FAQ Fresh Cape Cod Squid

Where is fresh squid harvested from?

Fresh Squid is harvested off the coast of Cape Cod, Intershell has a direct relationship with New England fishermen to purchase from the boats.

How fresh is the squid when they arrive to my home?

All fresh squid sent to our online customers are harvested anywhere from 6 - 12 hours from the boats, it all depends on what time the boat arrives. It doesn’t get much fresher than that!

What size are the squid?

The squid are a mix of various sizes, anywhere between 5 inch to as long as 9 inches.

What species is the squid?

Intershell’s Cape Cod squid is a Lolligo squid. There are two types of squid: Lolligo and Illex. Lolligo squid is best eaten as food, since the meat is much more tender. Illex squid is typically used as bait and not commonly served for food due to the meat being tough to chew.

Is the fresh squid farmed or wild?

The squid is wild caught.

Why is the season for fresh squid so short?

The season is short because they only stay around the New England area for about a month, and then they swim away and disappear. Throughout the year travel up and down the North Atlantic ocean.

Do you have frozen squid available to purchase?

At the moment we do not have it, but during this squid season we will be freezing 2 Lb packages of squid to be able to offer it all year round.

What is the shelf life on the squid?

The shelf life on squid is very short, usually 3 days max upon the harvest date. You also have to take into consideration an extra day of travel time for shipping online orders. The shelf life is shorter than any other fish or shellfish. For optimal freshness, we recommend eating squid the same day it arrives to your home. When the squid starts to turn a light red/pink color, it means it is spoiled.

Can I freeze any squid I do not eat?

Yes, you can. Squid is one of the few seafood species that freezes well, meaning that the texture and taste is not affected when you defrost it. If you are unable to eat the squid right away, you can freeze whatever you do not eat. Squid should be frozen ASAP for it to be the best quality when defrosted, so do not wait until its last day to freeze it (we suggest freezing it the same day or the following day).

Does the squid arrive cleaned?

Yes, our squid arrives cleaned (skin off, spine out, ink sack removed, & head removed) as Tubes & Tentacles.

What is the best way to prepare fresh squid?

There are a lot of ways to prepare squid, but we personally love to fry squid in our seafood breading.

What is so “special” about fresh squid? What is the difference compared to the squid I can eat at a restaurant?

Squid and other cephalopods (Octopus & Cuttlefish), and also Shrimp are typically frozen immediately upon harvest to preserve the shelf life (it’s because the shelf life is so short). Any time you eat squid in a restaurant or see it in a grocery store, the squid is always frozen or previously frozen. 90% of squid consumed in America is also imported from Asia. Coming across domestic fresh squid is rare and only happens once a year for a short time, so we mean it when we say it is a special treat that everyone should try!