[Blackhawk]

The problem with scallops is most of what is sold in the US is counterfeit. Shark or other white fish is taken, and circular scallop-shaped pieces are punched out and sold as the much more expensive scallop meat at the grocery store. (And at every cheap restaurant you've ever eaten in)

So when you've being sold mystery meat from any one of several different species of fish that all cook very differently, it's hard to get a good routine for cooking it properly.

I've given up on buying scallops in the market. Genuine scallops are just impossible to find among all the cheap fakes.

Almost all imported fish to the US market is counterfeit and masquerading as something more expensive than it really is. Consumer Reports sampled 14 different imported fish varieties and found only 4 of them to reliably be what they said they were.

When Americans complain about seafood being difficult to cook, it's largely because of the "mystery meat" problem. We're buying pre-cut and sealed cuts of fish that look the same, but cook and taste very different.