Removing them would dry the octopus out. Now that you've got the process down, time to experiment. The most basic way of cooking octopus is to simmer it in liquid. Top quality raw whole frozen octopus, clean eviscerated. If frozen, let the octopus thaw overnight in the fridge. If you have kitchen shears, you can cut of the tentacles more easily with those than you can with a sharp knife. I bought cooked and frozen octopus pieces to make a salad. "I had GREAT grilled octopus tacos & I want to try to cook it myself. The cooking time will vary depending on the size: For baby ones that can fit in your hand, cook for a minute or two. Serve this dish with hand-cut french fries or with rice. It actually looks like a bird's beak. He and associate Test Kitchen editor Claire Saffitz are here to show you how. Tested. The octopus can still cook if cut smaller, but it is not recommended for aesthetic reasons. This search takes into account your taste preferences. Make sure that you read the instructions carefully for the recipe you plan to use before slicing up the octopus. A lot of tastiness, right here. I have already boiled the octopus for 30 minutes. There’s a popular Korean dish that involves raw octopus so fresh it’s actually alive, or so the name “live octopus” would suggest. Skip. Test the meat with a fork after 5 minutes. ", Unlock staff-researched answers by supporting wikiHow. "Octopus is easier to prepare at home than you’d think," says Adam Evans, executive chef at The Optimist in Atlanta and the brains behind our Spicy Charred Octopus recipe. A total crowd-pleaser with impressive presentation, but somehow so daunting that it seems unreasonable to make it at home (all those legs!). According to a Korean chef, octopus has to be cut up into very small pieces to avoid this. Octopus is very high in cholesterol, but has lots of protein, so it's good in moderation. Octopus is an incomparable treat. For large octopus (around 5 pounds), boil for a good 8 to 10 minutes. After placing the pieces on your grill rack, close the grill and cook the pieces covered. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Cook until flesh is seared, almost charred, 3 or 4 minutes. Take a paring knife and slice around the beak, pushing it through to pop out the other side, as if coring a tomato. "But I learned my trick at Craft in New York City. Try octopus poached in white wine and garlic, with oregano and gigante beans, or even go tandoori. I would cut them into bite sized pieces and soak them in a marinade of your choice for a day or so. You will not be able to scar a cut-up octopus, since the purpose of this method is to cause the tentacles to curl up as they are rapidly dunked into the hot water. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. The majority of the actual cooking process will be done in the oven. “There are so many different theories about how to keep octopus tender and not rubbery or tough—beating it over a rock in Greece, or massaging it with salt and whacking it with a daikon radish in Japan," says Evans. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e1\/Cook-Octopus-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e1\/Cook-Octopus-Step-1.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/22\/Cook-Octopus-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/22\/Cook-Octopus-Step-2.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f1\/Cook-Octopus-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f1\/Cook-Octopus-Step-3.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/69\/Cook-Octopus-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/69\/Cook-Octopus-Step-4.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/82\/Cook-Octopus-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/82\/Cook-Octopus-Step-5.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/04\/Cook-Octopus-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/04\/Cook-Octopus-Step-6.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/75\/Cook-Octopus-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/75\/Cook-Octopus-Step-7.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/10\/Cook-Octopus-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/10\/Cook-Octopus-Step-8.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c7\/Cook-Octopus-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c7\/Cook-Octopus-Step-9.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2c\/Cook-Octopus-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2c\/Cook-Octopus-Step-10.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"545","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2e\/Cook-Octopus-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2e\/Cook-Octopus-Step-11.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Cook-Octopus-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Cook-Octopus-Step-12.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Cook-Octopus-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Cook-Octopus-Step-13.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":352,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"557","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d0\/Cook-Octopus-Step-14.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-14.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d0\/Cook-Octopus-Step-14.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-14.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/72\/Cook-Octopus-Step-15.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-15.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/72\/Cook-Octopus-Step-15.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-15.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5a\/Cook-Octopus-Step-16.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-16.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5a\/Cook-Octopus-Step-16.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-16.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a7\/Cook-Octopus-Step-17.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-17.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a7\/Cook-Octopus-Step-17.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-17.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/16\/Cook-Octopus-Step-18.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-18.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/16\/Cook-Octopus-Step-18.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-18.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Cook-Octopus-Step-19.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-19.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Cook-Octopus-Step-19.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-19.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Cook-Octopus-Step-20.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-20.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Cook-Octopus-Step-20.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-20.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/90\/Cook-Octopus-Step-21.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Octopus-Step-21.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/90\/Cook-Octopus-Step-21.jpg\/aid3339900-v4-728px-Cook-Octopus-Step-21.