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Clean whole squid can be easy and efficient as long as you learn a few tips and tricks. Wild-caught whole squid is usually available in Asian or international-themed grocery stores. Once you learn how to clean the whole squid quickly and easily, you are ready to make some seriously delicious and healthy squid dishes. Shanghai-style Braised Squid or Asian-style stir-fried squid with red onion, are just a couple of examples.
Why clean the whole squid yourself?
You may ask, why bother cleaning the whole squid yourself when you can buy cleaned ones directly? Well, I can think of at least three reasons.
For one, you can make a delicious and eye-catching dish featuring the whole squid. Like this Braised Whole Squid Shanghai style, known as Bi Mu Da Kao {比目大烤} in Chinese.
For two, it is more budget-friendly to buy raw whole squid vs. cleaned squid.
For three, it is a healthy way. You make sure you get quality squid, which is typically wildly caught and frozen solid. In addition, commercial ways of cleaning squid may involve hazardous chemicals, which you do not want any part of that.
How to clean and prepare whole squid?
The first is to wash and rinse the whole squid thoroughly
If you get the frozen solid squid, leave them in a sealed bag or container in the fridge and let them thoroughly thaw.
The second is to remove head from squid body
Hold the squid body and tail in one hand, and grasp the head using the other hand. Reach inside the body tube using fingers to feel and grab the innards and then firmly pull. The head and innards should easily slip out of the body chamber.
Look for the clear quill, also known as cuttlebone, inside the body tube. Sometime it will come off together with the innards. If not, just pick up the quill and pull it out. Also look for any remaining things in the body tube, such as body fat, remove them all accordingly.
The Third is to separate tentacles from the head and innards
Place the knife just underneath the eyes of the squid on the cutting board, cut and separate the edible tentacles from the head and innards. Discard the head and innards.
Next is to remove the beak, which is a bony cartilage located at the base of tentacles. Simply squeeze and remove teh beak.
The fourth is to remove skin membrane
Although squid skin, which has a spotty dark color, is edible. For the sake of a better appearance of the dish, it is a custom to remove them.
You can peel away the skin pretty easily. I usually start with the end of the body, locate the separation point and lift the skin using fingers and continue to peel through the entire body.
Tentacles are trickier, but same rule applies. Find the separation point of the skin and the body and then lift and peel. It is OK if you can’t get to certain small areas.
Last but not least is to wash and rinse squid thoroughly
Place the squid in a washing basin, wash and rinse thoroughly and then drain in a colander.
How to Clean and Prepare Whole Squid Step-by-Step Tutorial {Easy Efficient Way}
Clean whole squid can be easy and efficient as long as you learn a few tips and tricks. Wild caught whole squid is usually available in the Asian or international themed grocery stores. Once you learn how to clean whole squid quick and easy, you are ready to make some serious delicious and healthy squid dishes.
Ingredients
- 2 whole squid, frozen solid, wild-caught
Instructions
- If you get the frozen solid squid, leave them in a sealed bag or container in the fridge and let them thoroughly thaw.
- Wash and rinse the whole squid thoroughly to remove outside impurities.
- Hold the squid body and tail in one hand, and grasp the head using the other hand. Reach inside the body tube using fingers to feel and grab the innards and then firmly pull. The head and innards should easily slip out of the body tube.
- Look for the clear quill, also known as cuttlebone, inside the body tube. Sometime it will come off together with the innards. If not, just pick up the quill and pull it out. Also look for any remaining things in the body tube, such as body fat, remove them all accordingly.
- Place the knife just underneath the eyes of the squid on cutting board, cut and separate the edible tentacles from the head and innards. Discard the head and innards.
- Next is to remove the beak, which is a bony cartilage located at the base of tentacles. Simply squeeze and remove the beak.
- Start with the end of the body, locate the separation point and lift the skin using fingers and continue to peel through the entire body.
- Tentacles are trickier, but same rule applies. Find the separation point of the skin and the body and then lift and peel. It is OK if you can’t get to certain small areas.
- Place the squid in a washing basin, wash and rinse thoroughly and then drain in colander.
- All done! The squid is fully cleaned and ready to be cooked.
Wash and rinse the whole squid:
Remove head from the squid body:
Separate tentacles from the head and innards:
Remove skin membrane:
Wash and rinse squid thoroughly:
Notes
Check out the iconic Shanghai Style Braised Whole Squid.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 2 servings Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 26Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 66mgSodium 12mgCarbohydrates 1gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 4g
Nutrition calculation is provided by Nutritionix to the best knowledge per ingredients description and isn't always accurate.
