Smoked Scallops

Traeger smoked scallops at 225 degrees gives them a wonderful flavor cooking in a garlic buttery sauce. Ideally you would smoke thawed but cooking frozen scallops is a delicious seafood dinner our family loves too.

Scallops smoked give them a really deep flavor and just enough heat to turn them from translucent to white and perfectly tender. Bathed in garlic and butter as an electric smoker recipe or on a pellet grill you can cook these as your main dish or alongside another dish and enjoy as a starter or appetizer.

Scallops are a type of shellfish that belong to the mollusk family. They have a distinct fan shaped shell and are known for their tender, sweet, and delicate meat. Commonly enjoyed as seafood and are popular in various cuisines worldwide.

The edible part of a is the muscle that opens and closes the shell. This muscle is the part that is harvested and consumed. Known for their creamy, succulent texture and subtly sweet flavor. They can be found in both saltwater and freshwater, although the most commonly consumed types are harvested from oceans.

How Long to Smoke Scallops

We will explain this below but typically 25 – 30 minutes will get them to the right temperature. You don’t need a lot of heat really, cooking too long will make them rubbery so less is more when it comes to these babies.

These small circular pieces of seafood are versatile and can be prepared in various ways including searing, grilling, baking, or even raw in ceviche. In this post we will explain how long to cook scallops on your grate below. They are usually categorized into two main types:

Types of scallops

Sea Scallops are the larger variety of scallops and are typically harvested from ocean waters. Sea scallops can reach sizes of up to 2″ in diameter and are highly sought after for their size and tenderness. To smoke sea scallops you would just need to add 5-10 minutes until instant read thermometer reaches 130 degrees

Bay Scallops are smaller in size compared to sea scallops, usually measuring around 1″ around. They are found in shallower coastal waters like bays or estuaries, and tend to have a slightly sweeter flavor.

Ingredient Notes

I will typically smoke a few pounds of fresh scallops or ones that have been defrosted are preferred vs. frozen.

1 stick butter or half butter half olive oil to make a regular or could make cajun garlic butter sauce

Minced garlic from fresh cloves or jarred and already chopped up work

Fresh lemon juice is preferred but you could use lime instead if you prefer those flavors

We like a bit of salt before cooking and to taste when served also some pepper is optional but we like the add-on

To prep rinse under cold running water. Lay on paper towels to dry scallops on the outsides. In a small saucepan, melt butter and add 1 tsp. salt, pepper, garlic and lemon juice. If you would like to add other herbs and/or seasonings do so at this time. Allow to cool slightly.

Smoked Frozen Scallops

If you are starting with meat right out of the freezer that can still be done this same way. The only difference is that you may need to add a few minutes. Keep a meat thermometer handy and check every 5 minutes until just right.

What should the internal temperature of scallops be?

Using an electric or Traeger grill, Master built, Mountain Green brands you want to set it at 225 degrees F. Remember that anything over 250 isn’t actually smoking, it is grilling. Low and slow is the key when it comes to cooking outside this way. Ideal internal temperature should be 115°F to 130°F or 46°C to 54°C for optimal doneness.

How to Keep Scallops from Sticking to the Grill

It is best to put these in a pan so that isn’t a worry at all. If you don’t have something like you see above you could wrap in toil like our smoked shrimp foil packets you can make together on the same grate as well which are incredible. Use raw or frozen for this one in the same type of sauce.

In the case of how to smoke salmon I have used the 9×13 inch size pan but depending on how many you have, a 9×9 may work too.

How can you tell when scallops are done?

The texture of properly cooked scallops should be tender and slightly firm, but not rubbery. Overcooked scallops can become tough and chewy, so it’s important to monitor the cooking time closely.

The cooking time for scallops can vary depending on their size and the cooking method used. As a general guideline, scallops are typically cooked for a short time. Usually 2-3 minutes per side when searing or until just cooked through. If baking or grilling, they may take slightly longer, typically around 8-10 minutes.

Using a meat thermometer is an accurate way to determine if scallops are cooked. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the scallop. The recommended internal temperature for scallops is around 120°F to 130°F.

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