Discovering the Many Delicious Joys of Eating Scallops
With so many fantastic species of animal-or food, for our purposes-being found in the world's oceans, it is only natural that we humans should learn how to take advantage of this bountiful source.
Though in many parts of the world, industrial fisheries have decimated stocks and done a terrific job of contaminating marine (and other) ecosystems, the Alaskan fishing industry has been laudably careful and responsible about not ruining a good thing-after all, there is really no other fishery to compare, either in volume or quality, with the Alaskan fishery.
Though most people associate the Alaskan waters with fresh salmon and king crab, there is another treat that has been underexploited, even though it is overloaded in flavor and nutrition: the Alaska scallop.
So, what are scallops, you ask? Scallops are a member of the marine bivalve mollusk Pectinidae family of animals.
They happen to be the only bivalve to swim freely in the ocean, using rapid open/close motions of their shell (controlled by their internal muscle) to propel themselves through the water.
Though in many parts of the world scallops do not get to be of considerable sizes, generally rounding out at between one and two inches (that is, when they are shelled and stripped of unwanted extra musculature, as is common to do in the US, though not elsewhere), Alaska scallops are renowned for their considerable size, reaching up to four inches.
By comparison, that is more than double in size! Of course, the answer to the question "what are scallops" cannot exclude a mention of their robust, creamy flavor.
In fact, both flavor and texture are highly distinguishing characteristics of scallops, especially the Alaskan variety.
Whereas other mollusks have a gooey, slimy consistency, scallops tend to be relatively firm and meaty.
And, whereas many mollusks have a highly "fishy" flavor to them, scallops are amazingly smooth by comparison, though that is not to say they lack flavor.
Furthermore, scallops are tremendously packed full of good nutrition: an average serving size of 3.
5 ounces of uncooked scallop meat (from Alaska, of course) contains over 16 grams of protein, and less than 0.
1 grams of saturated fat.
With that, the answer to the question "what are scallops" is complete!
Though in many parts of the world, industrial fisheries have decimated stocks and done a terrific job of contaminating marine (and other) ecosystems, the Alaskan fishing industry has been laudably careful and responsible about not ruining a good thing-after all, there is really no other fishery to compare, either in volume or quality, with the Alaskan fishery.
Though most people associate the Alaskan waters with fresh salmon and king crab, there is another treat that has been underexploited, even though it is overloaded in flavor and nutrition: the Alaska scallop.
So, what are scallops, you ask? Scallops are a member of the marine bivalve mollusk Pectinidae family of animals.
They happen to be the only bivalve to swim freely in the ocean, using rapid open/close motions of their shell (controlled by their internal muscle) to propel themselves through the water.
Though in many parts of the world scallops do not get to be of considerable sizes, generally rounding out at between one and two inches (that is, when they are shelled and stripped of unwanted extra musculature, as is common to do in the US, though not elsewhere), Alaska scallops are renowned for their considerable size, reaching up to four inches.
By comparison, that is more than double in size! Of course, the answer to the question "what are scallops" cannot exclude a mention of their robust, creamy flavor.
In fact, both flavor and texture are highly distinguishing characteristics of scallops, especially the Alaskan variety.
Whereas other mollusks have a gooey, slimy consistency, scallops tend to be relatively firm and meaty.
And, whereas many mollusks have a highly "fishy" flavor to them, scallops are amazingly smooth by comparison, though that is not to say they lack flavor.
Furthermore, scallops are tremendously packed full of good nutrition: an average serving size of 3.
5 ounces of uncooked scallop meat (from Alaska, of course) contains over 16 grams of protein, and less than 0.
1 grams of saturated fat.
With that, the answer to the question "what are scallops" is complete!
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