It’s important to lightly rinse them before patting them dry with a paper towel. This will remove any grit that happens to be on them. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eRinsing them should not be confused with u003cemu003esoakingu003c/emu003e them! If you attempt to soak the sea scallops in water you can fully expect that they are going to have minimal flavor. Plus, searing them isn’t going to go well because they absorb water naturally which means when you cook them it’s going to seep out. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAlternatively, some people choose to soak them in milk before cooking. This is fine because the milk is a natural tenderizer and it helps reduce the fishy flavor. Doing this is ideal if you are serving people who don’t love seafood. u003cbr/u003e