How do you clean and cook octopus?

Answer 1

The best way to clean an octopus is as follows: First, turn it inside out and pull away the entrails, the plastic-like bony sticks, and the stomach sac. Second, discard all of the items you've removed, turn the octopus right-side out, and find the beak in the middle of all the tentacles, and cut it away. Third, wash the octopus well.

From here -- unless you're dealing with a baby octopus, which is usually tender enough to eat on its own -- you're going to have to tenderize it so it's not unpleasantly chewy. There are a few methods for this:

1) The tedious and impractical: Banging it repeatedly something hard (worksurface etc).
2) The scientifically implausible but apparently viable: Simmering it with a cork for an hour and a half.
3) Reasonably possible: Roasting it in a cool oven for two hours.

Answer 2

How To Clean Octopus

Answer 3

Marinated Octopus:

2¼ hours 5 min prep
8 servings

2 medium octopus
1 cup olive oil
1 cup wine vinegar
1 large onion
1 tablespoon Greek oregano
1 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons rosemary
1/2 cup lemon juice

1. Place octopus in a large pan with plenty of water and boil for 2 hours.
2. Remove from heat; wash and remove the skin.
3. Cut in desired size pieces.
4. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients, except the lemon juice, and add octopus.
5. Mix well; cover; and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
6. When ready to serve, stir in the lemon juice.

Answer 4

Cleaning & Marinating The Octopus

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/octopus.html

Answer 5

Remove the outside skin of the body. Gut and take out the mouth. Rinse well. Tentacles can be rinsed and cooked as is.

I guess the other answers never saw calamari in a restaurant?


OK squid is usually referred to as calamari which is really cuddlefish. AND octopus is served the same way.


Hey, I just read astonishingmonkeyman answer above. His way is more detailed than mine, and what he sez is correct.

Answer 6

Sorry I don't know about cleaning octopus. but squid I do. but its messy so I usually buy the ones that are cleaned. and then I just fry it. and you will know when its done. I had octopus once and didn't care for it to much. but I do love squid.

Answer 7

Gross!

Answer 8

Id rather not thanks...!