a very good source of protein. That covers roughly 32% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it can anchor a high-protein meal for the day.

Protein accounts for roughly 46% of the calories in oysters, making it very protein-dense. The rest comes from fat and carbohydrate, so it adds a solid amount of protein while still carrying real energy - useful when you are eating to a calorie target rather than under one.

Among the 121 seafood in the database, oysters ranks 88th by protein per serving, and 221st out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against catfish, another seafood entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (catfish has 15.6 g per 3 oz cooked).

It is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own. The serving above is measured by weight at 85 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.

Source: USDA FoodData Central #174250 - "Mollusks, oyster, Pacific, cooked, moist heat" (SR Legacy, published 4/1/2019). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.

Quick answers

Oysters protein FAQ

How much protein is in oysters per 100 g?

Oysters has 18.9 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 3 oz cooked serving (85 g) provides 16.1 g.

Is oysters a complete protein?

Yes. Oysters is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own.

How much of the Daily Value does a serving of oysters cover?

A 3 oz cooked serving of oysters contains 16.1 g of protein, about 32% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.

Is oysters a good source of protein?

Oysters is a very good source of protein, and about 46% of its calories come from protein, which makes it very protein-dense. Set against catfish, another seafood entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (catfish has 15.6 g per 3 oz cooked).

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