Is Calamari an Octopus or a Squid?
Calamari is squid. Calamari is an Italian word that is used widely in the food service industry to make squid sound more appetizing to the public. Calamari dishes are common among Asian and Mediterranean cultures, and squid is popular in restaurants in North America.
Squids belong the mollusk family, and they are related to octopus and cuttlefish. They have 10 tentacles, and they are known for expelling black ink at the first sign of danger. Squid comes in various cooked forms, including frozen, dried, pickled, canned and fried. The primary meat source is the body, but the tentacles can be consumed as well. The meat is typically cut into flatter pieces, or it can be sliced into manageable rings. The meat is white in appearance and has a nutty and sweet taste.
