Live North Atlantic Scallops
Live North Atlantic Scallops
Intershell’s scallop boats, F/V Bing Bing and F/V Hotate, harvest North Atlantic scallops in the waters from the Gulf of Maine to east of Cape Cod, and then offload their catch at our wharf in Gloucester, MA. One of our most popular catches to eat as sushi, we guarantee the North Atlantic scallops that we ship to you will be alive upon delivery. In addition to sushi, scallops are a delicious, highly popular seafood served hot from the broiler, saucepan, or grill.
Note: This product is priced based on the market value – prices are subject to change at any given time.
Package Size: 4Lb Package
Approx 1-3pc per pound for Large
Large Scallop Price Per Pound: $9.45/lb
Scallop Size: Large 5 to 7 inches
Approx 4-7pc per pound for Medium
Medium 3 to 4 inches
Medium Scallop Price Per Pound: $7.20/lb
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Scientific Name: Placopecten magellanicus
Harvest Area: Cape Cod, Nantucket, Gulf of Maine, The Great South Channel
Your Package Arrives Fresh
We carefully package and ship our seafood from our facility in Gloucester, MA to you overnight delivery to ensure your food arrives fresh.
FAQ North Atlantic LIVE Scallops
How and where are your live scallops harvested?
Our scallops are harvested from the coast of Cape Cod & Nantucket off Intershell’s fleet of fishing vessels by using commercial dredges. Intershell’s boats go out for 24 hour fishing trips and the scallops and are brought in alive within their shells.
Are live scallops available year-round?
Yes, they are.
How fresh are the live scallops when they arrive to my home?
All scallops sent to our online customers are harvested anywhere from 6 - 36 hours from our boats, it all depends on what time the boat arrives. All live scallops (and other live shellfish) come with a “Shellfish Tag” that states the area it was harvested from as well as the date. It doesn’t get much fresher than that!
How long will live scallops stay alive?
As soon as they come out of the water, they have around 5 days of shelf life. Just like all live shellfish, when you receive it, we recommend consuming your live scallops the same day or the day after. For more information about storing your live scallop until you are ready to eat them, please read our Live Scallop Seafood Guide for more detailed instructions.
Is it normal for live scallops to not fully close? Does this mean it’s still alive?
Yes, it is completely normal for the shells to not fully close. Unlike other closed shellfish (a.k.a. oysters, hardshell clams, and mussels), live scallops naturally have their shells open when they are alive. Sometimes during transit, the scallop may lose strength to close its shell fully, but the muscles inside could still have movement - even if it is minimal.
What size live scallop should I get?
The size you should get depends on how you are preparing it, there is a price point and personal preference to consider.
How do I shuck a live scallop? What tool/knife should I use?
We have step by step instructions on how to shuck a live scallop that you can download and print. Shucking live scallops are much easier to shuck compared to shucking an oyster or a clam, so it is very beginner friendly. Although you could get creative and improvise with household tools, we DO NOT recommend it. Please use one of our Scallop Shucking Knifes, which we have available for purchase.
Is there scallop roe inside the shell once you shuck them?
Only through April & May the scallop roe will be there, because it is the “spawning” season of the scallop. The roe can either be red or white. There is a specific shucking technique to keep the roe intact with the scallop meat, we have step by step instructions that you can download and print. Throughout other times of the year the roe will either be minimal or not present at all, so if you are looking for scallop roe we recommend purchasing live scallops around April & May.
I found a tiny fish inside the scallop while shucking! What does this mean? Are the live scallops still safe to eat?
The fish are known as “Silver Hake,” it is a symbiotic species that hides within the scallop shell, the scallops and the fish have a mutually beneficial relationship with one another. In no way does it affect the food quality of the scallop. The fish are also edible too (if you are curious to try it).
Are live scallops considered Sushi Grade? Can I also bake/broil them attached to their shells?
Yes, live scallops are used for sushi/sashimi purposes. Only LIVE SCALLOPS should be used for crudo/raw/sashimi purposes as opposed to just the pre-shucked scallop meat. Baking/broiling them on their shells will be incredibly delicious, we recommend using minimal ingredients so you can taste and appreciate the true flavor of the scallop. Cook it to a medium-rare for the best results. Scallop meat bakes/broils very quickly, be careful to not overcook them or else they will completely shrink up losing all of their natural moisture and become tough to chew.
Why are the larger size scallops more expensive than the smaller size?
Larger size scallops are more expensive because it is a larger size meat, as simple as that. There is a supply and demand factor as well, of course. Larger size scallops are more expensive because there are not as many available. A true wild jumbo sized scallop it hard to find!
Do you have frozen live scallops available?
No, we do not freeze our live scallops in the shell.
