This is one of those foods that you’ve probably had a few times, and maybe you have some leftovers, and now you’re thinking, “can I microwave that?” The answer is YES, you can!
However, microwaving calamari is tricky, so we’ll give you some suggestions on how to properly cook or reheat the calamari so that you enjoy it anytime.
Prepping For Cooking
If you’re cooking calamari from scratch in the microwave, you need to prep it just like you would for any other method of cooking.
Rinse and clean the squid by removing the eyes, mouth, and internal structures to where only the head’s meat and the tentacles are left.
Traditionally the head is then cut into calamari rings, and the tentacles are cut into bite-size lengths; you can cut yours however you want though
Cooking It Properly
Now that you’ve got your fresh calamari prepped begin by placing all your rings or pieces into a microwave-safe bowl. Cover the squid in warm water and microwave on high for 15 seconds.
Check your calamari after 15 seconds for doneness. Calamari will turn opaque when done. Continue microwaving at 15-second intervals until the skin changes color and the calamari feels done.
Check the pieces’ inside to ensure there is no pink flesh to be sure it is done.
You can also bag steam your calamari by placing the pieces in a heavy-duty plastic bag and filling the bag about halfway with water.
You then poke a few small holes in the bag and microwave for 2-3 minutes.
Use caution when removing the bag (or anything for that matter) from the microwave!
Whichever method you choose, make sure the calamari is done before serving.
What About Reheating Leftover Fried Calamari in the Microwave?
If you have some leftover calamari that is fried and you are wondering if you can quickly reheat it, the answer is yes, but it is important to note that the preferred method would be to put it in the oven.
Microwaving fried calamari would make the outer breading less crispy, similar to microwaving other fried foods.
So keeping that in mind, the steps are below.
- Remove the calamari from any container that it might be in. Especially if it is styrofoam, which many restaurant leftover boxes are.
- Place the calamari on a microwave-safe plate.
- Microwave for 30 seconds and check the temperature to see if it is to your liking (Microwaves vary, so you may need to add more time)
- Carefully remove from the microwave and enjoy!
Can You Microwave Calamari - Wrapping Up
There you have it, two quick and easy ways to cook fresh calamari in the microwave.
