This guide will show you How to Air Fry Scallops effortlessly. Large king scallops are cooked to juicy perfection without their shells for maximum flavour and ease. I'll tell you all the tips and tricks to make delicious air fryer scallops including how to cook them straight from frozen.
If you are using a basket type fryer and are able to raise the cooking grid to be nearer the top, do this now. I use a small pyrex bowl. This helps to maximise the amount that the scallops will colour. If you have a choice of position in a different type of air fryer, choose the option nearest the element, eg. the top shelf.
If your air fryer requires pre-heating, Start this setting going.
Melt 1 tbsp Salted Butter in a small bowl. I do this in the microwave but you could use a small heatproof bowl in the air fryer if you like. The preheat setting will likely do the trick.
Thoroughly dry 6 Scallops. Trim any bits of connective tissue if needed.
Use a pastry brush to coat the scallops on all sides with the melted butter.
Sprinkle over roughly ¼ tsp Sea Salt Flakes. Crush them between your fingers as your sprinkle for a thinner even coverage.
Place the scallops into the air fryer. Leave a little space between them so the air can circulate. Be careful not to catch your hands on the side of the hot basket.
Cook for 6 minutes at 200c/390f. Turn then cook for a further 3 minutes.
Be careful removing the scallops from the fryer as they will be delicate. Serve hot straight away.
To Air Fry From Frozen
Cook for 6 minutes at 200c/390f. Turn then cook for a further 3 minutes
Notes
Butter - You can use an oil instead of butter but I do find that butter helps the fish skin crisp a little more and adds a nice flavour.
Salt/Seasoning - You can use any seasoning mix or sauce instead of just salt but make sure that salt is included in the mix. You can also add a little citrus juice. If you use a sauce with a high sugar content, you may want to brush this on during the last 3 minutes of cooking so it doesn't catch and burn.
This recipe is tested in a Cosori Lite (CAF-LI401S) with a 3.8 litre capacity. The square(ish) shaped basket is 21cm x 21cm and 24cm on the diagonal.
Not all models advise preheating is required. Please follow the recommended instructions for your model. Mine has a specific preheat setting which is 4 minutes at 205c.
For this recipe, I can easily fit 9 to 12 scallops in the basket at one time. This gives plenty of room to allow air to circulate.
As all air fryer models are a little different, you may find that you can fit more or less in at a time. Some models include stacking shelves which will increase capacity.
Required cooking times and temperatures can also vary between models and brands. If you know that your air fryer runs a little hotter than most recipes suggest, use a lower temperature. And vice versa. Equally if you find that food cooks more quickly in your machine than instructions usually state, reduce the cooking time (or check it earlier) and vice versa.