Frozen scallops are a great thing to have on hand for a quick weeknight dinner. Seafood maintains a great quality of freshness when it’s been kept frozen. Scallops are a great source of protein for when you are wanting a light seafood dinner.
While the ideal way to thaw out frozen scallops, and seafood in general, is in the fridge — sometimes you don’t have the time. You can opt to quickly thaw your scallops with cold water or in the microwave. The microwave should be used as a last resort, however.
The important thing is that you defrost your scallops safely so that they stay the proper quality to eat. You don’t want to get sick while you’re enjoying your home-cooked seafood dinner.
How to Thaw Scallops Quickly With Cool Water
When you’re in a bit of a rush, this is going to be the best option for you to thaw your scallops. You’ll need a plastic bag to place your scallops into for this method. You don’t want the water to be directly touching the scallops themselves.
- Remove your scallops from the freezer and place them into a sealed bag.
- Place the scallops into a large bowl and then run cool or cold water over them. Hot or warm water could begin cooking them, which you don’t want.
- Allow the scallops to sit in the water for up to half an hour for a pound of scallops. Longer if necessary.
- Replace the water once or twice, to ensure it’s staying at the correct temperature.
- Drain the water and place the scallops onto a paper towel. This soaks up any water that they released during the defrosting process.
This is a fairly easy method to use to defrost your scallops. It takes a few steps, however. You need to make sure you don’t forget about the scallops or else they could go off if they’ve been sitting for too long.
How to Thaw Scallops Quickly in the Microwave
This method should only be used if you’re incredibly short on time and can’t wait for the water method. You must keep a very watchful eye on your scallops to ensure they stay safe to eat.
Keep in mind, the microwave can cook the scallops slightly due to the heat. This may change the texture and make it a bit rubbery.
- Place your frozen scallops into a microwave-safe bowl.
- Cover the scallops with a paper towel and set your microwave to the defrost setting.
- Check on the scallops after 20-30 seconds and repeat the process if necessary.
The paper towel will help to absorb any steam that the scallops let off as they heat. This can prevent some unnecessary cooking. Overall, this method will work if done correctly.
In Conclusion
Scallops can be a delicious and healthy meal and they’re a popular seafood ingredient to many pasta dishes. Whether you want to sear them in a cast-iron or grill them outside, they’re sure to be a hit.
If you need to defrost your scallops quickly, you should use the cold water method. However, if you don’t have thirty minutes — you can try the microwave method as well. If you have more time, the best way to thaw scallops is in the refrigerator.
The number one thing you have to be careful of is that you don’t leave your scallops at room temperature for too long. This can cause them to be unsafe for consumption.
