Restructured scallops (Argopecten gibbys) were prepared with two cold‐set binders: 1% concentrations of alginate and microbial transglutaminase (MTG), with setting times of 2, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 h at 5C. Apparent modulus of elasticity, 5% secant modulus, 10% secant modulus and 20% secant modulus were used to evaluate the effect of setting times on the binding strength of restructured scallops. The binding strength as measured by the 5, 10 and 20% secant modulus was not significantly different (P > 0.05) in MTGase‐restructured scallops, but significantly different in alginate‐restructured scallops at 5 and 10% strain. Apparent modulus of elasticity showed significant differences in the binding strengths (P < 0.05) of restructured scallops prepared from both binders. The alginate gel restructured scallops achieved a binding strength of (158.7 kPa) in a 2‐h setting, while MTG‐restructured scallops reached a binding strength of (336.0 kPa) at a 24 h setting.