Selecting and Storing Scallops

• Scallops are highly perishable, and care must be taken to ensure their safety and quality, especially when preparing in advance. Use fresh scallops within one day of purchasing them for the best quality. When precooking scallops, keep in mind that they must be stored appropriately within two hours of cooking to prevent the harmful growth of bacteria. Store both fresh and cooked scallops in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready for use.

Advance-Cooking Scallops

• When using large sea scallops, the best option for precooking is to sear well-dried scallops on both sides in butter to develop a golden, caramelized coating. Cook the scallops until just opaque all the way through, or about 3 to 5 minutes on each side. Set the scallops aside on a plate until cool, and then store the scallops in the refrigerator until mealtime. Bay scallops are smaller and require even less cooking time.

Reheating Cooked Scallops

• Because scallops quickly dry out, it is important to reheat them quickly so that they remain tasty and tender. Use a preheated dry or buttered pan on the stove over a medium-high heat to quickly warm the precooked scallops. If you are including them in a pasta dish or other larger preparation, heat the scallops briefly until heated through and then place them with the other ingredients in the dish. Bay scallops are typically prepared as part of a larger dish, such as soup or paella, which can be reheated on the stove in a pan until the entire dish reaches 165 F, as measured with an instant-read thermometer.

Prepping Scallop Alternative

• Because scallops are quick cooking -- generally taking under 10 minutes to cook -- another option to save time is to simply prepare the rest of the dish in advance and cook the scallops before serving. Scallops can be marinated for up to 2 hours in advance of cooking, making the final preparation carefree and quick. Prepare a marinade and cover the scallops in it. Tightly close the container and refrigerate it until you are ready to cook.