[yanks26dmb]

I am having a hard time getting the outside of my diver scallops really crispy. They get browned and slightly crisp, but not like I've had in restaurants. Any advice? Maybe my oil just isn't hot enough or I haven't dried them enough (although I'm pretty sure I have)? Thanks!

[tkdman121]

Where are you buying your scallops? Most grocery store varieties (wet scallops) contain STP which is a preservative. STP causes water to be tightly bound to the proteins in the scallop. In addition, most home cooktops do not produce enough heat to crisp the tops due to all the water. Two solutions:
1. Go to a fish monger and purchase "dry scallops" then prepare them as you were and they should be fine.
2. If the grocery is your only option then: use a non-stick pan (so the browning you do manage to get does not stay in the pan), high heat (oil smoking) and don't crowd the pan. Add a few scallops and sear the top. Add butter and quickly begin basting the scallops with the butter. This will help to get some color on the scallops before the butter starts to burn and the scallops overcook.
Hope this helps.

[nichole]

If you want to make some crispy scallops. Then you can try adding it some egg and bread crumbs. stir egg then mix with some bread crumbs then deep fry it. Maybe it will help.

[boar_d_laze]

Wish I'd seen your post before.

By eliminating surface moisture as a cause, you made the answer easy. You're almost certainly using a non-stick pan, too much oil, and/or moving the scallop in the pan before it's ready to move.

Preheat a pan (not non-stick) to very hot -- usually medium-high is right, but if your pan is large enough and your flame tight enough you might be able to go to full-bore (which will play havoc with the sides of your pan).

Pour a very little oil in the pan, and roll the pan so the oil evenly coats the bottom. You don't need more oil than will just coat.

Add the scallops to the pan, do not overcrowd.

Allow the scallops to cook until the edges just start to curl or show some browning, do not disturb them at all during this process. When you think they MAY be done, shake the pan assertively. If they do not come loose, they are not done. If they slide around, you may turn them. If they don't, allow them to cook another 30 seconds unmolested. Shake the pan again and immediately turn those that move. Count to 10 Mississippi before trying to loosen the stickers by pushing them with the side of your spatula. If that doesn't do it, you can go ahead and pry them loose.

Cook the second side very briefly -- you don't need color for presentation since it's going on the bottom, and you do not went to overcook the scallop. A good visual test is to check for a translucent line on the side of the scallop. If it's barely there, the scallop is a point. The usual press test applies. As soon as it pushes back, it's done.

Hope this helps,
BDL