Squid is a versatile seafood delicacy, with a range of mouth-watering preparations such as grilling, steaming, stir-frying, hot pot, frying, and meatballs. For landlocked regions far from the coast, accessing fresh squid can be challenging, often requiring long-distance transportation. This distance creates an opportunity for less-than-scrupulous sellers to pass off frozen or stale squid as fresh, affecting both the taste and health benefits.
Stale squid is not only less tasty but may also contain harmful substances that can affect your health.
Tips for Choosing Fresh Squid from Seafood Experts
To ensure you’re getting your money’s worth and the best quality, consider the following time-tested tips from those who know squid best – the seafarers and seafood experts:
– Observe Color and Transparency: Fresh squid often has a translucent body, with colors ranging from clear to white when taken out of the water. If it’s freshly caught and immediately frozen, the color will be mostly white with a few small red streaks, and the spots on the body will continue to flash. In contrast, the body of frozen stale squid is usually stark white, lacking transparency and fewer flashing spots.
– Test for Firmness and Elasticity: When purchasing squid, feel free to touch the body to check for freshness. Fresh squid meat will be firm and elastic; when pressed, it will quickly spring back without leaving a dent. On the other hand, low-quality squid will feel soft and mushy, and pressing it will result in a persistent indentation.
– Examine the Tentacles: The tentacles are a great indicator of freshness. Fresh squid tentacles will curl evenly when touched and won’t straighten when relaxed. Additionally, the head and body should be firmly attached. If the tentacles are loose or easily detachable, it’s a sign of staleness.
– Price as an Indicator: Freshly caught and immediately frozen squid tends to be significantly more expensive than squid that has been pre-treated with water or ice for preservation. Opt for reputable seafood sellers, and always check the packaging labels and inquire about their storage methods to ensure you’re getting the highest quality product.
Apply these expert tips to choose the freshest squid. (Photo: Istock)
Selecting Delicious Dried Squid
While fresh squid is delightful in steamed, stir-fried, or hot pot dishes, grilled dried squid is a beloved beer snack. Here’s how to pick the best dried squid for your next barbecue:
– Natural Pink Color: Dried squid of the best quality will have a natural pale pink hue if dried immediately after catching. It won’t have a strong fishy smell, and your hands will remain dry after handling it. Conversely, squid that has turned white is likely dried after spoilage.
– Straight and Thick Body: Choose dried squid with straight and thick bodies. When held, it should feel completely dry, and the head and body should remain attached. This indicates that the meat will expand nicely along the grain when grilled, resulting in a deliciously sweet flavor.
– White Powder Coating: Freshly caught squid, when dried, often has a white powdery coating on its surface. The thicker this coating, the fresher the squid was when dried.
According to VTC News
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