Squid

Squid are usually referred to on menus by their Italian name, calamari. They are soft-bodied animals somewhat resembling octopus, but they have 10 tentacles, 2 of them longer than the others.

Squid must be skinned and eviscerated. The head, beak, and the internal plastic-like quill are discarded. The hollow body and tentacles are eaten. Figure 20.12 illustrates how to clean squid.

Note: The similar cuttlefish has a shorter, thicker body than does squid. Instead of a thin, transparent interior quill, it has a hard, chalky cuttlebone.