# Octopus farming: They're that good to eat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 9, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585 "2022-04-09T17:34:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/1 "2022-04-09T17:34:15Z")
How much of a market is there for octopus? Are they a significant food source, or a delicacy somewhere? Is octopus farming a thing, and should it be? Opinion piece in _The Conversation_ about proposed octopus farms. Author discusses octopus cities and octopus culture, and argues that farming them would be a very bad thing for the octopuses. (Octopi? Octopodes? Octopeux?) Apparently, when a bunch of octopus are forced to live in close proximity, they don’t get along well, and develop violent dominance cultures. Managing a farmed community of them will be problematical. > **[The hidden world of octopus cities and culture shows why it’s wrong to farm them](https://theconversation.com/the-hidden-world-of-octopus-cities-and-culture-shows-why-its-wrong-to-farm-them-180536)** > > Octopus build cities, establish hierarchies and show social group behaviours. Domesticating will mean creating a new kind of octopus, with ecological and ethical implications. An abbreviated version of the story is also on Raw Story: > **[The hidden world of octopus cities and culture shows why it’s wrong to farm them](https://www.rawstory.com/the-hidden-world-of-octopus-cities-and-culture-shows-why-its-wrong-to-farm-them/)** > > A recently proposed aquaculture octopus farm in the Canary Islands would raise 3,000 tonnes of octopus a year, which means almost 275,000 individual octopuses will be killed annually.My research examines animal minds and ethics, and to me, the phrase... (No, Discobot, this topic is not similar to “(semi-) Oldies but Goodies: Movies from the 1970s and 1980s that are good to re-watch”.) ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/2 "2022-04-09T18:05:24Z")
I don’t know about the ethical impacts, but yes octopuses are good to eat. They won’t be replacing beef, but with 8 billion potential customers, I’m sure there’s enough demand to support a farm or two. Octopuses is right. Octopi is pluralizing a Greek word with a Lain rule. The meaning of -pus here is foot, like in … well, all I can think of are octopus and Oedipus, but there must be more. Octopodes is technically OK, but way too arcane. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/3 "2022-04-09T18:06:25Z")
I prefer octopice, like mouse/mice. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/4 "2022-04-09T18:10:22Z")
In my area, they’re popular enough. Not every store will sell them, but quite a few will. My store usually has whole, frozen octopus, especially around Christmas. We also often have an octopus salad. I don’t know if it’s specifically an Italian thing, but if you want to find it, an Italian store or Italian deli would be a good place to start. ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/5 "2022-04-09T18:21:13Z")
Also common in France (_poulpe_). Delicious, but difficult to prepare. The ink sacs are under high pressure (as I found out the hard way) and there’s two of them (as I found out shortly after cleaning up the mess). ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/6 "2022-04-09T18:25:36Z")
Can’t help but think of the old Beatle song Octopus’ Garden. I had a Japanese roommate in college who’d get octopi in CARE packages from home. As I recall they were maybe 4-5 inches long. He’d munch on the legs till they were gone and then eat the head like a jawbreaker. Grossed the shit out of me. But apparently it’s not that uncommon a food. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/7 "2022-04-09T18:30:51Z")
They are a big part of some Spanish culture, I believe in the province of Galicia it’s considered their speciality and a must try for visitors which they are very proud of. ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/8 "2022-04-09T18:33:17Z")
Definitely a delicacy in Asia and Europe. A well prepared one is heavenly. A poorly prepared one is like a rubber band in texture and taste. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/9 "2022-04-09T18:35:11Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > How much of a market is there for octopus? Are they a significant food source, or a delicacy somewhere? > **[Takoyaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takoyaki)** > > Takoyaki (たこ焼き or 蛸焼) is a ball-shaped Japanese snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special molded pan. It is typically filled with minced or diced octopus (tako), tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger (beni shoga), and green onion (negi). The balls are brushed with takoyaki sauce (similar to Worcestershire sauce) and mayonnaise, and then sprinkled with green laver (aonori) and shavings of dried bonito (katsuobushi). > Yaki comes from yaku (焼く), which is one of the cooking ... ---
