Bring the ultimate centerpiece of Mediterranean and East Asian seafood cuisine to your kitchen with our Premium Fresh Whole Octopus (Raw & Cleaned) – 2kg. Wild-caught in deep, pristine ocean currents, this impressive 2kg whole octopus is highly prized for its thick, meaty tentacles and rich, deeply savory flavor profile.
To save you from the hardest kitchen chores, our professional fishmongers completely gut and clean the head cavity, removing the beak and eyes before shipping. Arriving at your UK home 100% fresh, raw, and heavily chilled on ice. It is perfectly sized for traditional slow-braising, wine-stewing, or tenderizing before hitting a roaring hot grill.
Fresh Whole Octopus (Raw & Cleaned) – 2kg
Cooking a large raw octopus requires a specific technique to break down the tough muscle fibers and prevent a rubbery texture. Follow the classic Mediterranean two-step method:
The Tenderizing Boil: Bring a large pot of water (without salt) to a rolling boil at 100°C. Holding the octopus by the head, dip the tentacles into the boiling water 3–4 times until they curl up beautifully. Then, submerge the entire octopus, lower the heat to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 50–60 minutes until a knife slides easily into the thickest part of the leg.
The Final Sear: Once fully tenderized and cooled, you can slice the legs and flash-fry them in a pan with olive oil and garlic, or throw them onto a hot BBQ grill at 200°C for 3–4 minutes per side to create a spectacular crispy outer crust.
What Is the Portion Yield and Cooking Shrinkage for a 2kg Octopus?
We believe in 100% transparency so you can plan your gourmet dinner perfectly:
The Pack Yield: Each order represents one single, premium whole octopus weighing 2kg at the time of fresh preparation.
Cooking Shrinkage Notice: Please note that all raw octopus contains a high natural water content. During the boiling/tenderizing process, it is completely normal for the octopus to lose about 40% to 50% of its raw volume. The remaining concentrated meat will be remarkably dense, flavorful, and yields a luxurious main course dinner for 4 to 5 adults.
Why Is Freezing Actually Recommended for Raw Octopus?
While Seafood Xpress delivers this product 100% fresh and never commercially frozen, octopus is one of the very few seafood exceptions where home freezing is highly beneficial!
The Secret Trick: If you don't intend to cook your 2kg octopus within 48 hours of delivery (stored at 2°C in your fridge), put it straight into your freezer! Freezing raw octopus causes the water inside the cells to expand into ice crystals, naturally rupturing the tough muscle fibers. When you thaw it slowly in the fridge after a few days, the octopus will actually turn out much more tender when cooked than if it were cooked purely fresh!
Is the octopus delivered alive, fresh, or frozen?
It is delivered 100% fresh, raw, and chilled on icepacks. It is completely cleaned and ready for the pot, meaning it is not alive, but it has never been frozen before reaching your UK home.
Do I need to clean the head or remove the skin?
The internal organs, eyes, and beak (the hard mouth part) are already professionally removed by our team. You do not need to skin it! The skin and suction cups are completely edible, filled with natural gelatin, and become wonderfully crispy when grilled.
How can I order 4kg or more of this product?
Very easily! Since this product is fixed as a single 2kg whole octopus, simply change the Quantity Selector on this page to '2' to order two individual whole octopuses (totaling 4kg), or to '3' for three individual pieces (totaling 6kg).
