Everyone knowssquidhas very high nutritional value, containing abundantprotein,vitamins, and also contains trace amounts of essential nutrients for the human body.That's why many people enjoy eating squid. However, despite its extremely high nutritional value, not everyone can eat squid, and not everything pairs well with squid.Below, Matou.com will introduce to you.

Nutritional Value of Squid

It is widely known that squid has very high nutritional value, so what are the specific nutrients it contains?And what values do these nutrient components have?Let's take a look together below.

1. Squid contains abundant taurine

Although squid has relatively high cholesterol content, it also contains a substance called taurine. Taurine can inhibit the accumulation of cholesterol in the blood.As long as the ratio of taurine to cholesterol in the food is above 2, cholesterol will not increase in the blood.Squid has a high taurine content, with a ratio of 2.2.Therefore, when eating squid, cholesterol is normally utilized by the body and does not accumulate in the blood.2. Squid contains highly unsaturated fatty acidsThe fat in squid contains large amounts of highly unsaturated fatty acids like EPA and DHA, along with the high levels of taurine, effectively reducing accumulated cholesterol in blood vessels, preventing arteriosclerosis and gallstone formation.

It also helps replenish brain power and prevent dementia.

For middle-aged and elderly people prone to cardiovascular diseases, squid is a beneficial food for health.3. Squid contains calcium, phosphorus, ironSquid is rich in calcium, phosphorus, and iron, which are beneficial for bone development and blood production; they can effectively treat anemia.

Phosphorus contributes to the formation of bones and teeth, promotes growth, and repairs body tissues. It provides energy and vitality while regulating acid-base balance.

4. Squid contains seleniumSquid contains selenium in small amounts but has significant benefits for boosting immunity and preventing cancer. It also plays a crucial role in anti-aging and anti-tumor activities.

5. Squid contains cholesterol

Squid is rich in cholesterol, which maintains cell stability, increases vascular flexibility, supports normal sexual function, and boosts the immune system.

Cholesterol can be divided into low-density and high-density types; that found in squid is mainly of the high-density variety, benefiting health without harm.

6. Squid contains sodiumSodium regulates osmotic pressure and maintains acid-base balance.It also helps maintain normal blood pressure, enhances nerve muscle excitability.

7. Squid contains copper

Copper is an essential micronutrient for human health, affecting the development and function of blood, central nervous system, immune system, hair, skin, and bones.8. Squid contains magnesiumMagnesium enhances sperm vitality, enhancing male fertility.

It helps regulate heart activity, lower blood pressure, prevent heart disease.

Regulates nerve and muscle activities, increases endurance.

9. Squid is rich in protein

Protein in squid maintains potassium-sodium balance, eliminates edema; boosts immunity.Helps reduce blood pressure, alleviate anemia, promote growth and development.How to Cook Squid

There are many ways to cook squid. It can be used for soups or grilled, but stir-frying is the most common method.

If you're interested in learning more squid recipes,let's introduce three cooking methods below to let you experience the freshness and deliciousness of seafood.Stir-Fried Squid with Green Onion

Green onion

MATERIALS:3 dried squid, 1 bunch of green onions, red and yellow peppers, ginger, garlic, enough to taste,star anise, fennel seeds, cloves, soy sauce, rice wine, salt, dark soy sauce.METHOD:1. Soak the dried squid in a mixture of water and quicklime for 12 hours, then rinse with clear water for another 2 hours to remove the alkaline taste;

2. Clean the squid thoroughly after soaking, removing all dirt and mucus;3. Cut the squid into strips and the green onions into segments;

