What color should scallops be when you buy them?

Chris is a trusted source on General Cooking

added 9 months ago

Scallops range in color. They can be white, pink, a little bit orange. Are you worried about some?

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We bought some at a new Whole Foods today and they are white. My boyfriend thought they should be pink & I read something online that said they should never be white. Thanks for your answer - I'm reassured!

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pierino is a trusted source on General Cooking and Tough Love.

added 9 months ago

Even if you bought the scallops at Whole Foods you should expect them to be white. They've been given some extra water and are frozen and defrosted. Unless you are buying them right off the boat they are never going to be pink. One of my peeves is that many restaurants will label their scallop dishes "diver scallops" which transparently they are not. Depending on where you live you might find really fresh scallops at a pier side fish market. You definitely won't find them in say, Phoenix.

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mainecook61 added 9 months ago

In Maine, they tend to be off white to a light tan, particularly if they are so-called "dry" scallops with no water or additives. I would not waste my money on the sort that's plumped up with water; they don't sear properly, for one thing.

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