Secrets to Picking Fresh & Delicious Squid

Squid is a familiar seafood, featured in hundreds of delicious dishes from everyday meals to high-end cuisine. However, knowing how to choose squid that is fresh, sweet, not mushy, and not fishy is something not everyone is proficient at. In the following article, Ola Squid will share with you the secret to selecting squid like a professional market vendor, ensuring every meal is full of flavor and safe for your health.

What are the health benefits of fresh squid?

Before diving into how to choose squid, we need to understand why carefully selected and properly prepared squid is a precious food source that contributes to overall health improvement. Here are the outstanding benefits that fresh squid brings:

Provides abundant protein but low in fat

Fresh squid is one of the perfect sources of protein from the sea. Each serving of squid provides a high protein content that helps maintain muscle and restore energy without worrying about consuming too much fat. This is an ideal choice for dieters, athletes, or those pursuing a healthy lifestyle.

Rich in minerals like zinc, selenium, copper, and vitamin B12

Not only is it notable for its protein content, but squid also contains many essential trace minerals for the body. Zinc supports immunity, selenium has a strong antioxidant role, and copper helps increase iron absorption. Meanwhile, vitamin B12 is particularly important for maintaining the nervous system and producing red blood cells. Regularly eating fresh squid is a natural way to effectively supplement these substances.

Supports boosting immunity and improving brain function

Thanks to the perfect combination of protein, vitamins, and minerals, squid helps enhance immunity and fight common colds. At the same time, nutrients in squid such as choline, B12, and omega-3 also play a positive role in maintaining memory, increasing concentration, and preventing cognitive decline in the elderly.

Contains omega-3, good for cardiovascular health

One of the great advantages of fresh squid is its natural omega-3 content – a “golden” nutrient for the heart. Omega-3 helps reduce bad cholesterol, prevent atherosclerosis, and improve blood circulation. For those who want to maintain stable blood pressure and a healthy heart, squid is an indispensable food in the weekly diet.

Why do you need to know how to choose fresh squid?

Knowing how to choose squid not only gives you peace of mind about its quality but also directly impacts the culinary value and health of your family. Specifically:

Impacts the flavor of dishes

Fresh squid has natural sweetness and a moderate chewy texture, making dishes much more delicious and appealing. If you choose stale squid, you will easily notice an unpleasant fishy smell, and the squid meat will be mushy and bland, causing the dish to lose its original flavor. Therefore, knowing how to choose squid is the first step to ensure your dishes are always up to standard and retain the joy of family meals.

Ensures food safety

Squid that has been stored for a long time or improperly stored can easily become contaminated with bacteria, causing digestive problems such as stomach pain, nausea, or food poisoning. Knowing how to choose fresh squid helps you avoid unnecessary risks, ensuring your health and that of your loved ones. This is a very important step in the process of preparing clean and safe food.

Saves costs when buying the right quality

Buying fresh and high-quality squid allows you to fully utilize the ingredients, avoiding the situation of buying and having to discard them because they are spoiled or not delicious. Although the price of fresh squid may be slightly higher, in the long run, you will save money and effort thanks to delicious and nutritious dishes. Conversely, choosing the wrong squid not only wastes money but also time and effort in preparation.

Instructions on how to choose fresh squid correctly

Understanding how to choose fresh squid correctly is the secret to easily selecting delicious and fresh squid, ensuring dishes always retain their rich flavor and nutritional value. It doesn’t need to be overly complicated; just pay close attention to some important characteristics when buying squid, and you won’t have to worry about buying poor-quality squid anymore. Here are the detailed inspection steps you can apply right when you are at the seafood counter:

Observe the squid’s body

The body of fresh squid usually has a shiny, smooth, and firm surface. You will easily notice the characteristic opaque white color with distinct spots on its back, usually a natural brown or black color. Conversely, if you see the squid’s body turning yellowish or showing signs of being mushy, this is a warning signal that the squid has been stored for a long time or is no longer fresh, and you should avoid choosing such squid.

Observe the squid’s eyes

One of the important signs to identify fresh squid is the appearance of its eyes. The eyes of fresh squid are bright, clear, and you can clearly see the pupil inside. On the contrary, cloudy, dull, or slightly sunken eyes usually indicate that the squid has been stored for a long time or does not guarantee freshness and deliciousness. Don’t forget to check this part carefully to avoid buying depleted squid.

Check the squid’s tentacles

Squid tentacles are the part that easily spoils and detaches when the squid is no longer fresh. When choosing squid, observe that the tentacles are still firmly attached to the body, are firm, and are not mushy or detached. Fresh squid tentacles usually have a certain elasticity, feeling firm to the touch. This is an important indicator to help you distinguish between fresh and spoiled squid.

Check the firmness of the squid meat

A simple but effective way to assess the freshness of squid is to gently press the body of the squid with your finger. If the squid meat is elastic, firm, and does not release water, it is fresh squid. Conversely, if you feel that the squid meat is mushy, soft, or releases water, it means the squid has been stored for a long time or has been thawed multiple times, so you should not buy it.