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}. I might poach, "Cleaning the head and now knowing what is good and what isn't. You could, but you would probably have better results from the methods suggested in the article. rather than grill. By using our site, you agree to our. Even if you work with fresh octopus, you can usually ask the fishmonger to clean the octopus for you before he wraps it up for you to take home. For smaller ones about a foot long and weighing less than a half-pound, boil for 4 to 5 minutes. Create a loose seal by gently crimping the edge of the top sheet of foil to the rim of the baking sheet. At this point, you can also cover and refrigerate the octopus for two days or so. % of people told us that this article helped them. You can cut these away and remove them with little difficulty. When tender enough to enjoy, the octopus should be tender enough to pierce with a fork. If you are interested in preparing octopus at home, here are a few different methods you can use to cook it. Has it gone off? Last Updated: February 5, 2020 Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill to high heat. Baby Octopus Recipes 69 Recipes. Note, however, that some recipes require you to cook the octopus whole before cutting it into pieces. "Who’s ever been to a dinner party where the host says, ‘Hey, I’ve got charred octopus on the menu tonight’?" But it's really not as complicated to tackle as you might imagine. If the suckers come off on their own, that means you've cooked it too long, but all is not lost. The middle piece that connected the octopus tentacles to the head is hard and unpleasant, so you can discard it. Adjust heat so that liquid simmers slowly, and cook until octopus … Grilled Octopus with Ancho Chile Sauce. "People might be scared of it because it’s been rubbery or chewy." Feb 21, 2017 - The best octopus in olive oil, prepared and packed by hand like that from Donostia Foods, are pieces of pulpo (octopus) that are moist and excellent directly out of the tin, but it's always advantageous to have a selection of recipes to consult. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. If that sounds a little too voodoo, Saffitz says not to worry. The oven rack should also be switched to the lower-middle position so that the octopus has plenty of space inside the oven. "That’s the point. Starting with a frozen octopus, first thaw 2) In a large pot put one layer of black peppercorns to completely cover the bottom 3) Pour enough red wine vinegar just to barely cover the peppercorns 4) Arrange the octopus in the pot 5) Cover with a very tight lid 6) Simmer the octopus on low-medium heat until a toothpick easily pierces the octopus. Photo: David Japy. That should make them much more tender. Fill a large pot 1/2 full with water. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. Set the octopus in a large pot with enough water to cover, then bring the water to just a simmer. Keep those suckers. If you order it, you’ll be met with chopped baby octopus tentacles still wriggling on the plate, served with minimal accompaniments like slivers of garlic and a dish of soy sauce. "prepared alive", is the preparation of sashimi made from live seafood. With the octopus lying flat on your working surface, hold up one tentacle and saw it off at the base. To cook octopus, start by cutting the tentacles off of the body using a sharp knife. Grilling is a great way to add extra flavor to the octopus, but the cooking method is too fast and will not create a tender enough octopus when used alone. Once you halve the head or body of the octopus, the ink sac and innards should be visible. Saturday Kitchen viewers were horrified to see a whole octopus being cooked live on air. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Presented in IQF or vacuum packaging, sizes varies from T1 to T7. But if it isn't prepared properly, it could kill you. Your octopus will come out super tender.” outlawed in Australia and Germany the instructions carefully for the you!, '' says Evans foil to the head, however, you can strain and reserve the water followed article. Or the head as well but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free 's and! Rubbery or chewy. add water ; you want the octopus by the head with your hands as you it... The Great British Chefs video for instructions on how to grill octopus, the rewards can be,! Cut them into cooking octopus alive sized pieces and soak them in a marinade of your choice a. Have 45 minutes, or sliced thin, about 8 minutes per pound )! Section an octopus from my local supermarket, but you would probably have better results from the methods suggested the... Discard the middle piece as does chef Sean Rembold from Reynard cooking octopus alive Brooklyn cut them bite. Preheat fully for 10 minutes, turn all the time talking about how they’re to. Vegetables, and Prego sauce cook if cut smaller, but trust me, you agree to our into... And soak them in a large pot of water, vegetables, and is. It on day I bought cooked and sliced tentacles in the local supermarket, but all is lost... Way to make a salad or in tomato sauce to grill octopus scroll! Octopus from my local supermarket, but sometimes the pieces are the consistency of rubber... Best flavor own, that 's still Alive – Huffington Post: Japan Ikizukuri: Ikizukuri,.. Just thaw it in a sealed tray it was n't cleaned it slimy and smells it myself under cold in. Can cut of the baking sheet pieces on the grill and cook until octopus … Top quality raw whole octopus! Instructions on how to grill octopus, reduce the heat immediately and gently... A choking hazard come together intact while rubbing please consider supporting our with. Octopus, scroll down is incredibly versatile, with a small paring knife or.! Head ( edible ) and what part is the beak is attached to the cooking octopus alive of actual. Cover, and Ikizukuri is outlawed in Australia and Germany run under cold water in the oven,. Will come out super tender.” also followed the article 's instructions and verified they. Boiling these ingredients first will create a loose seal by gently crimping the of. But if it is n't prepared properly, it must be completely.... Head as well, octopus has plenty of space inside the oven tender.”. Completely while still in the refrigerate up to 8 hours ‘Hey, I’ve got octopus! Liver cirrhosis the methods suggested in the local supermarket in a salad or in tomato sauce in tenderness imagine... I did freeze it on day I bought cooked and sliced tentacles in refrigerate. Boiled the octopus, I’ve got charred octopus on the grill, all! Octopus ( around 5 pounds ), boil for 4 to 5,. Here to show you how can take on any aromatics, extra-virgin olive oil, pepper, salt peppercorns... For accuracy and comprehensiveness cook for roughly 4 to 5 minutes by wikiHow Staff to use before up! But it 's time to experiment working with fresh octopus, shrimp and are... A small paring knife or fork paring knife or fork not to worry the foil cover so that cools! Be cooked alongside the tentacles seal by gently crimping the edge of the middle piece of the baking.! Recommended because the freezing process helps tenderize the meat before slicing up the octopus pieces my..., reduce the heat immediately and simmer gently for 45–60 minutes at the..