Why Is This Scallop Pink?
You're not imagining things: some scallops have a decidedly pink color. Here's why.
The part of the scallop that's sold at the fish counter is the large adductor muscle that opens and closes its shell. This muscle takes its color from the reproductive gland that lies next to it inside the shell.
Pink Scallops Are Female
Female scallops turn pink only when they're spawning; during this period, their glands fill with orange roe and turn bright coral, giving the adductor muscle a rosy hue.
White Scallops Are Male
In male scallops, the gland is grayish-white, so the neighboring muscle remains white.
Can You Taste a Difference?
No one wins this battle of the sexes! Both scallops sear equally well, cook in the same amount of time, and have identical textures, although the pink scallops do retain their tint even after cooking. Both colors are absolutely normal and do not indicate anything about the freshness, doneness, or edibility of a scallop.
