How to Select Fresh Scallops

Passing through almost any seafood counter in a grocery store is a pleasant experience.

I don’t know about you, but I am lured over. I am especially drawn when I spot a large fresh pile of colossal scallops.

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If I am at a seafood stand near the ocean, I go in with a good feeling that the scallops are super fresh, just caught that morning. However, most of the time I am at the grocery store. In this case, I’m not as sure. So, here’s how I select fresh scallops and how you can too. –and please, do yourself a favor and choose the sea scallops versus the bay scallops. In my opinion, there really is no comparison.

First, here’s a little background on scallops and why you always see them out of their shells. Scallops are always shucked quickly upon being caught. This is different from the other bivalves: clams, mussels and oysters. Unlike these bivalves, scallops are not sessile creatures. They swim! Therefore, in order to live, they need to swim. (It’s cute. Find a video and watch it sometime.) Because of this, it is not as easy to know how fresh they are.

Here’s what you do:

• First, ask if they have been previously frozen. If so, avoid them, as the texture will most likely be rubbery. A rubber texture is a sure way to wreck a scallop. Activities You don’t want that, especially since they can be very expensive. In my home, scallops are a treat. So, we want them to be awesome!
• Second, scallops should not be sitting in water. While moist, they should be piled on each other without liquid build up from the bottom of the container.
• Third, scallops should not be pure white. Scallops are naturally off white in color, a light yellow to a light pink. If they are pure white, this means that they have been sitting in and absorbing water. If you think about the price per pound, you don’t want scallops absorbing heavy water. Plus, it affects the taste, making them bland. Also, it’s possible the white color is the result of added chemicals. This you absolutely do not want.
• Fourth, check the overall scent and look. Scallops should have a clean water scent and look firm and moist.

That’s it! If you would like to know how to select fresh haul fish, both whole and fileted, please read “Is This Seafood Fresh.”

image credit – photo by Artizone titled, “Fresh Sea Scallops”

video of “scallops swimmings”