Scallops are a delicious type of mollusk that are surprisingly easy to cook, even if you’re not a gourmet chef in the kitchen. That being said, you have to know how to cook scallops correctly because it is dangerous to eat them undercooked.
How To Tell if Scallops are Undercooked
When scallops are undercooked, they are tough to cut with a knife or fork, and they are white or grayish-white in color. Cooked scallops are tender and golden brown in color on both sides.
How Do You Know When a Scallop Is Done?
Scallops should not be overcooked or undercooked. If they are overcooked, they can be chewy and tough, and undercooked scallops can be dangerous because they can harbor bacteria that was part of their environment. Scallops are cooked properly when they are golden brown on both sides, when they flake apart slightly at the edges, and when they can be cut cleanly with a knife. They will never be tough to cut but instead will have the perfect texture. Keep these tips in mind when learning how to tell if your scallops are undercooked or cooked just right.
What Is the Temperature for Cooking Scallops?
Ideally, you should use some type of oil or butter in a pan to cook your scallops with, and you should use medium to medium-high heat. Only after the pan is heated up and the oil itself is hot should you place your scallops in the pan. This way, you won’t have to cook the scallops for long, and the scallops won’t soak up too much of the oil and/or butter, which can sometimes give them a slightly greasy taste.
How Long Should Scallops Be Cooked?
Scallops do not have to be cooked for very long, especially if you use fresh scallops. In fact, one of the best things about having scallops for lunch or dinner is that they cook quickly. For cooking time, most scallops of normal size can be cooked for three to five minutes on each side. Smaller scallops can sometimes be cooked for two to three minutes on each side, but you’ll want to baste them with a butter and oil mixture, and include your choice of herbs, to get them to taste scrumptious and delicious.
Are Scallops Supposed To Be Raw in the Middle?
Scallops should never be raw in the middle, and neither should foods such as clams, mollusks, and oysters. These types of undercooked seafood can have a lot of bacteria and other unhealthy ingredients in them that can make you very ill. Although it’s rare, undercooked scallops can even produce long-term health problems in some people. To be on the safe side, make sure you cook scallops the proper way, which means cooking them until they’re nice and brown on both sides.
What Happens if You Eat Undercooked Scallops?
Eating scallops that aren’t properly cooked can result in gastrointestinal or even viral infections. The symptoms usually occur four to 48 hours after eating this type of seafood, and they can include vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, abdominal pain, blood in the stool, and fever. The more severe the symptoms, the more likely it is that the food has caused an infection somewhere in the body.
If you’re in severe pain, you should seek immediate medical attention. If you get sick from eating seafood that is undercooked, let the doctor decide what the treatment should be.