In this article, I have covered information about eating leftover scallops by including them in different recipes. You will also learn how to reheat them and how long they last. So, get ready to enjoy eating leftover scallops in new and interesting ways.
Contents
Can you eat leftover scallops?
You can eat leftover scallops by storing them properly and eating them before their expiration date. Make sure to refrigerate or freeze the leftover scallops until you are ready to eat them.
You should also thaw the leftovers overnight in the fridge before reheating them in a microwave if necessary. And, lastly, don’t forget to use your leftover scallops within 3-4 days of preparing your dish.
In fact, scallops are so versatile that they can be served as appetizers on toast or with pasta, used in soups and salads, or even baked into mini fish cakes. They offer an exciting new flavor profile to keep your cooking adventures fresh and fun. Make sure not to overcook these tasty shellfish — they don’t last very long!
What to do with leftover scallops?
You can use scallops in a variety of recipes as well as a tasty appetizer. Here are some ideas for recipes to use up leftover scallops and what you can use them for:
Scallop Po’ Boy Sandwich
Ingredients: leftover scallops, mayonnaise, red onions, bacon, and crusty bread.
Direction: Heat a skillet to medium-high heat, and pan-fry the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain it on a paper towel.
Add onions to the pan with some olive oil and saute until tender. In a separate bowl, mix all of the remaining ingredients then spread it on your crusty bread along with the onion mixture, then top with the crispy bacon bits.
Serve with a drizzle of your favorite BBQ sauce and enjoy!
Mediterranean Scallops
Ingredients: scallops, Greek olives, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, onion, and crushed garlic.
Direction: Saute onion and garlic in olive oil. Add the olives, scallops, and lemon juice to the pan and stir until the scallops are done to your liking. Enjoy with crusty bread or over linguini noodles.
Scallops salad
Ingredients: scallops, crisp lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and spices.
Direction: Add the leftover scallops to a plate and top with some lettuce, tomatoes, red onion and garnish with some cayenne pepper. You can also add in some canned beets if you wish. Serve with some dressing on the side.
BBQ Spicy Scallops
Ingredients: scallops, bacon, red onion, cayenne pepper, and BBQ sauce.
Direction: Heat a pan over medium heat and add some olive oil to the pan and saute the bacon until crisp and remove from the pan. Add red onions to the pan with some olive oil, add the cayenne pepper, scallops, and sauce, and stir well to combine. Serve with BBQ sauce on the side; you can either use forks or enjoy it on a bun.
Scallops with Mushrooms
Ingredients: scallops, sliced mushrooms, flour, salt, and pepper.
Direction: In a bowl, add the flour to the pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste then toss in the scallops. Cook until done. Add oil to a skillet and saute mushrooms until tender, then add the cooked scallops and serve over pasta or rice for breakfast.
Scallops in Lemon Butter
Ingredients: scallops, butter, lemon juice, and parsley.
Direction: Make a butter sauce with the scallops and lemon juice, then toss in fresh chopped parsley. Serve over rice or noodles.
Indian Scallop Curry
Ingredients: scallops, curry powder, salt and pepper, coconut milk, and basmati rice.
Direction: Add the leftover scallops to a pan over medium heat with some olive oil, curry powder, curry seasoning salt, and pepper. Stir until the scallops are cooked to your liking. Serve over rice!
Leftover Scallop cakes
Ingredients: scallops, bread crumbs, parsley, mayonnaise, and lemon juice.
Direction: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix the bread crumbs, parsley, mayo and lemon juice in a bowl then mix in the scallops until combined. Shape into patties with your hands then place on a greased baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes on each side or until golden brown on each side.
How to reheat leftover scallops?
Cooking with leftover scallops can be a challenge. The scallops will quickly become tough if you make them too hot for the pan. Scallops that are overcooked tend to taste dry and tough while they’re still wet.
To keep them moist and tender, reheat them gently over a gentle heat for a short time or until they are heated through. If you need to reheat scallops, don’t have the heat on too high or you may end up with another batch of burnt scallops.
One of the best ways to reheat leftover scallops is to top them with a fried egg and place them under a broiler for two minutes, just until the eggs get solid. Another method is to use the microwave. If you use this method, reheat them on low and do it over short time periods.
Note: make sure to thaw the scallops for best results.
How long do cooked scallops last?
Scallops that have been cooked are safe to eat up to four days after cooking as long as they are stored in the refrigerator at less than 39 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius). They can also sit on the countertop for two hours before refrigerating them.
Note: If you want to freeze cooked scallops, make sure to vacuum seal them in airtight packages so they will last up to seven days in the freezer.
Finally, when you are ready to use leftover scallops, take them out of the refrigerator a couple of hours before you plan to cook them, so they can warm up. This will help them cook faster and not overcook too easily.
How to store leftover scallops?
Place the cooked scallops in an airtight container. The scallops must be stored below the temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit and up to the temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep its surroundings dry and relatively cool with your fridge to ensure that they stay fresh for long periods of time.
Conclusion
To conclude, I would say that scallops are a great source of protein, copper, and iron. They taste really good with a nice variety of flavors. Plus they are highly versatile because they can be used in a variety of recipes as well as an appetizer.
However, it’s best to keep this delicious shellfish refrigerated or frozen until you plan to use them again so they don’t go bad. Make sure that the scallops stay above 40 degrees Fahrenheit to remain fresh for long periods of time.
Hopefully, after reading this post, you are now aware of what to do with leftover scallops and what to make with them. Also, I hope it gave one or two new ideas about the leftover scallops that you will cook up in your kitchen.
