Seafood

Squid

Squid with an elongated mantle, paired triangular fins, eight arms and two longer tentacles.

繁體中文: 魷魚
English: Squid
Bahasa Indonesia: Cumi-cumi (魷魚)
Tagalog: Pusit (魷魚)

What is it?

魷魚 is a common Hong Kong cephalopod sold whole or cleaned; it is not cuttlefish or octopus.

How to identify it

On a whole squid, check the tubular mantle, two triangular fins at its rear, large eyes, multiple arms and two longer tentacles.

Elongated tubular mantle
Two triangular fins at the rear of the mantle
Eight arms, two longer tentacles and large eyes

Common confusion

Squid has a long mantle and two rear fins; octopus lacks that mantle, while cuttlefish is broader and has a cuttlebone.

Common Hong Kong household uses

Confirm the dish, quantity and cut with the employer before preparation, then cook thoroughly.

Preparation or handling

Keep raw seafood separate from cooked food, use separate boards and knives, wash hands and contact surfaces, clean it for its type, and cook thoroughly.

Storage

Refrigerate promptly, covered and below cooked food at 4°C or below. Use only when the cold chain is reliable and there is no abnormal odour; do not use if chilled storage is uncertain or there is a strong off-odour.

Helper tip

Check the whole form, freshness and stall label; if uncertain, photograph it for the employer.

What Ma’am or Sir may say

買兩隻魷魚，清內臟留完整身筒。

The employer wants this seafood item and requires the fish or shellfish and stall label to be checked.

Useful market phrase

唔該要兩隻魷魚。

Does the image look correct?

Last reviewed

2026-08-24