Are Scallops Acidic or Alkaline?
Scallops (prepared) are acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
At +9.0, scallops are acid-forming because the lean muscle meat consists almost entirely of protein and water, and the phosphorus outweighs the little potassium there is. At 68 kcal per 100 g, they are very light. Three scallops as an appetizer weigh about 60 g together and bring roughly +5; a pea or cauliflower purée underneath offsets part of that.
In the Fish & Seafood category, scallops (prepared) rank #29 of 56, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Mackerel (+9.0), Perch (+8.9), Octopus (+8.8). More acid-forming are Mackerel (+9.1), Halibut (+9.1), Salmon (+9.3).
Acidic or alkaline: PRAL, not pH
On this site, acidic and alkaline refer to the PRAL (potential renal acid load). It estimates what a food leaves behind once it has been digested: a positive value is acid-forming, a negative value is alkalizing. That is different from the pH of the food itself: a lemon tastes sour, yet its PRAL is −4.0, so it is alkalizing. Your diet does not change your blood pH. It does change how much acid your kidneys have to deal with.
What balances scallops
A fillet (125 g) of scallops adds +11.3 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are scallops acidic?
It depends on what you mean by acidic. The pH describes the food itself, for example how sour it tastes. The PRAL describes what it leaves behind after digestion: Scallops (prepared) have a PRAL of +9.0 per 100 g, so they count as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much lamb's lettuce offsets a fillet (125 g) of scallops?
A fillet (125 g) of scallops adds +11.3 to your daily balance. Lamb's lettuce (fresh) has −8.3 per 100 g, so about 140 g of lamb's lettuce offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid scallops on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Scallops are acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Scallops logged, balance checked.
Basentracker adds up every meal automatically and shows whether your day is in the alkaline range. The same values as on this page, all 977 foods, photo scan, recipes.
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Compare all Fish & Seafood: Fish & Seafood table. Common questions are answered in Acidic or Alkaline?, and the PRAL calculator adds up a whole meal.
Source: Basentracker food database (PRAL according to Remer & Manz, calculated from protein, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium per 100 g). This information does not replace medical advice.