Frozen Squid — The Complete Range of Cuts

Whole round squid is squid frozen in its complete, natural state — head, body, tentacles, fins and viscera intact. This is the rawest, most unprocessed form in which squid enters the international frozen trade, and it represents a significant share of global squid volumes.

Whole round is the preferred format for seafood processors who carry out their own cutting, cleaning and portioning operations. Buying whole round gives processors full control over yield, cut specification and end-product quality. It is also the most cost-efficient format, as no value-added processing has been applied.

At First Squid, we supply whole round frozen squid in all major commercial species — Loligo Gahi from the Falkland Islands, Illex Argentinus from the South Atlantic, Dosidicus Gigas from Peru and Chile, and many more. Available IQF or block frozen, in a full range of size grades from small to extra-large, packed to your specification.

Squid tubes are the world's most commercially traded frozen squid product. A squid tube is the cleaned mantle of the squid — skin removed, head and tentacles separated, a clean, white, hollow cylinder of firm squid flesh. The tube is the essential building block of the global calamari industry.

From the tube, processors produce rings, strips, calamari steaks, stuffed squid, breaded calamari rings and a wide range of value-added products. Tubes are sourced by seafood processors, food manufacturers, retail packers and foodservice distributors on every continent.

Frozen squid tubes are available IQF — each tube frozen individually, free-flowing, easy to portion — or block frozen, in 1kg, 2kg or 5kg blocks, for industrial processing. Size grading is critical for tube buyers: standard commercial grades range from U/3 to 10/20, covering everything from very small tubes (Loligo Gahi, Loligo Vulgaris) to large Dosidicus Gigas tubes used for steaks and strips.

At First Squid, squid tubes are our highest-volume product. We maintain continuous supply from multiple origins throughout the year, ensuring our buyers are never left short regardless of seasonal fluctuations in any single fishing zone.

Baby squid — small whole squid frozen skin-on, typically between 3cm and 10cm in length — are one of the most distinctive and sought-after products in the Mediterranean seafood trade. In Spain, they are known as chipirones. In Italy, calamaretti. In Portugal, lulas pequenas. Across all three countries, they command premium prices and loyal consumer demand.

Baby squid are served whole — grilled, fried, stuffed or braised in their ink — and their small size, tender flesh and sweet flavour make them a genuine premium product in both foodservice and retail. They are also widely consumed in Japan and across Southeast Asia.

First Squid sources frozen baby squid primarily from Loligo Gahi ( Falkland Islands and Patagonia), which produces the finest small squid on the market. IQF frozen, size-graded by piece count per kilogram, packed in 10kg master cartons. Available in sizes ranging from 100/200 pieces per kg to 300/500 pieces per kg.

Flower cut squid — also known as scored squid or pinecone cut — is a decorative preparation in which the surface of a cleaned squid tube is scored with a crosshatch pattern of diagonal cuts before being frozen. When the flower cut squid is cooked, the heat causes it to curl and open into a beautiful flower or pinecone shape, creating a striking visual presentation on the plate.

This cut is highly valued in premium Asian foodservice — particularly in Chinese, Japanese and Korean restaurants — where visual presentation is as important as flavour. It is also increasingly used in high-end European seafood restaurants seeking distinctive presentations for calamari dishes.

Flower cut squid requires precision cutting and is typically produced from larger squid species — Dosidicus Gigas and Illex Argentinus — where the mantle size allows for clean, even scoring. IQF frozen. A premium product that commands premium pricing.

Squid wings — also called fins — are the two triangular or rhomboidal muscular flaps attached to the posterior end of the squid mantle. Often removed during the tube-cutting process, squid wings are traded separately as a distinct frozen product with their own commercial market.

In Asian markets — particularly Japan, China and South Korea — squid wings are consumed as a snack food, dried or grilled, and are considered a delicacy. In European markets, they are used in seafood preparations, mixed seafood products and as an ingredient in processed seafood manufacturing.

Squid wings are an efficient use of the whole squid, and their trade reflects the zero-waste approach of modern seafood processing. IQF frozen, graded by weight. Available from Illex Argentinus, Dosidicus Gigas and Loligo Gahi origins.