Cleaning squid and octopus can be a tricky task, but with these simple tips, you can do it quickly and effectively, ensuring your seafood dishes taste delicious and look appealing.
The Fastest Way to Clean Squid
– Rinse the squid under running water, then firmly grasp the tentacles and pull them out from the body. Be decisive with your pull to ensure the guts and ink sac come out intact. However, be cautious as any rupture of the ink sac will turn the squid black and impart a bitter taste.
If the ink sac breaks, quickly rinse the squid under running water to wash away the ink, and then proceed to the next steps.
– Use a sharp knife to cut off the eyes and carefully squeeze out the hard, round beak located in the center of the head.
– Make a shallow cut at the head end of the squid’s body to create a ridge between the skin and the meat. Then, hold the meat firmly with one hand while gripping the skin with the other, and pull upwards to remove the skin.
Choose fresh squid to ensure the meat remains tender and firm during cooking. Illustrative image
– After removing the guts, tentacles, and ink sac, carefully pull out the backbone, which are the large, white, translucent pieces of cartilage.
– Make a longitudinal cut on the squid’s body, lay it flat, and scrape out any remaining internal organs before giving it a final rinse.
It’s important to choose fresh squid to maintain the tenderness and firmness of the meat, ensuring your dishes are not only tasty but also aesthetically pleasing.
The Fastest Way to Clean Octopus
– Rinse the octopus thoroughly, ensuring it’s fully thawed if previously frozen. Cut right below the eyes to remove the tentacles, and set them aside.
– To remove the internal organs, hold the octopus’s body so that the eyes face the ground. Insert a knife parallel to the ground, sliding it behind the neck, and cut. Then, open up the cavity and use a knife to remove the internal organs.
– Wash the octopus with salt to eliminate any slimy residue. Boil water with guava leaves, let it cool slightly, and then rinse the octopus in this water to neutralize any fishy odor.
– Crush some ginger and mix it with the octopus meat to add a pleasant aroma. Rinse the octopus with clean water 2–3 times and let it drain.
Not everyone knows how to clean octopus quickly and effectively without the fishy smell. Illustrative image
– Cut the head separately, and then either cut it into rings or leave it whole for stuffing (depending on your recipe). Cut the legs into bite-sized pieces.
With these simple steps, you’ve successfully cleaned the octopus. As with squid, choosing fresh octopus makes the cleaning process easier and results in more nutritious and delicious dishes.
According to “Đời sống pháp luật”
