Dried squid
Flattened dried squid
Seasoned Shredded Squid
Dried squid snack
Tiếng Việt
ไทยCuttlebone is the hard internal shell found inside the body of a cuttlefish, commonly known as cuttlebone, sepiashot, or haifeipiao. Not just a discarded part after processing squid, cuttlebone is also used in Eastern medicine, as a mineral source for certain pets, jewelry casting, handicrafts, and traditional dishes like green jelly leaf.
So what is cuttlebone used for, what are its benefits, and how is it used correctly? Let’s join Ola Squid to learn in detail in the article below.
What is Cuttlebone? Distinguishing It from the Ink Sac
Cuttlebone is the structural part that supports and creates hardness for the cuttlefish body, located on the inner dorsal side of the squid body. In Eastern medicine, cuttlebone after being cleaned, sun-dried, or dehydrated is called sepiashot. Some documents also call this part cuttlebone, sea cuttlebone, or o ngu.
Regarding composition, cuttlebone has a high mineral ratio, in which calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) is the main inorganic component. Additionally, there are small amounts of protein, chitin, and other minerals.
Because it is removed at the same time when cleaning squid, many people easily mistake cuttlebone for the ink sac or the “spine” part of squid. However, these are different parts.
| Part | Location | Shape | What is it used for? |
| Cuttlebone | Located inside the body of cuttlefish, on the dorsal side | Flat, hard, slightly curved, with multiple small layers | Used as sepiashot herbal medicine, supplementing minerals for pets, casting molds, handicrafts… |
| Ink sac | Inside the squid body, near the internal organs | Small pouch containing black liquid | Contains ink for the squid to spray when defending; some types are utilized in food processing |
| Squid backbone | Used to refer to the rod-like “shell” in squid | Long, thin, transparent or ivory white, resembling a plastic stick | Has the effect of supporting the squid body; usually removed during preparation |
Note: In folk terminology, “squid spine”, “cuttlebone”, and “cuttlebone” are sometimes used interchangeably. However, when referring to sepiashot in Eastern medicine, it mainly refers to the shell/bone of squid species belonging to the cuttlefish group.
See more: Popular types of squid in Vietnam and how to recognize them
6 Practical Uses of Cuttlebone
Some applications of cuttlebone have been used for a long time in Eastern medicine or daily life, while other uses are mainly manual, livestock-related, or traditional. Below are the 6 most common ways cuttlebone is used.
Sepiashot herbal medicine in Eastern medicine
One of the oldest applications of cuttlebone is as sepiashot – a medicinal herb used in traditional medicine. According to medicinal documents, sepiashot has astringent, styptic, hemostatic properties and reduces acidity, used in some remedies related to gastrointestinal bleeding, stomachache, or skin problems.
However, you need to clearly distinguish traditional medicine uses from clinically proven therapeutic effectiveness. People suffering from stomach diseases, gastrointestinal bleeding, or other medical conditions should not arbitrarily use cuttlebone powder to replace medicines prescribed by doctors.
Calcium supplementation for birds, parrots, turtles, ornamental snails, and certain pets
Dried cuttlebone has a high mineral content, especially calcium carbonate, so it is used as a mineral source for certain pets. In practice, dried cuttlebone is placed in cages for birds and parrots to peck on, supplementing calcium and minerals in their diet. Cuttlebone products for pet birds are also quite popular on the market.
For turtles, ornamental snails, or other pets, using cuttlebone should be based on the animal species, diet, and mineral needs. It should not be assumed that all pets need to eat cuttlebone in the same amount.
Silver jewelry casting molds
Cuttlebone is also used to make jewelry casting molds, especially in manual silver casting techniques. The inner surface of the cuttlebone has a soft, porous structure that is easy to shape. Artisans can carve or press patterns onto the cuttlebone to create mold cavities, then pour molten metal into them. This technique creates a surface with natural grains, and each product can carry its own unique imprint.
Many artisans use this technique to make rings, pendants, or silver jewelry details. This is a single-use mold; after casting, the part of the cuttlebone in contact with the hot metal burns and cannot be reused as originally.
Abrasive and metal polishing agent
Cuttlebone has a relatively soft mineral structure and is easily made into powder. Therefore, in some handicraft applications, cuttlebone powder can be used as a mild abrasive or polishing material.
This application is not common in family life but may appear in handicraft activities, surface treatment, or material shaping. If using cuttlebone in powder form, you should wear a mask and work in a well-ventilated area to limit inhaling fine dust.
External dusting to support skin wounds
Some Eastern medicine documents note that sepiashot has astringent, tightening, and hemostatic properties, so it was once used in certain remedies or topical skin preparations.
However, you should not arbitrarily grind cuttlebone and sprinkle it directly onto all types of wounds. Especially with deep wounds, contaminated wounds, burns, heavy bleeding, or signs of infection, proper medical treatment is required. If you want to use sepiashot for therapeutic purposes, you should consult a qualified doctor or traditional medicine practitioner.
Handicraft and decorative raw materials
Besides making casting molds, cuttlebone can also be utilized in some handicraft products thanks to its natural shape and structure that is easy to cut, grind, and shape.
