What Is The Difference Between Squid And Octopus?

Squid and octopus might not be the most common seafood choices at your dinner table, but they make a delicious alternative when you're craving something a little bit beyond your typical salmon or lobster. While similar in a myriad of ways, squid and octopus are actually two very different beasts, err mollusks, rather.

Let's start with their physical characteristics. They are both head-footed aquatic animals and are classified as cephalopods. This basically means they have arms coming out of their heads. However, an octopus has a round head with eight arms attached. Squids, on the other hand, have triangular heads adorned with two fins. They also have eight arms and two tentacles, all arranged in pairs.

In terms of cooking, these differences in size and shape can lead to distinctions in texture and taste. In general, octopus is lighter, less chewy, and an overall great low-calorie protein — one with the seemingly magical ability to absorb the flavors of the other ingredients it's prepared with. Boiling, poaching, and grilling are all common means of preparation as well. However, it turns out there are a few wrong ways to cook a bumpy-skinned octopus.

Squid, or calamari as it's frequently termed on menus, is definitely smoother in texture. However, it can also be chewier and less tender when eaten. Like the octopus, it also soaks up sauces quite well and can be prepared in a number of ways. Braising, boiling, searing, and grilling all work fine. Just be sure to cook it one of two ways — either fast and over high heat or slow and with low heat. Anything in between results in an undesirably rubbery texture.

If you're looking to stretch out your tentacles in the kitchen, try making fried calamari and garnishing it with lemon for a real crowd-pleaser, or try your hand at sauteeing this type of seafood with parsley and garlic. When it comes to octopus, we recommend keeping it simple and just grilling it or putting it in a Caribbean-style salad like ensalada de pulpo that features zesty peppers and herbs.