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Squid May Look Ugly.

But if You Prepare it Right it’s Excellent!

How to Clean Squid

The idea of preparing squid may turn some people off–it has tentacles and is squishy and chewy. It may be hard to know where to begin. Cleaning and prepping squid takes less effort and time when you follow a few simple instructions.

1 Thaw the squid if you purchased it frozen. Cut away the tentacles and set them aside.

2 Firmly hold the squid under water with one hand. With the other hand, grip the head and pull while twisting it side to side. The head and contents of the body will soon slide out in one piece; throw them away.

3 Grasp the pointed tip of the thin cartilage layer inside the body, draw it out and discard it. Shed the body’s outer casing and side fins. Keep the fins but dispose of the casing. Clean the squid by rinsing out the inner cavity of the body.

Prepare the Squid for Cooking

1 Chop or mince the squid arms for immediate use or save them whole for another recipe.

2 Leave the body cavity (often called the “mantle”) whole for stuffed squid. Rinse it thoroughly, drain and pat dry.

3 Slice across the body cavity to cut it into rings approximately one-quarter inch thick. Pat them dry before cooking.

Cut the clean squid into pieces by laying the body flat and slicing down the center. Spread the flaps open and cut into bite-size pieces.

How to Clean Squid Video Guitar by Jesse Cook

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Oregon Seafood is located: 1167 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy.  Hillsboro, Oregon   97123    503-693-7222

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Are You Still a Bit Squeamish About Eating some Fresh SQUID?!

Discover some important facts about how good it really is!

Calamari or Squid
It wasn’t too long ago that most Americans were squeamish about squid or calamari. But today, calamari is an increasingly popular restaurant dish, particularly when it is fried. A mild, sweet flavor and reasonable price have helped make squid more popular.

When choosing calamari, trust your nose. A delicate ocean scent is the most reliable indicator of freshness. Looks count too. Fresh squid looks firm and shiny. If the squid in your market is limp and dull, pass it by. Also, if it has not been cleaned, check the color of the mottled membrane covering it. It should be gray but not pink or purple. Squid freezes well, so if the fresh squid doesn’t measure up, check the freezer section of your market. Purchasing cleaned squid will save you time, but remember that uncleaned squid is often half the price.

Squid is extremely perishable. Refrigerate it on a bed of ice until ready to use, and try to use it the same day you buy it. When cleaning, reach under the hood and pull out the innards, including the plastic like quill. Cut off the tentacles just beneath the eyes, and discard the quill, head and innards. Rinse out the hood under cold running water. Use the back of a paring knife to scrape the gray membrane off the hood. Cut off the 2 small wings on either side of the hood and reserve them. The cleaned hood can be sliced into rings or left whole for stuffing.

Calamari can be deep-fry, grill or stir-fry very quickly over high heat (no longer than 2 minutes), or braise it slowly over low heat for at least 1 hour for optimum tenderness. Any cooking time in between will make the squid tough.

SQUID Music Video

Oregon Seafood is located: 1167 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy. Hillsboro, Oregon 97123 503-693-7222

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The Essential Omega 3 Oils that Make Seafood a Life Saver!

Learn more how Seafood can make you Healthy!

Seafood contains essential oils that are an important part of your diet. Oils provide the source of energy we need and they’re also great flavor enhancers. Most importantly, they are a source of significant fatty acids.

Seafood oils are unique and have much nutritional benefits to our body. This oil contains the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically the eicosapentaenoic acid EPA and docosahexaenoic acid DHA.

Our body only produces small amounts of these important fatty acids; therefore we need to rely on other sources for this essential nourishment. Seafood is one of the best sources of these nutrients. Oils are the second biggest components in most seafood.

Eating seafood once or twice a week can provide good health benefits. Eating fresh seafood is a great way to obtain your required dose of these essential omega-3 oils. Oils extracted from seafood are also available as nutritional supplements.

Oils derived from seafood help prevent some of the most deadly diseases today, including Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, arteriosclerosis, bipolar disorder, bronchitis, cancer, heart diseases and more.

