How and where to store squid correctly?

One of the main rules for storing squid is considered to be the exclusion of placing this type of seafood in the refrigerator in an open form. Squid meat very easily absorbs foreign odors and at the same time quickly winds up. If seafood is open near meat dishes, then their surface will quickly become hard, and changes in appearance and structure will begin to be observed within a day.

The nuances of storing squid:

• you need to store squids only in containers with lids;
• when storing squid in the freezer, it is recommended to wrap each carcass in foil (thus, the juiciness and structure of the meat will be preserved, and the likelihood of re-freezing will be eliminated, since squids will be stored in “portioned” form);
• It is better to remove the skin from the squid before cooking it (after heat treatment, the squid is stored less);
• repeated freezing of squid carcasses is not permissible (like any seafood, squid can deteriorate during the repeated freezing process and lose its taste characteristics);
• boiled squids can be placed in the refrigerator, but they should be eaten as soon as possible (after a few hours of being in the cold, squids will begin to change their structure and become harder);
• squids can be stored in a marinade (the carcasses must first be cleaned and placed in a prepared marinade, the shelf life in this case will be 48 hours at a temperature in the range from +2 to +6 degrees);
• if the squid is bought in a package, then it is necessary to open it only before cooking seafood (this way the squid will better preserve its juiciness and meat structure);
• You can store squid in plastic bags or cling film, but it is better to use parchment paper, plastic wrap for meat or food foil);
• you can extend the shelf life of squid by smoking, but this requires special knowledge and a smokehouse;
• it is not recommended to store squid in uncut form for longer than a day (it is better to butcher carcasses a few hours after purchase or defrosting);
• squids belong to the category of perishable products, this fact must be taken into account for any chosen storage method.

If the squid is cooked, then their shelf life depends on many additional nuances. There are varieties of sauces that begin to change in consistency after a few hours. With the beginning of this process, the structure of the squid meat will be disturbed, and it will begin to deteriorate simultaneously with the ingredients of the sauces. In any case, if seafood is used in salads, second courses, stuffed with additional components, then they should be eaten at most the next day after cooking.

How much and at what temperature to store squid

Thawed chilled squid can be stored for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. In this case, temperature drops must be excluded. For example, you cannot keep seafood at room temperature, then put it in the refrigerator and repeat these steps several times. This can change the structure of the meat and shorten the shelf life.

Squids can be stored frozen for up to 4 months. You can store them for longer, but there is a risk of changing the taste characteristics. In addition, with excessively long storage in the freezer, squid meat will acquire a tougher consistency and it will be quite difficult to cook seafood.

The nuances of the temperature regime during freezing:

• at a temperature of -12 degrees, squids can be stored for a maximum of 6 months;
• at a temperature of -18 degrees, the shelf life of squid increases to 1 year.

If the squid is cooked, it will have a shelf life of 24 hours in the refrigerator. After this time, seafood will begin to lose its flavor characteristics, and their appearance will become less attractive.