Learn how to cook scallops perfectly so you can enjoy the wonderful flavour they bring to your dish without having to eat rubber!

Most people consider seafood as a little luxury, and scallops are no exception. However, because they are so easy to cook and super delicious, especially when paired with pasta, a good wine (or your favourite drink) and some lemon wedges, we consider them a go-to for easy weeknight dinners. Let’s show you how to cook scallops quickly and perfectly.

Before You Get Started

Wherever scallops are sold "dry," that is where you want to buy them. We've noticed that more and more grocery stores are labelling their scallops as either wet or dry, which we really appreciate. 

Wet Scallops

A moist scallop has been dipped in a phosphate solution for preservation. This causes the scallops to absorb more water, which causes them to kind of shrivel and cook more slowly due to the excess liquid. These scallops typically aren't as fresh and have an off flavour from the phosphate solution.

Dry Scallops

A dry scallop has not been given any chemical treatments, solutions, or additives. They are darker (more of a beige colour, as opposed to the wet scallops' whiter colour) and larger than the wet scallops. Always try to purchase dry scallops all the time.

Before cooking your scallops, prepare your ingredients and utensils. Clean the scallops using a scrubbing pad or sponge to remove any dirt, scales, or sand. Rinse them off and pat them dry with paper towels. If you are planning on cooking scallops that are less than a half-inch thick, leave them whole; otherwise, cut them into two pieces lengthwise before cooking.

This helps the scallops cook more evenly in the middle of the thicker parts of the meat and avoids overcooking around the edges. Place all of your prepared ingredients within arm’s reach for easy access during the cooking process.

Cooking scallops

Cooking scallops is easy; just make sure you don't overcook them. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the scallops in a single layer and let them cook for about two minutes. Then flip them over and cook for another two minutes. Add butter, lemon juice, garlic powder, and salt to taste.

What to serve with scallops

Oh yes, what to serve with scallops? You can serve scallops with something light like a simple celery salad, vegetables, rice, pasta, couscous, whatever you fancy! And obviously, after such a delicious meal, something to drink would be good. Check out our drinks category; we think a paloma cocktail will do the trick.

How to cook scallops in shell

Scallops come in a variety of sizes. You need to keep them on the smaller side so that you can cook them for a short amount of time. Cook scallops in shell by adding some vegetable oil to the pan and heating it over medium-high heat. Add your scallops to the pan, turn them once or twice until they are golden brown, and then flip them onto their opposite side.

Next, add white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up all those delicious brown bits on the bottom with a wooden spoon. When most of the liquid has evaporated from the pan (about one minute), cover it with a lid and reduce the heat to low for about two minutes. Serve immediately with lemon wedges! That’s a nice quick and easy dinner recipe, right?

The perfect scallop is moist and tender inside while crispy outside. The key to cooking them right is to have a hot pan so that when you put the scallops in, they will sear without needing to be turned more than once. As soon as they start cooking on the second side, pull them off the heat. 

A really important thing when cooking scallops is that when you put them in the pan, make sure not to crowd too many together because this will lower their temperature and make them steam instead of sear.

How to cook scallops in half shell

Grilling scallops in half shell is a simple and delicious way to prepare them. It's also an easy technique that anyone can master in just a few steps.

To grill scallops in half shell, start by preheating your grill to medium-high heat. Coat the scallops with olive oil and salt them to taste; this helps caramelise the scallops on the grill for a nice crispy crust. Place the scallops directly on the grates of the grill, cooking them for about three minutes per side, or until they are cooked through and their juices are running clear. For more flavour, try grilled scallops with garlic and parsley. Enjoy!

How to cook frozen scallops

Freezing scallops is a convenient way to have them on hand for when you feel like having seafood. It's a good idea to freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to an airtight container. Thawing frozen scallops in the fridge takes 24 hours. Alternatively, thaw them in cold water by placing the scallops in a colander or strainer and running cold water over them for about five minutes. 

The key to cooking perfect scallops is to sear the outside of the scallop quickly, so that it doesn't cook through all the way, then finish off by cooking it gently in butter and wine. We recommend using either clarified butter or olive oil for searing. Once you've seared your scallops, place them in a saucepan with some white wine and simmer until they're just cooked through (about two minutes). Add garlic if desired, pour into individual ramekins, top with breadcrumbs or parsley flakes and bake until golden brown (about 10 minutes). Serve with lemon wedges.

How to sear scallops

Still not too sure how to sear scallops? 

Searing scallops is a relatively simple process. You want to heat up a pan on high heat and add just enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Once the oil is hot, gently place the scallops in the pan, being careful not to overcrowd them. Let them sear for about 2 minutes before flipping them over and letting them sear for another 2 minutes on this side. For presentation purposes, it can be helpful to create an attractive crisscross pattern when you flip the scallops. Make sure you wait until both sides are seared and golden brown before taking them out of the pan, or they will overcook. Serve your seared scallops with some rice or pasta, or a good salad. 

How long to cook scallops

Scallops can be cooked in a variety of ways, and the cooking time will vary depending on how thick your scallops are (the thicker the better), so keep an eye on them as they cook to ensure they don't overcook and become rubbery. Usually, most people wondering how long to cook scallops are answered by searing scallops for about 2 minutes on each side so that they are clear on the outside but still a bit pink on the inside. This is because they will continue to cook even after you’ve removed them from the heat. Also, do not overcrowd your scallops while cooking, as they will steam up and become rubbery instead.

Best way to cook scallops

The best way to cook scallops is to sear them quickly in a hot pan with oil. This will help seal the scallops against moisture and leave them tender and delicious. The key is to make sure that you don't overcook your scallops by flipping them too soon.

Flip after two minutes on one side, then give it another minute before flipping again. You'll know they're done when they are opaque on the outside but still pink on the inside. They should not be fully cooked at this point, as they will continue cooking after being removed from the heat. To finish cooking them, add butter or olive oil to the pan and put it back over high heat until sizzling.

Add the scallops (in their original juices) to the pan with a bit of space between each one so they can get some colour on all sides without steaming themselves. Sear for 30 seconds per side or until golden brown. Serve immediately, with some quinoa for a change!

How to cook fried scallops

Cooking fried scallops is fairly simple.

1. Start by preheating your frying pan over medium-high heat and adding a small amount of oil to the pan. 
2. Season the scallops with salt, pepper, and any other desired spices and place them in the hot oil to fry. 
3. Cook for about three minutes on one side, then flip them over to cook for an additional two minutes on the other side. Remove them from the pan once they are browned on both sides and serve with a sauce of your choice! You can enjoy these delicious fried scallops with rice or veggies as well! We recommend serving it with honey soy sauce for a sweet taste or BBQ sauce for some more tangy flavour.

Here are some of our favourite recipes for cooking scallops:

• Seared scallops with citrus ginger quinoa
• Creamy rice with scallops
• Seared scallops with garlic basil butter
• Lemon garlic scallop pasta
• Brown butter scallops with parmesan risotto