How to Perfectly Clean Fresh Baby Octopus at Home: Easy Tips for Beginners!
Mastering the Art of Cleaning Freshly Caught Baby Octopus
My dad brought home a generous catch of fresh baby octopus from his fishing trip in Ganghwado! Since they’re so fresh, we want to clean and cook them as quickly as possible. I’ll guide you through the entire process of cleaning baby octopus at home, just like a professional chef. Even if you’re a beginner, you’ll find this easy to follow!
Main Ingredients- 5 fresh baby octopus
For Cleaning and Preparation- 1 handful of coarse salt (about a fistful)
- 1 handful of flour (or pancake/tempura flour if unavailable)
- 1 handful of coarse salt (about a fistful)
- 1 handful of flour (or pancake/tempura flour if unavailable)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, place the fresh baby octopus in a bowl and rinse them gently under clean running water. Don’t scrub too hard; just aim to lightly remove any dirt or visible debris stuck to the outside.
Step 2
Now, it’s time to turn the octopus heads inside out. Hold the octopus with its tentacles facing upwards. You’ll notice a small opening underneath the head, where the body meets the tentacles. Insert your finger into this opening and push inwards to invert the head.
Step 3
The head might not turn completely inside out all at once. To make it easier, you can use sharp scissors to carefully snip around the area where the head and entrails are connected as you work on inverting it. Once the head is inverted, gently pull out the mass of entrails with your fingers or snip them away cleanly with scissors.
Step 4
Next, we need to remove the octopus’s ‘beak.’ Turn the octopus inside out again and look at the center where the tentacles meet. You’ll see a small, dark spot – that’s the beak. Press firmly from underneath upwards on this spot with your thumb, and the beak should pop out. Cut it off with scissors. If the eyes are still attached, this is also a good time to remove them. (Avoid awkward eye contact!)
Step 5
Finally, let’s clean the suction cups, which contribute to the chewy texture! Add a generous amount of coarse salt (about a fistful) to the octopus. Rub them vigorously with your hands, making sure to wash away all the slimy mucus until the surface feels completely clean. For stubborn bits in the suction cups, you can gently scrape them off with your fingernails.
Step 6
If you’re still concerned about any remaining sliminess, a ‘flour bath’ is a great finishing touch! You can use any type of flour, such as pancake or tempura flour, if regular flour isn’t available. Sprinkle the flour over the octopus and gently knead it. Rinsing after this step will remove any residual impurities, leaving the octopus perfectly clean. Your baby octopus is now thoroughly prepped!
Step 7
See? You can easily clean baby octopus at home like a pro! Now, use these fresh, clean baby octopuses to create delicious stir-fries, boiled dishes, stews, and more. Enjoy the incredible taste of homemade, freshly cleaned baby octopus!
