How to Cook Frozen Calamari

Calamari -- or squid -- is a shellfish that can be prepared by itself or combined with side dishes such as pasta and vegetables for a complete meal. You can choose from fresh or frozen calamari without sacrificing taste and quality. Cooking frozen calamari is an easy process that starts by thawing and prepping the meat, followed by grilling.

Skewers of grilled calamari on a ceramic plate. (Image: Kheng guan Toh/Hemera/Getty Images)

Step 1

Thaw the frozen calamari by placing the meat in the refrigerator. Let the calamari defrost gradually for about 24 hours.

Step 2

Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. The goal is to allow the grill to reach medium-high temperature before placing the frozen calamari on the grates.

Step 3

Remove the calamari from the refrigerator and wash thoroughly under running water. The running water removes any sand or other substances from the calamari. Dry with a paper towel.

Step 4

Prepare the calamari by cutting and pulling off the tentacles.

Step 5

Mix the olive oil, sea salt and black pepper in a bowl, and coat the calamari with the mixture. The olive oil prevents the calamari from sticking to the grates and brings out the flavor of the meat.

Step 6

Place the calamari on skewers for cooking. The skewers prevent the calamari from falling between the grates and make it easy to turn while they are on the grill.

Step 7

Cook for about 3 minutes per side and turn occasionally until the calamari turn an opaque color throughout. Avoid overcooking the frozen calamari to prevent the meat from turning tough.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb. of calamari

• Refrigerator

• Paper towel

• 2 tbsp. olive oil

• 2 tsp. sea salt

• 2 tsp. ground black pepper

• Bowl

• Skewers

• Grill