calamari

[sabg]

i have only used fresh calamari in the past but have found block frozen at a local restaurant supply and it is significantly cheaper....is it one of those things that does not lose much in the freezing...i want to stuff it and pan saute..anybody use frozen with good or bad results ?

[Dakki]

I use frozen. IMO it loses nothing.

[heidih]

I am curious- is the fresh calamari you have been using fresh caught and never frozen? Almost everywhere I can source it the calamari was frozen at some point.

[sabg]

i can believe i am saying this ....but i never asked....i live in fl and its on ice in the fresh section at whole foods so i assumed never frozen but i will def ask..i guess when they say dont assume they mean it...

[LRunkle]

It is an economically losing proposition to take out a large fishing boat and not load it up with catch due to fuel costs. Since this usually involves several days of fishing the catch must be frozen to preserve it. Unless you are buying fish from small mom and pop boats that fish just the local waters, your catch will always have been frozen. Many species of fish only live in the open ocean many miles from shore (albacore tuna, cod). To the best of my knowledge squid are a pelagic catch and not coastal. In any event, I find frozen squid to be excellent.

[Pielle]

I once read that Frozen and thawed Calamari is actually easier to handle than fresh one since the freeze/thaw process actually breaks down the tough tissues a bit and make it more tender. ( I think it was Portuguese lore...)