How to Cook Scallops Like a Pro

Discover how to cook scallops and you’ll want to make them often. Are you a seafood enthusiast, always on the lookout for new amazing seafood recipes to try out? Once you know how to cook scallops and you will be able to rustle up a great meal.

I have got something you will love. In this post, I’m going to be showing you five great ways to prepare a scallop dish.

Scallops are bivalve shellfish with two scalloped shells that are abundantly present in the world’s oceans with a flat, fan-shaped bottom shell and a dome-shaped top shell.

The edible portion of the scallop is the white abductor muscle with a naturally mild sweet, soft fleshy and delicate of flavor. You can try a combination of the male (grey-pink) and the female (orange) for a tasteful delicacy that got a lot of aesthetic appeal as well. 

Types of Scallops

Discover more about this seafood and you will be way ahead knowing how to cook scallops. There are different varieties of scallops but, in the US, only three out of the myriad of species are popular and edible.

They are:

• sea scallops
• calico scallops
• bay scallops

Learn more about each of these so you discover how to cook scallops and which ones to choose each time.

• Sea Scallops: The sea scallops are the largest of the scallops with some growing to over one and half to two inches in diameter. They are free living and are often found in the open waters
• Calico scallops: These ones are found around Southern Atlantic coasts and the US gulf. They are inherently different from the sea and bay scallops in that their shells are tightly closed and can only be steamed opened before preparation.
• Bay Scallops: Though smaller than the sea scallops, some enthusiast think they are sweeter than sea scallops.

How to Cook Scallops: Availability

Scallops are available all year round. The season for the bay scallop is between Octobers through to March, while the big open water scallops are available from December through May.

How to Cook Scallops: Where to Buy Them

You can get them pre-packed from your local grocery store as either a “wet” scallop or ‘dry’ scallops. ‘Dry’ scallops are creamy or sometimes you’d find some that are fawn in color these ones are unprocessed.

For ‘wet’ scallops they are most times very white, and this is because they have been processed with phosphates to keep them fleshy and fresh.

The thing with processed scallops is that, the additive used in the treatment could make them absorb excess moisture, which most times are as much as 50 percent of their weight, hence ballooning how much they weigh. Since they are sold by weight, you’d be paying higher for them. Knowing how to buy them is as important as learning how to cook scallops.

About Frozen Scallops: Are They Any Good?

You might find yourself purchasing frozen scallops, well, the thing is, and they could be a great value. However, when thawing, it is better to slowly defrost so as to retain their plumpness.

To do this, defrost them in the refrigerator overnight without bringing them out of the bag and in a situation where you are pressed for time – and you need to thaw them quickly – run them under a stream of cold water until they are thawed.

How to Cook Scallops: How to Store Them Fresh 

It is ideal to use the scallops the same day you purchased them, but if you must store them, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Scallops store well in temperatures well below 38 degrees F (3.5 degrees C). So, if you keep your refrigerator above this temperature, you’d have to make some adjustments.
• Prepare this setup for storing the scallops: get a container, preferably a plastic container, with holes at the bottom and place in a deeper plastic container.
• Place ice in the perforated container and spread the scallops on it. Tightly cover with a damp paper towel, and store in the coolest part of the refrigerator.
• Even with this precaution, you should use them within a day or two. 

General Tips on Cooking Scallops

A rule of thumb when preparing scallops is to undercook rather than overcook. Serving scallops half-cooked is safe and you’d surely enjoy the delectable plump delicacy.  

Another reason for chomping servings of undercooked scallop is because when overcooked it gets tough and rubbery and that wouldn’t give you the best culinary experience. Good to know when you learn how to cook scallops.

In case, you are planning on using a dry-heating method to cook your scallops, it’s important you remember to purchase a dry pack scallops. Do you know why? A wet pack is more likely to steam in all the excess water it gives off, that it would overcook even before having the chance to caramelize.

Nutritional Contents of Scallops

Are scallops healthy? Well, seafood is generally packed full with proteins, vitamins, and minerals so are scallops. But, what makes them even more desirable is that they are not only chock-full with these health enhancing contents but also has little mercury content which is a major concern with eating seafood.

To get an idea of what you’d be getting when you eat scallops; here’s a run down of the nutritional content:

Scallops are a rich source of lean protein, and according to the US Food and Drug Administration, Scallops are rich in calcium, sodium, vitamin C and A, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium and zinc. So you see you’d be topping up on essential nutrients needed for a healthy living.

How to Cook Scallops: Their Health Benefits

Scallops are packed with a magnificent health benefits due to the array of vital nutrients they contain.

