How to Boil Squid

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   Thaw the squid—you can do this under warm running water.

2. Step 2:

   

   Before cooking the squid, you need to clean them. Peel off the pinkish skin. Underneath is another thin, clear membrane (it's what makes squid tough). The easiest way to remove it is in hot water—it curls up and comes off effortlessly. Also remove all the innards and the clear, hard quill in the body cavity.

3. Step 3:

   

   Now for the most important part: cooking the squid right. Cooked longer than 3 minutes, squid shrinks and turns into tight "rubber." You can cook squid by dropping it into boiling salted water for just 30 seconds—in that time it will cook through and barely shrink at all. However, if you accidentally overcook it, keep cooking for a full 20 minutes—the squid will turn tender again, though it'll shrink to almost half its size.

4. Step 4:

   

   Cool the cooked squid and cut it into rings. Arrange on a platter and sprinkle with freshly ground pepper. If you like, drizzle with lemon juice. Enjoy!