4. Heat oil in a pan, stir-fry the ginger, garlic, and green onion. Add the squid strips, season with star anise, fennel seeds, cloves, soy sauce, rice wine, salt, dark soy sauce, stir-fry until almost done, then add the green onions and stir for another 2 minutes before serving.Oyster Sauce Stir-Fried SquidMATERIALS: Fresh squid,broccoli,tomatoes,yellow peppers, ginger, garlic cloves, green onion, dried chili, black pepper powder, oyster sauce, salt, sugar, rice wine.METHOD:1. Identify high-quality squid by its intact and sturdy body, pinkish color with a slight sheen, white frost on the surface, thick and semi-transparent meat without redness on the back;，2. Infer low-quality squid from its slender and damaged appearance, yellowish-brown color with black spots, no luster, excessive white frost on the surface, dark or moldy red on the back.10. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis patients, liver disease sufferers should avoid eating squid due to its extremely high cholesterol content;Additionally, those with weak spleen and stomach or suffering from rheumatism should consume less.

Squid is a food that can exacerbate symptoms in people with dermatitis and urticaria; it's best not to eat squid when consuming beer as well.

In summary, although squid is delicious and nutritious, it isn't suitable for everyone. It might be unsuitable for those with high blood pressure or weak constitutions. Remember, drinking beer while eating seafood can lead to kidney stones or gout attacks, causing severe skin reactions like red bumps that are painful and itchy.

How to Select Good Squid

To enjoy squid dishes, you must first know how to choose good squid.

Only by selecting high-quality squid can delicious squid dishes be made.

How to Choose Fresh Squid:

High-quality squid is whole and solid with a pinkish color, shiny appearance, slightly white frost on the surface, thick and semi-transparent meat without redness on the back;Low-quality squid has slender and damaged body, yellowish-brown with dark spots, no luster, excessive white frost on the surface, dark or moldy red on the back.，How to Choose Dried Squid:1. Look at the appearance: high-quality dried squid is intact, uniform in shape, flat and thin, meat without damage, clean and unharmed, solid and thick;2. Observe the color: high-quality dried squid slightly shows a red tint, no mold spots; tender squid is light yellow with transparency and thickness; old squid has an orange-red color, larger body.，3. Check the softness/hardness: if the dried squid feels very hard to touch, it's probably been stored for too long and will have no flavor when eaten.Cut the squid into pieces, mix with oyster sauce, salt, sugar, and rice wine.

Method:

1. Remove the red outer skin of the squid, and take out the similar plastic-like spine inside;

2. Cut open the squid, spread it flat, and make diagonal cuts at 45-degree angles, spacing about 3 millimeters apart;

3. After making the cuts, make perpendicular cuts at intervals of 3 millimeters using the previous cut lines as a guide;

4. Then cut the squid slices into strips first, then slice them;

5. Boil water in a pot and add the squid slices to blanch; remove immediately once they curl up, and rinse with cold water;

6. Prepare broccoli, yellow and red bell peppers, and tomatoes by cutting them into appropriate small pieces;

7. Cut ginger, garlic, and scallions into suitable small pieces;

8. Heat a pot with oil, stir-fry the ginger, garlic, white part of scallion, and dried chili pepper; add broccoli, yellow and red bell peppers, and tomatoes, stir-fry for a moment, then add salt, black pepper powder, and sugar, continue stirring until well combined, and finally add an appropriate amount of oyster sauce;

9. Add the quickly boiled squid, spray with rice wine, stir-fry evenly, and serve when done.

How to make delicious squid

Squid is rich in various essential nutrients for humans, such as protein, vitamins, calcium, etc.So not using such high-nutrient squid would be a waste.How can you make squid taste good?The following will teach you the cooking skills of squid so that everyone can enjoy fresh and tender squid at home.Firstly, if dry squid is purchased, it needs to be fully soaked first.

The soaking method is simple: mix clear water with lime in a basin, then add dry squid and soak for 12 hours. Stir twice during this time to make the squid swell evenly; remove after soaking, rinse clean with water.If fresh squid is purchased, no soaking is needed as long as it's fresh enough.

The black skin on the outside of the squid must be removed.

Use a toothpick to poke at it and it will easily come off.After removing the black skin, use a knife to make some grid-like cuts on it gently.After completing these two steps, do not cook immediately; instead, perform a blanching step as this is one of the key steps for making squid tender.