• Rich source of lean protein: Protein as we know is a vital nutrient required by the body to maintain a balanced metabolic process. The amino acids from protein are utilized in building up and maintaining muscle mass, repair worn-out tissues, and replenishing deplete body fluids.
• They prevent stroke: Scallops have a high content of antioxidants and minerals which eliminates blood clotting, improves blood circulation and help maintain a healthy supply of blood to the brain.
• They promote cardiovascular health: Scallops are chuck-full with omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin B12, and antioxidants, which help keep the blood cholesterol level down, enhance red blood count and keep the heart going strong.

The Prep Work

Scallops are incredibly easy to prepare before cooking. Simply wash and pat them dry, then check on the sides to see if there’s any strand of muscle still attached to it and remove either by cutting with a knife or pulling them out with your fingers.

If you cook the scallop without removing the muscles, they feel tougher and chewy than the rest of the scallop, so it’s best to just get rid of them.

How to Tell when Scallops are Done

Overcooking scallops is bad – you know this already, right? But, you might not be aware of the tell-tale signs that show they are done. So, I’m going to tell you.

Remember scallops are primarily protein, and proteins often turn from translucent to opaque when cooked. Think of eggs, recall how egg-whites turn from clear translucent color to opaque white – that’s basically the same thing that happens to scallops when cooked.

But, please, don’t ever walk away when cooking them – keep watchful eyes over them. Scallops cook incredibly fast – so a small distraction and before you know it, they are overcooked. Yep, another very important tip on how to cook scallops.

Another foolproof method to know when they are done is to cut open a small opening to check for ‘doneness’. With time you wouldn’t have to do this, since you would have known how long it takes to cook and by merely looking at them will know whether it is done or not.

5 Must-Try Methods to Cook Scallops

So you want to learn how to cook scallops? Let’s get started. There are several ways to cook your seafood. You can either sear or grill them. You can also opt to sauté, poach or stir-fry this versatile seafood. There’s practically so much you can do with scallops, tap into your creativity and come up with a dish that will leave your taste buds tingling.

Now, I can imagine you are itching to get your hands on these delectable recipes on how to prepare a delicious dish of scallop. But, before going onto the recipes – I believe you’d want to know how prep for the cooking and when to know when they are cooked.

Sear Them to Golden Heaven

The secret to getting a deep brown to golden color on both sides of the scallop is figuring out a way to remove the water content in the seafood even before ever attempting to cook them or better still, purchasing the fresh ‘dry’ scallops.

Now, you really need to get this part of ‘how to cook scallops’ just right, or you would watch as your scallop steam and cook without ever turning into that desired golden color.

So, let’s say, you’ve decided to prepare a meal of scallop and you intend to sear them. Follow this direction to get the best possible result with your effort:

Definition of terms:

Searing is a form of cooking that involves using blistering hot heat to seal in juices by forming a delicious golden-brown crust.

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Photo by Aimee Plesa, on Flickr

Grilling Scallops for the Weekend

Its weekend and you have some friends coming over for some fun and a bit to eat. Give them a treat to remember with this grilled scallop recipe. Easy to prep, fast to cook – you wouldn’t break a sweat doing this once you follow the steps outlined here. And I bet your friends will really thank you for this.

Buying Tips

Go for the biggest plump scallops you could find. The large sized scallops are able to withstand the heat more than the smaller ones and they wouldn’t turn bouncy rubbery on you as fast as the small sized scallops would do.

Pick the jumbo pack which contains about ten scallops per pound.

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Photo by Stu_Spivack, on Flickr

Scallop Stir Fry Recipe

Are you thinking of what to do with the extra scallops left over? Or perhaps you need a quick meal recipe to celebrate with your family. This easy to prepare, fast to cook scallop recipe is what you need and sure enough it is very tasty!

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Photo by The Marmot, on Flickr

Baked Scallops Recipe

So, some of your friends are coming over for the Friday night party and you’ve worried your heart out on what meal to make for the night? You’d prefer something that’s easy to make, take less time and would still leave a great impression.

Here’s a quick recipe you can try and I promise it wouldn’t take you more than 25 minutes to prep and get the dish ready and I assure you, your guests are going to love it.

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Photo by Garrett Ziegler, on Flickr

Poached Scallops with Leeks and Carrots

This is really a super-fast recipe for those moments when you’re pinched for time. Discover how to cook scallops via poaching.

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Photo by Stu_Spivack, on Flickr

How to Cook Scallops: Wrapping It Up

Scallops are versatile seafood you can prepare in a number of ways. I hope these cooking methods and recipes in this post give you the kick to try it for yourself.

Once you are familiar with how to cook scallops, you will want to try all these delicious recipes! If you want to try something else, maybe check out this baked scallop pasta recipe. It’s really good comfort food.