Smell to avoid squid with a strong, fishy odor

Fresh squid has a characteristic smell of seafood – light, natural, and not unpleasant. When you smell a strong, pungent, or strange fishy odor, it is a sign that the squid has spoiled or has not been stored properly. In this case, you should choose another squid to ensure the dish is not ruined and to protect your family’s health.

Tips for preserving fresh squid after purchase

After learning how to choose squid that is fresh and delicious, the next equally important step is to preserve it correctly to retain its flavor and freshness until cooking. Proper preservation not only helps limit bacterial growth but also saves you money and avoids food waste. Here are some useful tips you should apply immediately after bringing squid home:

Properly store squid in the refrigerator

If the squid you bought has not been cleaned, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap to limit contact with air and retain its natural moisture. Then, place the squid in the refrigerator’s fresh food compartment and prioritize using it within 24 hours to ensure optimal freshness and deliciousness. For cleaned squid, you should store it in an airtight container or a resealable bag to prevent it from coming into direct contact with air, which can cause it to dry out or lose its flavor.

How to freeze squid to maintain freshness

To keep squid fresh for longer without compromising quality, you should wash the squid thoroughly and let it drain completely before storing. Next, wrap each squid tightly with aluminum foil or use a vacuum-sealed zip bag to prevent air from coming into contact with the squid. This helps prevent oxidation and avoids the squid becoming mushy when thawed. Place the squid in the freezer at -18°C, which is the ideal condition to maintain its freshness and nutritional value for a long time.

What is the best time to store fresh squid?

In the refrigerator’s fresh food compartment, you should use fresh squid within 24 hours to ensure its absolute flavor and freshness. If you want to store squid for longer, freezing is a suitable option, but the maximum time should not exceed 1 month. Importantly, to avoid reducing quality, you must freeze it quickly and correctly, avoiding thawing and refreezing multiple times, which can lead to loss of firmness and nutrients in the squid.

Common mistakes when buying squid

Even when you know how to choose squid, many people still unintentionally make common mistakes such as:

• Choosing squid that is too large or too small: Very large squid often has tough meat, is difficult to cook, and does not retain the desired tenderness and sweetness. Meanwhile, very small squid is easily mushy, has less meat, and is not tasty enough. The recommendation is to choose medium-sized squid, which is just right, retaining its natural sweetness and tenderness.
• Believing in unusually cheap squid: Squid prices significantly lower than the market average are often a sign of poor-quality squid, possibly old stock or squid that has been thawed multiple times. Buyers should be wary of places selling at excessively low prices and prioritize choosing reputable stores to ensure safety and quality.
• Buying squid that has been thawed multiple times: Squid that has been thawed and refrozen multiple times will lose its firmness, the meat will become mushy, lose its natural sweetness, and is prone to bacterial contamination. You should only choose fresh or live squid, or squid that has been frozen only once, to ensure the dish is both delicious and safe.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions related to how to choose squid and how to prepare and preserve fresh squid that many people are interested in:

How to preserve fresh squid in the freezer?

Clean the squid, drain it completely, then vacuum seal or wrap each squid tightly and freeze it as soon as possible. Avoid letting the squid come into direct contact with ice to prevent freezer burn, which can reduce freshness and affect the meat’s texture.

Suggestions for delicious squid dishes

Fresh squid is not only delicious but also very versatile in preparation. Here are some appealing dishes you shouldn’t miss when squid is on your menu:

• Steamed squid with scallions and ginger: A light dish that retains the natural sweetness of squid, combined with the aromatic scent of scallions and fresh ginger, helps warm the body and stimulate the appetite.
• Fried squid with fish sauce: Crispy fried squid coated in a rich, spicy, and savory fish sauce creates a dish that is both delicious and appetizing, suitable as a side dish or to eat with hot rice.
• Stir-fried squid with spicy sa tế: A stir-fried dish with the characteristic spicy and aromatic sa tế, bringing out the chewy sweetness of the squid, is perfect for those who love rich and spicy flavors.
• Grilled squid with salt and chili: Fragrant grilled squid with a spicy and salty salt and chili coating, retaining its tenderness and characteristic oceanic flavor, is an excellent choice for outdoor gatherings.
• Steamed stuffed squid: Squid stuffed with minced meat and spices, steamed until tender and flavorful, retains the natural sweetness of the squid and the richness of the meat filling.

See more: How long to boil squid to avoid toughness?

How much squid is good to eat?

Knowing the right amount of squid to eat helps you maximize its nutritional benefits without adversely affecting your health:

• Recommended squid portion: On average, adults should consume about 200-300g of squid per week. This is the ideal amount to supplement protein, minerals, and essential nutrients that squid provides.
• Benefits of moderate consumption: Eating squid in moderation allows the body to absorb sufficient necessary nutrients without excess protein or cholesterol, avoiding strain on the liver and kidneys.
• Notes on squid consumption: It is advisable to combine squid with a diverse diet, balancing other food groups to maintain overall health and maximize nutritional effectiveness.

Understanding how to choose squid not only helps you prepare delicious dishes but also protects the health of your beloved family. We hope the detailed sharing above will help you feel more confident each time you choose fresh, nutritious squid. Let Ola Squid accompany you on your journey to create delicious, safe, and flavorful seafood meals!

See more: Update the latest price list for Quang Ninh fresh squid