Before blanching, ensure the squid is drained properly; otherwise, it will take longer and affect the texture.When blanching, the water in the pot should be sufficient and preferably with some ginger slices and rice wine to remove the smell.

If there's too little water but many squids, it won't be called blanching but boiling.The blanching time must be controlled well. Once the squid starts curling or turning white and hard in the boiling water, use a colander to lift it out immediately; quickly rinse until the cooked squid is cool inside and out, ensuring a crisp texture.Next step is stir-frying the squid.

Always ensure high heat and quick stir-fry.Ensure the squid is completely drained of moisture before adding to avoid steaming instead of stir-frying, which affects taste and texture.As soon as the squid enters the pan, quickly separate it so that it cooks evenly.Once the squid hits the pan, stir-fry rapidly; add seasonings once flavors are set and remove immediately to prevent overcooking.Fresh squid already has sufficient natural flavor; avoid adding too much seasoning which might mask its original freshness.

Follow these 7 steps, you won't need to envy restaurant squid anymore; you can cook fresh and tender squid at home as well.Notes on eating squidSquid is a popular ingredient not only because it's delicious but also because it can be used in various dishes. So for mothers who like to eat squid, do you know what precautions should be taken when consuming squid?

Here are some notes on how to eat squid:

Fresh squid must be thoroughly cooked.

Because fresh squid contains a peptide that may cause digestive issues if not fully cooked.When selecting edible squid, learn to identify high-quality squid: Quality squid should have a complete body, firm texture, pink color with luster, slightly white frost on the surface, thick and semi-transparent flesh, back without redness;

Poor quality squid has a thin, damaged shape, yellowish-brown or dark in color, no luster, excessive white frost, black-red or moldy red at the back.People with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arteriosclerosis, and liver disease should avoid squid as it is rich in cholesterol;

Also, those with weak spleen and stomach should eat less due to its cold nature.Squid is considered a pungent food; people with dermatitis or urticaria should avoid eating it.

Avoid drinking beer while eating squid.Seafood contains high protein, low fat, and purine and glycosides;Beer contains vitamin B1, which helps break down purine and glycosides.

Eating seafood with beer can lead to stone formation or gout attacks.Severe cases may cause widespread red bumps, intense itching, making it impossible to walk.In summary, squid is delicious and nutritious but not suitable for everyone; those with high blood pressure and weak constitution should avoid eating it.Also worth noting is that drinking beer while eating squid can be problematic.How to pick good squid

To enjoy squid dishes, you need to know how to choose quality squid first.After all, only by choosing high-quality squid can you make delicious squid dishes.

So, how do you select good squid?

Let's find out together!How to pick fresh squid:Quality squid has a complete body, firm texture, pink color with luster, slightly white frost on the surface, thick and semi-transparent flesh, no redness at the back;Poor quality squid is thin, damaged, yellowish-brown or dark in color, dull, excessive white frost, black-red or moldy red at the back.

How to pick dried squid:

Quality dried squid has a complete body, uniform shape, flat and thin slices, no missing tentacles, clean flesh without damage;Poor quality dried squid is incomplete in form, broken tails, damaged tentacles, damaged or lost heads or tails, loose and thin meat, dry surface.

How to pick dried squid:

Look at the appearance: high-quality dried squid has a complete body, uniform shape, flat and thin slices, no missing tentacles, clean flesh without damage;Firm, thick meat.Poor quality dried squid is incomplete in form, broken tails, damaged tentacles, damaged or lost heads or tails, loose and thin meat, dry surface.

Look at the color: high-quality dried squid has a slightly red color, no mold spots;Younger squid are pale yellow, transparent, thinner body; older squid have an orange-red color, larger body.Poor quality dried squid is dark in color, excessive white frost, opaque, black-red or dark gray at the back.

Check softness and hardness: if the dried squid feels very dry and hard to touch, it has been stored for a long time and lacks flavor.