The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Squid and Octopus: A Quick and Easy Method

If you're struggling to clean squid or octopus, there are some quick and easy preparation methods you can try that aren't too complicated.

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Cleaning squid and octopus can be a messy and challenging 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 a Squid

– Rinse the squid under running water. Then, grasp the tentacles firmly and pull them out of the body. Be decisive with your pull to ensure the intestines and ink sac come out intact. However, be cautious, as rupturing the ink sac will turn the squid black and bitter.

If you accidentally rupture the ink sac, quickly rinse the squid under running water to wash away the ink, and then proceed to the next steps.

– Use a 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 body to create a groove between the skin and the meat. Then, hold the meat with one hand and grasp the skin with the other, pulling upwards to remove the skin.


Choose fresh squid to ensure the meat remains tender and firm during cooking. Illustration photo

– After removing the intestines, tentacles, and ink sac, continue to peel away the backbone. The backbone is a large, flat piece of cartilage that is white and translucent, so it’s easy to spot.

– Make a longitudinal cut on the body of the squid, open it up, and scrape away any remaining entrails. Rinse thoroughly with water.

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 an Octopus

– Rinse the octopus with water, thawing it first if it has been refrigerated. Cut right below the eyes to remove the tentacles and set them aside.

– To remove the entrails, hold the body of the octopus with the eyes facing the ground. Insert scissors parallel to the ground, into the back of the neck, and cut. Then, cut open the entrails and use a knife to remove them.

– Wash the octopus with salt to eliminate any sliminess. Next, boil water with guava leaves, let it cool slightly, and then rinse the octopus in this water to eliminate any fishy odor.

– Crush some ginger and mix it with the octopus meat to add fragrance. Then, rinse the octopus with water 2-3 times and drain.


Not everyone knows how to clean an octopus quickly and effectively. Illustration photo

– Cut the head separately, then 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 completed the octopus cleaning process. As with squid, choosing fresh octopus makes the cleaning process easier and results in a dish that’s not only tasty but also nutritious.

According to “Đời sống pháp luật”

Frequently asked questions

Rinse the squid or octopus under cold running water. Cut the head and tentacles away from the body, and remove the beak and eyes. Peel off the outer membrane and rinse again. For the squid, cut along one side of the tube and open it up. Remove the cartilage and rinse. For the octopus, cut between the eyes and tentacles to separate the head. Remove the beak and rinse the head and tentacles.

The quick and easy method involves rinsing, cutting away the head and tentacles, removing the beak and eyes, and peeling off the outer membrane. For squid, you also cut along the tube and remove cartilage, while for octopus, you separate the head by cutting between the eyes and tentacles.

The beak and eyes are tough and inedible parts of the cephalopods, and removing them ensures that the rest of the meat is tender and safe to consume.

Yes, this method also helps to remove any dirt, grit, or residue that may be present on the surface of the cephalopods, ensuring that they are clean and ready for cooking.

Absolutely! This method is suitable for both fresh and frozen specimens. However, if you are using frozen cephalopods, make sure to thaw them completely before beginning the cleaning process.
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