The omega-3 oils decrease the risk of heart diseases, high blood pressure and rheumatoid arthritis. They are also beneficial to infants’ brain and eye development.

The oils in seafood can also prevent osteoporosis. This is because the oils improve calcium absorption in our bones and can prevent the bones from becoming brittle.

According to recent findings, Omega-3 also helps improve people’s immune functions, thereby reducing infections.

Seafood oils are known to have properties that lower blood pressure, benefiting especially those suffering from hypertension.

Another kind of oil found in seafood is the omega-6 fatty acid. This is important for growth and plays an important role in people’s health and well-being.

Eating a seafood diet can also help you reduce weight. For years, seafood has been part of many weight loss programs. This is because, unlike diet pills, seafood is natural and has beneficial properties to people.

However, fish can rot quickly. Therefore, you should cook it the day you buy it. Here are some tips for preparing seafood:

* If you do not plan to cook the fresh seafood the day you buy it, you should store it for no longer than two days at very cold temperatures.

* If you are going to thaw the fish, keep it in the refrigerator or thaw it under cold water. Do not leave it to thaw on your kitchen counter. This is because the nutritional value of the seafood may diminish.

* You can prepare many delicious seafood dishes from great seafood recipes. You can fry or grill seafood. You can combine it with fruits and vegetables to make it even more delicious. You can marinate it and further enhance its flavor and get rid of its unique smell.

* Some people do not want to eat seafood for fear of choking on the tiny bones. In this case you can request the fish store to help you remove these fish bones.

Remember that seafood is not only delicious; it can also provide wonderful benefits to your health.

Oregon Seafood is located: 1167 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy.  Hillsboro, Oregon   97123    503-693-7222

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Discover The Most Asked Questions by Pregnant Mothers.

Do You Need To Be Concerned About Seafood?

6 Most-Asked Questions about Mercury in Fish and Its Effect On Pregnancy

1. What is mercury?
Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and can also be released into the air through industrial pollution. It then falls from the air and can accumulate in streams and oceans, turning into methylmercury in the water. It is this type of mercury that is harmful to your baby. Fish absorb the methyl mercury as they feed in these waters and so it may build up in the fish. It builds up more in some types of fish than others, depending on what the fish eat, which is why the levels in the fish vary.

2. Is there methylmercury in all fish?
Nearly all fish contain traces of methyl mercury. However, larger fish that have lived longer have the highest levels of methyl mercury because they’ve had more time to accumulate it. These large fish (swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish) pose the greatest risk to pregnant women. Other types of fish are safe to eat in the amounts recommended by the FDA and EPA.

3. Can I still eat tuna?
Mercury levels in tuna vary. Tuna steaks and canned albacore tuna generally contain higher levels of mercury than canned light tuna. You can safely eat up to six ounces of albacore a week.

4. Do I need to be concerned about locally caught fish?
Some kinds of fish and shellfish caught in your local waters may have higher or much lower than average levels of mercury. This depends on the levels of mercury in the water in which the fish are caught. Those fish with lower levels may be safely eaten more frequently and in larger amounts. Before you go fishing, check your fishing regulations booklet for information about local advisories. You can also contact your local health department for information about local advisories.

For further information about the safety of locally caught fish and shellfish, visit the EPA Fish Advisory Website or contact your state or local Health Department.

5. I’m not pregnant. Should I be concerned about methylmercury?
If you regularly eat types of fish that are high in methylmercury, it can accumulate in your bloodstream over time. Methylmercury is removed from the body naturally, but it may take over a year for the levels to drop significantly. Thus, it may be present in a woman even before she becomes pregnant. This is one of the reasons why women who are trying to become pregnant should also avoid eating certain types of fish.

6. I’m worried that I have been exposed to a large amount of methyl mercury.
If you have questions, or think you’ve been exposed to large amounts of methylmercury, see your health care provider immediately.

For further information about the risks of mercury in fish and shellfish call the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s food information line toll-free at 1-888-SAFEFOOD or visit the FDA Food Safety Website.

Fresh Fish At Oregon Seafood

Oregon Seafood is located: 1167 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy.  Hillsboro, Oregon   97123    503-693-7222

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