Octopus is a rich source of protein and low in calories. It is also high in minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Octopus can be cooked in various ways to bring out its unique flavor and texture. When cooked, octopus becomes tender and soft with no rubbery texture. But here is the catch—its smell, taste, and texture are not everyone’s cup of tea. Some people find the smell repulsive while others think it has an earthy taste that they cannot get used to. For those who have given octopus a second chance after their first taste didn’t go well—how does octopus taste? This article answers all your questions about octopus, nutrition facts, healthy recipes, storage tips, and much more!
How Does Octopus Taste?
Octopus tastes pretty good, actually! It’s a little bit salty and a little bit sweet, and it goes really well with dipping sauces. Some people say that it tastes a bit like calamari, but octopus is a lot more tender than squid. If you’re ever at a seafood restaurant and see octopus on the menu, I recommend giving it a try!
Octopus Nutrition Facts
Octopus Nutrition Facts
Octopus nutrition facts are quite impressive. It is high in protein, low in calories and fat, and rich in minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. An octopus has a lot of calcium, potassium, and magnesium which are essential for healthy bones. It also has selenium which is responsible for immune system function. Selenium is important for the development of the nervous system and brain function.
Octopus Nutrition Facts – Protein
Protein is an essential nutrient that helps build and repair tissues in your body. It also helps maintain muscle mass while promoting growth in children. Octopus contains a good amount of protein (13 grams) per 100-gram serving which is one-third of the recommended daily intake (RDI) for adults (50 grams). For comparison, chicken breast has 13 grams of protein per 100-gram serving while turkey breast has 10 grams per 100-gram serving—which makes octopus higher than both chicken breast and turkey breast when it comes to protein content in 100 grams of the food.
Octopus Nutrition Facts – Calcium
Calcium is one of the most abundant minerals in the human body. It is essential for healthy teeth, bones, and muscles. Octopus contains a good amount of calcium (250 milligrams per 100-gram serving) which makes it one of the best sources of seafood that have high calcium content. For comparison, beef has about 200 milligrams per 100-gram serving while chicken breast has about 200 milligrams per 100-gram serving—which makes octopus higher than both beef and chicken breast when it comes to the calcium content in 100 grams of the food.
Octopus Nutrition Facts – Potassium and Magnesium
Potassium is an important mineral that helps maintain normal blood pressure and heart rhythm as well as muscle and nerve function. Potassium also helps regulate fluid balance by affecting water retention or loss depending on your body’s needs. Magnesium helps maintain bone health) which is more than double the RDI of calcium for women. However, this amount is similar to other seafood (such as anchovies and salmon).
Octopus Nutrition Facts – Potassium
Potassium is an important mineral that helps maintain healthy blood pressure and heart rhythm. It also plays a role in nerve transmission and muscle contraction. Octopus contains a good deal of potassium (239 milligrams per 100-gram serving). This amount is higher than many fruits (such as bananas) but lower than some vegetables (such as broccoli and sweet potatoes).
Health Benefits Of Eating Octopus
Octopus is rich in protein
A 100 gm serving of octopus contains 16 grams of protein, which is a good source of protein and is also low in calories. Protein helps build and repair muscles, tissues, and organs and also helps keep body tissues strong and healthy.
Octopus is high in minerals and vitamins
A 100 gm serving of octopus contains 1 gram of iron, 3 grams of magnesium, 13 grams of potassium, 2 grams of phosphorus, 1 gram each of zinc and copper, 0.5 milligrams each of calcium and selenium, or 4% DV for these minerals respectively. These minerals help keep bones strong and healthy as well as provide energy to the body cells. It is also rich in vitamin A (12%), vitamin B1 (21%), vitamin B2 (4%), vitamin B3 (4%), vitamin B5 (2%), niacin (0.7%), thiamine (0.8%), riboflavin (0.7%), vitamin B6 (2%), vitamin C (5%) and calcium (0%).
Octopus is rich in antioxidants and Omega 3 fatty acids
Octopus is a good source of antioxidants like carotenoids, which are pigments that help maintain the body’s natural defenses against disease. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are polyunsaturated fats found in fish, some nuts and seeds, and flaxseed oils that help lower cholesterol levels in the blood. These nutrients act as anti-inflammatory agents to keep your joints healthy and strong so you can play all day without pain!
How To Cook Octopus?
- First, you need to clean the octopus. To do this, wash the octopus under running water. The head should be removed. Wash it thoroughly and clean its gills. Use a toothpick or an ice pick to pry off the eyes from its head (only if necessary).
- Next, cut the tentacles of the octopus into small pieces and make sure that they are cleaned properly.
- Make sure that all the organs of the octopus are removed from its body—the tongue and liver are best left out because they can cause allergic reactions in some people who have never tried it before. You can also remove its heart and lungs if you like to eat them for their nutritional value (they contain high amounts of iron).
- Next, rinse all pieces under running water again and pat them dry with a paper towel or clean kitchen towel to make sure that no food particles remain on them. If you want to remove any traces of oil from the octopus, you can use a paper towel to wipe it off.
- Finally, you can cook an octopus by placing it in a pot of boiling water and cooking it for about 20 minutes or until it is tender. Once cooked, drain the water and then place the octopus pieces in a bowl filled with ice-cold water to cool them down. You can store the cooked octopus in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days—if you plan to make use of this time, make sure that you refrigerate it properly.
Tips For Cooking Octopus
- Octopus is usually eaten raw, but if you are not a fan of raw food, you can cook it.
- The easiest way to cook an octopus is to boil it until tender and then chop it into pieces. You can also bake it or grill it.
- For those who don’t like the rubbery texture of octopus, steaming works best for them as the meat will become tender and soft with no rubbery texture. To steam, the octopus, cut off its head (if you haven’t already done so) and place it in a pot with enough water to cover the octopus completely. Bring water to a boil then lower heat until the water starts simmering then cover with a lid and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until tender (depending on size). After steaming, use a fork to separate the meat from the bones and discard the bones before serving with some lemon juice and salt if desired.
- If you prefer octopus with a rubbery texture, then you can use olive oil and balsamic vinegar to braise it.
- Octopus also goes well with seafood stew, fish soup, or casseroles. You can also add octopus to your favorite pasta dish or casserole.
- If you want to make octopus salad, cut the tentacles lengthwise and toss them with some olive oil and lemon juice. Serve with chopped red onions, olives, and crumbled feta cheese if desired.
Conclusion
Octopus is a delicious, nutritious seafood. It is rich in proteins and minerals and has low calories. It is best suited as a snack or appetizer and can be baked or stir-fried. Octopus is healthy and safe to eat and contains no cholesterol. It is best eaten boiled or baked.
