Cuttlefish is a familiar type of seafood, favored for its thick meat, natural crisp sweetness and high nutritional value. The price of this seafood varies depending on size, freshness and origin. If you are looking for information about cuttlefish price as well as how to choose and prepare it the right way, the article below from Ola Squid will provide you with the most useful information. Check it out!

Summary of content

What is cuttlefish? How to distinguish it from squid and leaf squid

Many consumers get confused between different types of squid and cuttlefish. To become a savvy shopper, you need to clearly understand the identifying features of each type.

What is cuttlefish? Identifying features of cuttlefish

Cuttlefish is a mollusk with 8 short arms and 2 long tentacles that lives in the sea, belonging to the order Sepiida. Cuttlefish is rich in nutrients and is the main ingredient used to make cuttlefish cake.

Cuttlefish is a mollusk that lives in the sea

You can identify cuttlefish through the following features:

Shape: The body is large, slightly round and wide, with skin that changes color flexibly.
Size: Their average size usually ranges from 15-20cm, however there are large cuttlefish that reach an outstanding size.
Cuttlebone: A hard calcareous shell located on the back, called “hai piao xiao” in traditional Eastern medicine and used as a medicinal ingredient.
Meat: opaque white in color, thick, crisp and sweeter and firmer compared to squid or leaf squid.

Compared to leaf squid or squid, cuttlefish has noticeably firmer meat, and shrinks or releases less water during cooking. Thanks to its characteristic crisp sweetness and thick meat, this type is extremely suitable for grilling, hot pot or stir-frying.

Quick comparison table: cuttlefish – squid – leaf squid

To help you easily distinguish cuttlefish – squid – leaf squid when shopping at the market or supermarket, Ola Squid has compiled the detailed comparison table below:

Criteria	Cuttlefish	Squid	Leaf squid
Shape	Oval-shaped body, flat, spreads wide	Round body, long tube shape	Oval-shaped body, fins spread wide along the entire length of the body
Color	Back has melon-like stripes, belly is ivory white	Pinkish white, with many small reddish-purple spots	Opaque white, fins have a metallic-sheen edge
Shell	Porous shell made of hard lime, thick	Thin shell, transparent like plastic	Thin shell, shaped like a leaf
Weight	Average 0.3 – 3kg/piece	Average 0.1 – 0.4kg/piece	Average 0.3 – 1.5kg/piece
Meat texture	Very thick, crisp, firm	Thin meat, soft, mildly sweet	Thick meat, soft and richly sweet

Cuttlefish price by size

Currently, the market price of cuttlefish varies depending on the size and packaging specifications. Understanding the price range helps you easily balance your budget for family meals.

Baby/mini cuttlefish (15 – 20 pieces/kg): Price is around 200,000 – 250,000 VND/kg. This type is small and compact, with moderately soft meat.
Baby cuttlefish (10 – 12 pieces/kg): Price is around 240,000 – 280,000 VND/kg. This size is very popular for family parties.
Large / giant cuttlefish (1 – 4 pieces/kg): Price is around 290,000 – 350,000 VND/kg. These large cuttlefish have extra thick meat with a crunchy texture.
Medium-size frozen cuttlefish: Price ranges around 200,000 – 250,000 VND/kg, suitable for convenient food-stocking needs.

The above cuttlefish prices are not fixed and may change depending on many factors such as the fishing region (for example, cuttlefish from Phan Thiet or Phu Quoc usually has a higher price due to better meat quality), the fishing season, the freshness of the seafood and size classification.

How to choose fresh, delicious cuttlefish

To prepare an appealing dish, choosing the ingredients plays a decisive role of up to 80%. When buying cuttlefish, you should pay attention to the following signs of freshness:

Meat color: You should choose ones with a natural ivory-white meat color. Avoid buying cuttlefish with an unusually pure white color (a sign of chemical soaking) or turning bright pink (a sign the cuttlefish has spoiled).
Elasticity: Gently press your hand on the body of the cuttlefish. Fresh cuttlefish will have firm meat, high elasticity and immediately return to its original shape without leaving a dent.
Smell: Fresh cuttlefish will give off a light, characteristic scent of the sea, and should absolutely have no foul smell, rotten odor or smell of cleaning chemicals.
External appearance: Choose ones whose head, body and tentacles are still intact and attached, with a dry skin surface that is not oozing slime.
Reputable source: You should buy from seafood stores or seafood suppliers with a clear brand to ensure quality and food safety hygiene.

You should choose ones with a natural ivory-white meat color

How to properly preserve cuttlefish

When buying cuttlefish, if you are not using it right away, you need to know the preservation method to keep the natural sweetness of the meat:

Use within the day: Wash the cuttlefish clean, drain the water, then put it in a sealed container or zip bag, and store it in the fridge’s chiller compartment to be cooked within 12-24 hours.
Long-term freezing: Clean the cuttlefish, pat it dry, then vacuum seal it. Place the cuttlefish in the freezer compartment; this method helps preserve its freshness for up to 1 week or more.
When there is no fridge: You can arrange the cuttlefish in a styrofoam box filled with ice. This method helps keep the cuttlefish fresh for 2-3 days. With this preservation method, you need to drain the pooled water and change the ice regularly.

Prepare the cuttlefish then store it in the fridge

What delicious dishes can be made from cuttlefish?

