How to Perfectly Prepare Octopus at Home
The key to delicious and chewy octopus dishes starts with proper preparation! Learn how to expertly remove the guts, eyes, and beak, and thoroughly clean your octopus like a pro, all in detailed steps.
Learn how to easily and thoroughly prepare fresh octopus purchased from the market, so you can confidently cook it at home. This guide covers every step, making octopus preparation a breeze!
Essential Ingredients- 1 fresh octopus, for preparation
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Begin by removing the octopus’s innards. Locate the area just below the head where the tentacles meet. There’s a section that isn’t entirely attached to the tentacles. Insert your finger into this opening and gently turn the octopus’s head inside out, like peeling off a cap. Be gentle with this step.
Step 2
Once the head is turned inside out, you’ll see the innards. Carefully pull out and discard this mass of internal organs. You might notice a heart-shaped structure within the innards; this is normal. Ensure you remove all the internal parts cleanly.
Step 3
Next, remove the octopus eyes. You’ll find two eyes located on the underside of the head (the part you just turned inside out). While you can push them out with your fingers, it’s much easier and cleaner to use kitchen scissors to snip them off. Simply cut them away.
Step 4
Now, let’s remove the beak. Turn the octopus over so the tentacles are facing upwards. In the center where all the tentacles meet, you’ll find a hard, beak-like structure. Place your thumbs on either side of the beak and gently squeeze inwards. The beak should pop out easily, much like squeezing a seed from a fruit.
Step 5
With the main parts removed, it’s time to clean the octopus thoroughly. Sprinkle a generous amount of flour over the prepared octopus. Then, massage and knead it like you’re washing laundry. The abrasive texture of the flour helps to absorb and remove the slimy mucus and any grit or sand clinging to the suckers on the tentacles.
Step 6
After massaging with flour, rinse the octopus thoroughly under cold running water multiple times. Continue rinsing until all traces of flour and any remaining impurities are gone. This ensures your octopus is perfectly clean and ready for cooking.
Step 7
Congratulations, your octopus is now perfectly prepared! You can now slice it as desired and cook it using your favorite recipe. Whether it’s for stir-fries, boiled dishes, or stews, your clean and fresh octopus is ready to be enjoyed. See, it wasn’t that difficult!
