How can you tenderize an octopus before cooking?

Question

It has come to my knowledge that freezing an octopus can aid in the tenderization process prior to cooking it. Is there any truth to this, and how does it function?

Answer 1

You guys are the best Food/Cooking content at the moment hands down!

Answer 2

I learned dozens of techniques from this content. Thank you!

Comments

You've read dozens of techniques

Answer 3

As a Galician, I'd swap the garlic sauce for good quality potatoes and simple seasoning as they amplify the delicate flavour to the utmost degree :) Polbo á Feira, though admittedly simple (sliced octopus over Galician cachelo potatoes boiled in the same water, served on a wooden platter and drizzled with olive oil, paprika and coarse salt), is a must-try if visiting Galicia, where it's cooked in large copper cauldrons, and best enjoyed while attending the weekly markets (fairs) it's named after: a national treasure.

Answer 4

Thank you so much for showing the home steaming method! I was able to buy frozen octopus but I did not steam it and it was horrible. Yes, I had heard that freezing it was the best method but they left out the steaming trick! You dang Chefs always got a special trick dontcha?

I want that method served over hand-stirred polenta with lots and lots of butter!

Answer 5

I’m reading a lot of professional cooking contents lately. I have never seen something like that before. Now that would be the dish I’d never hesitate to spend my money on. I hope I’ll visit London and also have that experience in person. Brilliant!

Answer 6

Best food channel.

Answer 7

I love octopus. And while them being tender is the best, I honestly I also like them when they are on the opposite end of tenderness

Comments

same

Answer 8

Thanks! I got two large spanish ones in the freezer, so testing this weekend!

Answer 9

I'm not even a seafood person, but Octopus, butter and chilli is one of the finest foods on earth!

Comments

I'm curious about it. Never had. I'm pretty open minded about food.

---

’s fantastic. Like squid but much meatier and more toothsome

Answer 10

Definitely gonna try that terrine. Thanks!

Answer 11

The best I've ever seen. Thank you for sharing

Answer 12

Once I am in London I need to visit you guys. You have become my favourite Food content creator, and especially thanks for all these in-depth explanations. Awesome work.

Answer 13

Octopus carpaccio pizza is pretty gangster. Keep up the good work lads

Answer 14

My favourite Portuguese dish is polvo a lagareiro. Different to the dish you showed which is also spectacular. Polvo a lagareiro is super simple to make, plenty of recipes and the result is magnificent.

Answer 15

I was invited to a dinner party by a friend once, she served Octopus, I was sick for 3 days afterwards, there is no way I could ever face another bite of it.  Your knowledge of food science and food history is just wonderful, you are only a young lad and you have so much knowledge to share and willing to share too.  Well done Sir.

Comments

Octopus probably had nothing to do with your food borne illness. Your friend’s food handling was most likely the culprit. Probably didn’t wash hands after using the toilet. I would try octopus again, but I’d never eat anything else that person cooked.

---

Lol... I don't think it was lack of toilet hygiene, but do agree it was something other than the octopus. Usually (like at a restaurant), food poisoning comes from chemical cross-contamination, such as in the detergents they use. This is especially true if the onset is quick, as bacterial or viral sickness takes a little while for the load to build. This or some other cross-contamination happened at your friend's place... Or probably it wasn't even the octopus, as I'm sure you ate other stuff as well. A salad, perhaps. Lettuces and such are far more prone to food borne illness type than most anything else.

Answer 16

most satisfying method looked like the last dish... i could eat that every day lol

Answer 17

My two favourite proteins are 1st mushrooms and 2nd octopus. I love having it cooked over fire but the plancha is the best alternative.

Answer 18

Would love a Morel guide since its in season and im foraging as many as i can lol

Answer 19

Love it, best i've had was in Cyprus. Didn't know it could be this easy.

Answer 20

Love reading about these guys work.