**Author:** ![SacFly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@SacFly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SacFly)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/10 "2022-04-09T19:45:20Z")
It’s also highly regarded in Greek cuisine. It’s one of those foods that’s as much about texture as taste. If you enjoy the mouthfeel of properly cooked calamari, you’d probably enjoy octopus. I’ve cooked it a couple of times, though it’s definitely not something I grew up eating. Simmer it in spiced water for an hour+. After that you put it over a hot grill to get some char on it fast. Served with a vinaigrette with fresh herbs and a lot of lemon juice, it was very good. I’ll make it again. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/11 "2022-04-09T20:05:34Z")
> [@SacFly](#): > > If you enjoy the mouthfeel of properly cooked calamari, you’d probably enjoy octopus. I never had properly cooked calamari until I went to Japan, it is delicious. I thought calamari was supposed to be chewy like the crap they serve at Olive Garden and bars. Do we only get the chewy parts in the midwest? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/12 "2022-04-09T20:09:04Z")
Prepared the Galizian way ([pulpo a feira or pulpo a la gallega](https://www.spain-recipes.com/galician-octopus.html)) they are delicious. And quite simple to prepare, can’t understand why they write intermediare difficulty. Here are a [couple of recipes](https://kochgenossen.com/kommandosache-oktopus/?highlight=pulpo) in German from a very good website (IMO, I have no relation with them). Polpo al forno con patate, the Italian recipe, is very tasty and simple! The Greek way of preparing octopus is also good, first boil it, then BBQ it. Two problems arise when farming octopodes (can we just say pulpos?): fist, as already mentioned, they are solitary beings that do not like company. They develop cannibalistic tendencies when raised in a crowd (depending on the species too, there are many). Second, they are devilishly clever, they will find a way to escape almost any confinement, as aquarists will testify. Then they die on the floor when they don’t find the way back. That second problem raises the possibility that eating such an intelligent animal may be considered unmoral by some. Still, they do taste delicious! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/13 "2022-04-09T20:10:01Z")
> [@Didi44](#): > > Definitely a delicacy in Asia and Europe. A well prepared one is heavenly. A poorly prepared one is like a rubber band in texture and taste. I’ve never had octopus, but this is exactly my experience with squid. I don’t think it’s a matter of which parts we get, but of knowing the proper techniques for preparation. And don’t ask me; I don’t know how, either. I just know it when I taste it. > [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Second, they are devilishly clever Or maybe devilfishly clever. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/14 "2022-04-09T20:11:54Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Do we only get the chewy parts in the midwest? No, they only cook them wrong. Calamari have no chewy parts when cooked correctly. Pulpos may be a bit more difficult if you buy them fresh, but frozen they are easy too. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/15 "2022-04-09T20:16:05Z")
I hear they’re served on ice in Detroit. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/16 "2022-04-09T20:17:29Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Second, they are devilishly clever, they will find a way to escape almost any confinement, as aquarists will testify. At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, they put velcro on the walls of the open-air tank below the rim. Octopuses can’t climb on that. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/17 "2022-04-09T20:20:09Z")
Here’s me rooting for the octopus with the long tentacles that reach over the velcro. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/18 "2022-04-09T20:20:56Z")
Obviously, they must put a wide enough swath of velcro that they can’t reach over it. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/19 "2022-04-09T20:21:19Z")
Also, [Takoyaki Gashapon](https://soranews24.com/2021/06/30/new-takoyaki-gacha-toys-designed-by-a-japanese-voice-actress-come-with-surprise-fillings/) would be about the worst porn name ever. (But possibly an okay band name.) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2022, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585/20 "2022-04-09T20:22:16Z")
I have had it on sushi. Interesting. But they are too smart, so no more octopus for me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-farming-theyre-that-good-to-eat/962585.md?page=2)