Depending on the size and thickness of the meat, cuttlefish can be prepared into many appealing dishes such as stir-frying, grilling, steaming or dipping in hot pot. The characteristic of cuttlefish is its thick, crunchy meat with a natural sweetness, suitable for both simple preparations and rich, heavily-seasoned dishes. Below are some delicious cuttlefish dishes you can refer to for a change of taste in your family meals.

Stir-fried cuttlefish with cucumber and onion

Stir-fried cuttlefish with cucumber and onion has a harmonious flavor. The cuttlefish is cleaned, cut into bite-sized pieces, then quickly stir-fried over high heat to keep its crispness. The cucumber and onion are added afterward, just until cooked through, so they still retain their crunch and natural light sweetness.

When enjoying it, the cuttlefish has a crunchy texture and mild sweetness combined with juicy cucumber and mildly fragrant onion. You can add a little garlic, pepper, fish sauce or oyster sauce to make the dish richer in flavor.

Grilled cuttlefish with satay sauce

If you love richly-flavored seafood dishes, grilled cuttlefish with satay sauce is a choice not to be missed. After being cleaned, the cuttlefish is marinated with satay sauce along with some seasonings such as garlic, sugar, fish sauce or oyster sauce so the flavor soaks evenly into the thick meat.

When grilled, the outer layer of the cuttlefish turns golden brown and gives off the characteristic aroma of satay, while the inside remains soft and crisp. The spicy, rich flavor of the satay sauce blends with the natural sweetness of the cuttlefish, creating an appealing dish suitable for family parties or as a snack to go with drinks.

To prevent the cuttlefish from becoming dry and tough, you should grill it at a moderate temperature and turn it evenly on all sides. You should not grill it for too long, as the meat can lose moisture and become harder and tougher.

Grilled cuttlefish with satay sauce, soft and crisp, spicy

See more: How to make fragrant, restaurant-style spicy grilled squid with satay sauce

Steamed cuttlefish with ginger

Steamed cuttlefish with ginger is a dish suitable for those who love a light flavor and want to keep the natural sweetness of the seafood. After being prepped, the cuttlefish is steamed together with shredded ginger, scallion, and can be added with a bit of lemongrass to enhance the aroma.

Without using too many seasonings, this method of preparation helps keep the characteristic sweetness and natural crispness of the cuttlefish meat. Ginger and scallion create a light fragrance, making the dish more appealing. Steamed cuttlefish can be enjoyed with ginger fish sauce, salt-pepper-lime mix or chili sauce, depending on your taste.

Steamed cuttlefish with ginger has a light flavor

Cuttlefish hot pot

Cuttlefish is well suited for hot pot dishes thanks to its thick, crisp meat that does not easily fall apart when quickly dipped in the broth. You can cut the cuttlefish into rings or bite-sized pieces, then dip it directly into the hot pot when the broth is boiling.

Cuttlefish is especially suited to sour and spicy hot pot broths, Thai-style hot pot, or seafood hot pot. The sweetness and crispness of the cuttlefish blend with the rich broth, creating an appealing experience when enjoyed along with green vegetables, mushrooms and other seafood.

When eating hot pot, you should only dip the cuttlefish until just cooked through so the meat retains its crisp sweetness. If left in the broth for too long, the cuttlefish can become tough and reduce the deliciousness of the dish.

Cuttlefish is well suited for hot pot dishes

See more: How to cook a full-flavored squid hot pot: fresh squid, light and sweet broth

Besides the 4 methods above, cuttlefish can also be prepared into many other dishes such as crispy fried cuttlefish, stir-fried cuttlefish with celery, beer-steamed cuttlefish or satay stir-fried cuttlefish. Depending on the size of the cuttlefish and your family’s taste, you can choose the appropriate preparation method to make the most of the thickness, crispness and natural sweetness of this type of seafood.

Preparation tips by size from Ola Squid:

Baby size / medium size (10-20 pieces/kg): Suitable for satay-grilled or salt-and-chili-grilled dishes, as the seasoning soaks in evenly and the meat cooks through without drying out.

Large size (1-4 pieces/kg): With large cuttlefish, you should prioritize using them for hot pot dipping or cutting into thick pieces to stir-fry with vegetables, to fully enjoy the unique thick crispness of the meat.

See now: What dishes are good with cuttlefish? Top 6 easy and delicious cuttlefish dishes

Frequently asked questions about cuttlefish

How many calories does cuttlefish have, is it good for health?

In 100g of cuttlefish there are only about 92 calories, low in fat but rich in protein, B12, copper, calcium and omega-3. This is a good food for people who are dieting, exercising or wanting to maintain a healthy diet.

Can cuttlefish skin be eaten?

Cuttlefish skin is edible and does not cause harm to health. However, when preparing dishes that require high visual presentation or if you want the meat to absorb seasoning better, you should peel off the thin outer skin.

Can cuttlefish roe be eaten?

Cuttlefish roe is nutrient-rich and has a characteristic rich, nutty flavor. You can keep the cuttlefish roe to make steamed, fish-sauce-fried or stir-fried dishes.

We hope the detailed sharing above has helped you get an accurate update on cuttlefish price as well as pick up more tips on selecting and preparing delicious seafood for your family. To find more delicious cooking tips with cuttlefish, visit Ola Squid now!

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