Cooking certain foods may seem more challenging than others, and octopus is one treat, which most people prefer to buy in restaurants. But is it so difficult to cook for yourself? There are myths and misconceptions about boiling octopus, as in adding a cork to improve the texture, but if we follow simple steps based on experience and a bit of science, we will get that soft feel and fantastic taste without spending extra money in expensive restaurants.
Perhaps one of the challenges of cooking octopus is that there are many different types and sizes. Thus, we have crafted a simple guide on how to boil octopus that also covers various types and their boiling time. That way, you will definitely have all you need to cook octopus by yourself.
Contents
How to boil octopus, step by step
There are many types and sizes of octopus, and this can make the cooking process a bit more challenging. However, the basics of how to boil octopus are similar for the majority. In the case of baby octopus, most people ask how you get the tentacles to roll up nicely, and how long to boil octopus to make it tender.
You will see how simple it is just by following these steps:
Step 1: Wash and clean your octopus
Depending on where you buy your octopus, it might be pre-cleaned or not. Usually, you will have the insides of the head removed, and the beak. Even if that’s the case, it is a good idea to rinse your octopus thoroughly using running water. You should also ensure that you remove the ink sac and other internal organs.
Step 2: Boil water and add your spices
Start boiling water, adding a pinch of salt, allspice, and bay leaf. You can add other spices depending on your taste, your experience, and their availability in your local market.
Step 3: Dunk octopus three times
Before boiling octopus, you can start by dunking the tentacles first. You can do this by holding your octopus by the head, and submerging the tentacles for one second. Take it out, put it back in, and repeat three times or more. What we want to achieve in this step is to make the tentacles roll up and coil a bit before boiling the entire octopus. If you’re boiling large or medium-sized octopus, you may choose to skip this step.
Step 4: Simmer over low heat
Once the tentacles have coiled up nicely, you can simmer your octopus. Make sure the water is on low heat and adjust the boiling time until the octopus becomes tender. Boiling time depends on the type of octopus you’re cooking, as we will discuss further in this article.
Step 5: Drain well
You can check for consistency with a fork. When it is already tender, take your octopus out and make sure to drain well. We don’t want boiling water to keep on cooking your octopus, as it may become tough. Therefore, you can even use running water to cool down in a sieve.
After these steps, your food will be ready to prepare in dishes such as carpaccio or sashimi or to prepare a seafood salad.
How long to boil the octopus
There are several types and sizes of octopus, and you will decide how long to boil octopus depending on many different factors. For example, are you boiling it whole or in pieces? Is it a large octopus or are they baby octopuses? Is it a fresh octopus? Was it frozen? Boiling time changes depending on each condition, and if you boil your octopus too much, it will become tough, and you will not be able to make it tender again.
So, how long to boil octopus?
- Large octopus: Very large octopus might take very long to become tender. If your octopus is 3 kilos or near that weight, it may take up to 70 minutes to boil.
- Medium-size octopus: If your octopus is not very large, around one kilogram or less, it may take around 30 minutes to boil.
- Baby octopuses: These small octopuses are easier to boil, and they only take 5 to 10 minutes.
- Tentacles only: If you’re only boiling octopus tentacles, boiling time becomes reduced to 7 minutes or so.
- Frozen octopus: It is better to defrost before boiling, especially in the case of large octopuses. If you boil baby octopuses before defrosting, boiling time increases depending on its base temperature. Use a fork to test for tenderness.
- Cut in pieces: If your octopus is cut in pieces, the contact surface is increased, and boiling time is significantly Use a fork to test for tenderness.
| Octopus size/type | Boiling time |
|---|---|
| Large octopus (3kg) | 70 minutes |
| Medium-sized octopus (1kg) | 30 minutes |
| Baby octopuses | 5-10 minutes |
| Tentacles only | 7 minutes |
How to Boil Octopus (Short Summary)
Equipment
- plate
- Pan
- fork
Ingredients
- Octopus
- Salt
- Allspice
- Baby leaf
Instructions
- Wash and clean your octopus
- Boil water and add your spices
- Dunk octopus three times
- Simmer over low heat
- Drain well
Notes
- Dunk octopus tentacles first to make them roll up nicely
- Adjust boiling time depending on the type and size of octopus, and whether or not it’s chopped
- Use a fork to check for tenderness and take out immediately when you achieve the texture you’re looking for
- It is fine to boil for a shorter period if you’re planning to grill after
Zara Miami Beach
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Tamiflu
Italian kitchen wisdom says to boil the octopus with a wine cork in the simmering liquid to keep it tender, but there are disputes as to whether this technique works or is an old wive s tale. If you have a used wine cork sitting around, toss it in.
krisha
information on boiling baby octopus is wrong. it still came out mushy, should boil between 15 to 20 minutes.