The hexose monophosphates (glucose-6-phosphate (G6P), fructose-6-phosphate, and glucose-1-phosphate) accumulate postmortem in scallop adductor muscle (meats) during chill storage, increasing from only traces at death to levels totalling about 10 μmole/g after 8–10 days. In both unfrozen and thawed meats, G6P accounted consistently for 80–85% of the total hexose monophosphate, over a wide range of actual concentrations. Quick freezing at any time postmortem did not affect the concentrations of hexose monophosphates or related metabolic constituents. Thawing of the prerigor-frozen muscle, however, either slowly or rapidly, resulted in considerable G6P formation, and accelerated markedly the subsequent rate and extent of G6P production. The exceptionally high levels (− 20 μmole/g) reached in the thawed meats after 1–2 days at 5 C are implicated in the development of burned flavors, odors, and discolorations (i.e. Maillard browning reactions) observed in these thawed meats when cooked. While thawing of the prerigor-frozen muscle led to some hypoxanthine (Hx) and octopine formation, the subsequent rate of Hx accumulation at 5 C was three times faster in the thawed meats than in unfrozen meats. In meats frozen postrigor, thawing resulted in negligible change in concentrations of the metabolites; subsequent patterns of change during storage differed little from those in unfrozen muscle, although Hx accumulation was more rapid. Hx content showed potential as an index of quality in thawed scallop muscle.