The key to the best scallops, along with any seafood, is that seafood should be eaten fresh on the day of purchase or the very next day. Freeze the scallops until you would like to cook them if you are short on time. They freeze incredibly well! When possible, buy fresh and use them as soon as possible. Ensure they are stored properly at the market before buying. The market should store them in a cold wet environment such as on ice and they should smell fresh like the ocean. Don’t buy them if they have a strong off-odor. Once home, store in an air-tight container which the store will typically provide to package them before cooking.