How to Defrost Scallops
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Scallops are one of the most top seafood that most people love to eat. It’s famous in most restaurants as an appetizer or even as a main dish. No visit to the beach can make us skip ordering this on any nearby seafood restaurants.
Even when it’s not available on other locations such as areas that don’t have a nearby beach, many seafood manufacturers package these succulent scallops to make available for the rest of its fanatics. However, it’s mostly frozen. Here’s what you can do to defrost scallops the right way.
Defrosting Scallops the Right Way
1. Defrosting Overnight
The most highly recommended way to defrost scallops to retain food quality and safety.
- Before you sleep at night, be sure to take out your scallops from the freezer and transfer it to the fridge instead.
- Place a Tupperware on your seafood or a ziplock bag so it won’t wet the rest of the food inside the fridge.
- Check the next morning, and you’ll see that it’s well defrosted.
- Take it out of the fridge and open the contents and check each of them if it’s well defrosted.
- Wash all the scallops very well with cold water before cooking.
Pros
The good thing about overnight defrosting in the fridge is that the scallops will defrost naturally without changing much of its internal temperature. It’s supposed to be cold, so it doesn’t lose its freshness. Also, it becomes less watery, even if it was hard frozen when you take it out. That’s the benefit of slowly defrosting scallops or any meat in general. And lastly, it’s easy to do. All you need to do is leave it in the fridge overnight.
Cons
The only thing is that it can take time, that’s why it’s advisable to do it overnight, so it’s defrosting while you’re asleep. If you’re trying to do this within the day, you might lose your patience and try to do other alternatives to cook and eat it as fast as possible.
2. Soak with Cold Water
Soaking the frozen scallops to defrost it is the second-best alternative that you can do. You can do it for a little over an hour.
- You will need to take out your frozen scallops at least two hours before you’re intended time of cooking it.
- Take a large clean container where you can place the scallops. The size of the container will vary depending on the contents of your scallops.
- Be sure to retain the scallops’ package and not expose it to air so that it’s fresh to eat.
- Then run some cold water on it until you cover it properly with water. Let it sit for about 10 minutes.
- Change the water now and then at least thrice within 30 minutes. This should be defrosted after 30 minutes again, depending on the amount of the scallops.
- Take out the water and open the package to check the scallops. Check if they are successfully defrosted.
- Then wash it thoroughly and prepare for cooking.
Pros
It takes 30 minutes to an hour to defrost the scallops. Perfect for last-minute dinner plans. You only need cold water to do the defrosting. The scallops will remain fresh and safe to eat afterward.
Cons
The risk of accidentally ripping the package and the cold water might get inside while soaking it. It can lose its flavor when soaked in the water for a long time, plus it poses a higher risk for contamination, especially if you don’t have clean tap water. Make sure to always check for holes and leaks from the package while soaking. Also, the constant changing of water sounds like a lot of work.
3. Using a Microwave Oven
Microwave Ovens have long been used to defrost on most meats. However, we do not recommend doing this regularly since it affects the quality of the food. Use this only for emergency purposes.
- Please take out your frozen scallops and transfer it in a microwaveable container.
- Always retain the package and never open it. Check for the holes just in case. You shouldn’t expose your scallops to heat directly.
- Set your microwave oven to defrost and put the time for at least 3 minutes.
- Check the scallops after 3 minutes if it’s well defrosted. If not, repeat the same step without changing any settings. Do this until the scallops are no longer frozen.
- It can take for about at least two tries before one can defrost it. That still depends on the amount you’re defrosting. The bigger the contents, the longer it is to defrost.
- Then, take it out from the oven and open the contents to check each of them if it’s well defrosted.
- Wash the scallops well and prepare for cooking.
Pros
It’s the fastest way of defrosting your frozen scallops, especially when you don’t have enough time to dedicate to cooking.
Cons
If not monitored well, the scallops might cook inside the microwave oven. It can risk losing its ideal flavors, texture, and aroma. That’s why it’s essential to check it regularly when choosing this method.
Important Things to Note:
- Never refreeze defrosted meats again. This will affect the safety and quality of the food.
- One should consume defrosted foods or meats as soon as possible. You can’t let contaminants overpopulate the food.
- Do not use hot water when defrosting meats; it will only cook the meat instead of defrosting it.
How do you thaw frozen scallops?
The best way to defrost frozen sea scallops is to place them in the refrigerator overnight. Take the scallops out of the package, put them in a large dish or bowl and cover the top with plastic wrap before leaving the seafood to thaw in the refrigerator.
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