Cooking squid

[ScandiBrit]

My little supermarket often has good deals on either frozen calamari rings or small squids

For some reason, I’ve never really been able to crack cooking them !

Example, I recently returned from a holiday and I had a small squid as a starter and it was so soft to cut through, but when I try to make it, it was just a way to chewy, and I did not cook it that long ….but how on earth did the restaurant do this?

I am aware of overcooking squid makes it turned a rubber, but I was just after a few tips and tricks.

Richard

 

[msmofet]

I just read this. I hope it helps.
"Budget 30 minutes to soak the calamari in milk. This helps tenderize them while taming their fish smell."

The recipe for fried calamari rings is here:
Easy Fried Calamari | How to Make Calamari- The Mediterranean Dish

 

[Morning Glory]

Example, I recently returned from a holiday and I had a small squid as a starter and it was so soft to cut through,

One way to get really soft tender squid is to slow cook it. Its probably not what you ate in the restaurant but its something worth knowing.

An example: Slow-cooked Squid with Peperonata and Butter Beans

 

[medtran49]

An Italian chef on a cooking show years ago said squid is cooked a minute or an hour, nothing in between.

 

[medtran49]

I sometimes use around 4-5 inch squid bodies for sushi. I get whole squid, cut the head off, clean out the beak, clean out the quill, then slice off the little fins.

Since I usually use shrimp when I make sushi, I poach them, cool and peel, putting the shells back in the water for a while, then remove the shells.

The squid bodies go in the shrimp stock for a minute, remove into ice water, then the fins and tentacles go in for a minute, remove into ice water. Remove all from ice water, drain and dry. Chop the fins and tentacles, and I also chop up 1 body, mix the chopped squid with seasoned sushi rice, firmly stuff rice mixture into remaining bodies, then slice in 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices.

 

[caseydog]

An Italian chef on a cooking show years ago said squid is cooked a minute or an hour, nothing in between.

I've heard that same thing. I guess it is like some cuts of meat.

CD

 

[karadekoolaid]

An Italian chef on a cooking show years ago said squid is cooked a minute or an hour, nothing in between.

I was just about to say the same!
On the beach in Margarita, they make phenomenal battered squid rings. I watched the girl cook them one day. In and out, no time at all.

 

[ScandiBrit]

Hi all and thanks for help

I actually spoke to a chef today and he suggested 5 mins in a pressure cooker!

 

[Morning Glory]

Hi all and thanks for help

I actually spoke to a chef today and he suggested 5 mins in a pressure cooker!

Yeah that should work too. But I think that would be like a slow cooked squid.