After being cleaned and sun-dried, cuttlebone becomes a material for decorative products, models, or creative activities. This is also a way to utilize by-products from the squid processing process.
Safety notes when using cuttlebone
Although cuttlebone has many applications, you should not consider it a “versatile” ingredient that can be used arbitrarily. Especially if using cuttlebone for health-related purposes, note the following:
- Do not use cuttlebone to replace stomach treatment medication or medicines prescribed by your doctor.
- Do not arbitrarily drink cuttlebone powder in large doses without professional guidance.
- Do not arbitrarily sprinkle cuttlebone powder on open wounds, deep wounds, or infected skin areas.
- People with a history of seafood allergies should be cautious when using products derived from squid.
- Cuttlebone used in food or making green jelly leaf needs to be cleaned, dried/dehydrated properly, and stored in dry conditions.
- Do not use cuttlebone that has a strange odor, mold, slime, or signs of contamination.
How to Properly Extract, Prepare, and Preserve Cuttlebone
If you want to utilize cuttlebone after processing fresh squid, the cleaning and preservation stages largely determine the quality of this bone.
How to separate the cuttlebone from the squid body during preparation
For cuttlefish, the cuttlebone lies lengthwise inside the body. When processing, you can follow these steps:
- Wash the outside of the squid body to remove sand and dirt.
- Separate the head and internal organs from the body.
- Find the hard bone/cuttlebone located inside the squid body.
- Use your hands to gently pull the cuttlebone out of the body, avoiding breaking it.
- Rinse the cuttlebone under clean running water to remove any remaining meat, internal organs, or membranes.
- Drain before sun-drying or dehydrating.
Cuttlebone after extraction should be processed early, especially in hot and humid weather conditions, to limit odor and microorganism growth.
The process of preparing dried cuttlebone
If using cuttlebone as a dried raw material, the basic process includes cleaning – sun-drying/dehydrating – final cleaning – preservation.
After washing, the cuttlebone is drained and then sun-dried under suitable conditions or dehydrated at a controlled temperature. When the bone is completely dry, it can be kept in whole pieces or ground into powder depending on the intended use.
If used as a medicinal herb, do not arbitrarily perform “preparation” steps according to formulas circulating online. Sepiashot used for therapeutic support purposes should be selected and processed according to the guidance of a professional.
How to recognize quality cuttlebone
A quality piece of dried cuttlebone usually has relatively recognizable characteristics:
- Dry, lightweight, and not feeling damp when held.
- Natural ivory white or cream white color.
- Relatively clean surface, without much remaining meat or impurities.
- No unusual green, black, or yellow mold patches appearing.
- No foul odor, sour smell, or damp moldy smell.
- The bone still retains its characteristic structure, not crumbling or overly crushed.
Cuttlebone used for different purposes will have different quality requirements. Therefore, if buying for food, making green jelly leaf, or using for pets, you should choose products that are clearly processed and packaged.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cuttlebone
Where is cuttlebone usually sold?
Dried cuttlebone can be found at some Eastern medicine herbal stores, pet bird accessory shops, green jelly leaf ingredient stores, or e-commerce platforms.
However, the purpose of use determines the selection criteria. Cuttlebone sold as material for pet birds does not necessarily have the same standards as raw materials used in food or medicine.
How much does 1kg of cuttlebone cost?
Dried cuttlebone has prices depending on size, thickness, cleanliness, raw material source, and purpose of use:
- Food use (jelly): fine powder form, desalted. Price 30,000–45,000 VND/100g, wholesale 150,000–250,000 VND/kg.
- Eastern medicine: selected goods, thoroughly processed. Price 32,000–35,000 VND/100g, wholesale 350,000–380,000 VND/kg.
- Pet birds, pets: raw goods, unprocessed. Price 8,000–15,000 VND/piece, wholesale 35,000–95,000 VND/kg.
Note: the above prices are for reference only and may vary depending on the seller.
Is cuttlebone edible?
Cuttlebone is not the squid meat usually eaten directly. Some folk usages use a small amount of cuttlebone powder in green jelly leaf or traditional recipes. If using cuttlebone in food processing, you must choose types that are cleaned, processed, and preserved suitably for food purposes.
What is the effect of cuttlebone in making green jelly leaf?
When making green jelly leaf, a small amount of cuttlebone is ground into powder or mixed with water and added to the green jelly leaf liquid, helping the jelly set and create a firmer, chewier texture.
Can a cuttlebone that turns yellow after being kept for a long time still be used?
Dried cuttlebone may turn slightly yellow over time due to storage conditions and exposure to air. However, if the cuttlebone turns yellow accompanied by a foul odor, damp moldy smell, slimy surface, mold spots, or crumbles, you should not continue to use it.
Through the above information, hopefully you have the answer to what cuttlebone is used for. From cuttlebone, you can utilize it to make sepiashot in Eastern medicine, supplement minerals for certain pets, make jewelry casting molds, handicraft materials, or use it in traditional recipes like green jelly leaf.
If you are interested in squid products for cooking, Ola Squid provides product lines of dried squid, suitable for grilling, frying, simmering, or processing into many convenient dishes at home. You can refer to more dried squid products and squid processing methods at Ola Squid to choose suitable ingredients.
