All You Need to Know About Scallop Sizing

If you consider yourself to be a bit of a shellfish enthusiast, we think it would be fair to assume that you have probably tried scallops before. So if you are reading this and imagining the decadent, mild, yet slightly sweet flavour of this marine bivalve, we don’t blame you. And as for those of you who have never tried one before, you are definitely missing out. Also known as “the candy of the sea”, scallops are one of the most tantalizing treats money can buy — picture melt in your mouth texture. Much like prawns and lobster, they don’t have that really fishy taste that most people either love or hate. Instead, they are super light in flavour, succulent and undeniably tender. As for cooking them, the ways in which you can do so basically goes on forever. Whether you are searing them for a lightly crisped effect, sauteing, broiling or gently poaching the sea scallop, as long as they are cooked right, they pretty much hit the nail on the head when it comes to a foody’s definition of perfection.

Have we convinced you yet? Let’s talk about what they actually look like. In a nutshell, or as we like to say, a shellfish shell, they come as you would expect — in a fan-shaped shell that is incredibly common to find on the ocean floor. Scallops make their home inside this scallop shell, which is strategically joined together to protect the muscle, also known as the adductor. Okay, so you now know a fair bit about scallops, and you are preparing to order some online or head down to your local fish market to stock up. But what about sizing? Words like large or jumbo can help give you an indication of how big they are, but there is a sizing method that is a bit more detailed and can really help you choose the right size for what you’re cooking. While it can be difficult to understand, luckily, seafood is what we do, and we want to teach you a thing or two so you can go into your decision-making feeling confident.

You may have seen numbers like U-10 or U10/U20 next to the scallop labels before. Basically, this number tells you how big the scallops are, and how many you can expect to get per pound. Scallops can range as large as U5s to U40/50. Sea scallops are generally larger than bay scallops. So, if say, you are planning on cooking a BBQ, broil or sear for a few guests and really want to impress them with some big, juicy scallops, U10/20 scallops are generally one of the biggest scallop sizes on the market, and are about two to two and a half inches in diameter. There are plenty of other sizes to choose from, including a size smaller, so it really comes down to what you are using them for. With the labels, the higher the number, the more scallops you are going to get per pound (or the smaller the scallop size).

Whether they are frozen or fresh, you really can’t go wrong with scallops. Not only are they arguably one of the sweetest fruits of the ocean, but they are also incredibly versatile in the way they are sized, and how you cook them based on that. We source our scallops from Australia and world-renowned countries like Japan for their scallop produce, so what are you waiting for? Give them a crack.

Scallop Meat Sizing Chart

Japanese Scallop Meat Sizing Chart