Nautilus is a type of shellfish with tentacles and an external snail-like shell. These sea creatures are valued highly in some parts of the world and are normally caught for their beautiful shells. But, can you also eat nautilus meat?
Yes, nautilus meat is edible and can be fried or grilled.
Can You Eat Nautilus? Is Nautilus Safe to Eat?
Even though Nautilus’ meat is edible, they are more often caught for their beautiful shells. Just like squids and octopuses, Nautilus can be made into many dishes. However, this type of shellfish isn’t commonly consumed in American homes.
Preparing Nautilus For Human Consumption
Nautilus is tough and chewy unless prepared well but tasty nonetheless. Here’s how you can prepare Nautilus:
Cleaning & Preparing Nautilus Shell
Whether you want to cook the critter inside or polish the nautilus shell for display, here’s a helpful video on how you can prepare and clean shells.
Tenderizing Nautilus
The first step in preparing any cephalopods like Nautilus, octopus, and squid is to tenderize them. To tenderize the nautilus meat and remove some of the chewiness, soak the Nautilus in either lemon juice or kiwi fruit juice for an hour before cooking. The acidity will help break down the texture.
How to Cook Nautilus?
Just like squid and octopus, Nautilus should only be cooked for a couple of minutes. Alternatively, you can make nautilus braise or stew. Our favorite cooking method is to sauté Nautilus in butter and garlic and some chili flakes.
Another great cooking idea is to make a nautilus ceviche with onions and lemon juice for a quick meal.
What do Nautilus Taste Like?
Nautilus tastes similar to other cephalopods like squids and octopus. However, Nautilus tends to be a bit fishier than other types of shellfish.
What Does Nautilus Feed On?
Nautiluses are opportunistic creatures that feed on shrimp, crabs, fishes, dead sea animals, and occasionally another nautilus. It is believed that Nautilus detects prey by smell since it lacks good vision. Nautilus captures food by its retractable tentacles and passes to its mouth, where a strong, beak-like jaw tears it into pieces.
Where is Nautilus found?
You’ll find nautilus along the coral reefs of the tropical Indo-Pacific. The Nautilus usually moves to deeper waters during the day to avoid predators. At night it moves up to the coral reefs to hunt for prey.
Are Nautilus An Endangered Species?
Nautiluses are endangered and vulnerable because they’re hunted for their beautiful shells. Nautilus is a timeless beauty with elegant spiral shells. This type of cephalopod has swam through the ocean’s depth for 500 million years. The iconic shells have sheltered nautiluses through big melts and mass extinctions. But in recent decades, these shells have become a trap.
According to a report from the United States National Marine Fisheries Service, Shell collectors love Nautilus to death. Our preference for nautilus-shell jewelry and souvenirs has stripped Nautilus from their habitat in Indonesia and the Philippines. In some spots, the nautilus population has declined by 80 percent in recent decades.
Is it Ethical to Eat Nautiluses?
It’s now widely accepted in the scientific community that fish have feelings and preferences and can sense pain. But what about shellfish or cephalopods?
The term “shellfish” covers a range of invertebrate aquatic animals hunted by humans as food. The most frequently eaten shellfish are shrimps, lobsters, crabs, and cephalopods such as squids and octopuses. The less popular cephalopods include nautiluses, and you won’t find them in any fish shops.
Cephalopods are some of the most intelligent invertebrates. They have a very different physiology than mammals do, but they can play, learn, and think. And vegans believe they don’t deserve to be served for dinner.
Related Questions
How long does a Nautilus Live?
Unlike other cephalopods, nautiluses are relatively long-lived and reach ages of 15 to 20 years.
Can Nautilus change colors?
The Nautilus is the rebel of the cephalopods family and has a few major differences from its relatives. For example, unlike the other members of its family, the Nautilus can’t change color. Like other cephalopods, Nautilus has a squishy body.
How intelligent is a nautilus?
The nautilus’ brain is quite complex, and it can be trained. Nautilus has good short- and long-term memory. It has up to 40 dedicated lobes in its brain. And some of those are dedicated to learning and memory.
Does the Nautilus have eyes?
Nautilus does not have a camera eye but rather a pinhole eye without a lens or cornea. The eye is subdivided into modules like photoreceptor cells, retina, lens, and cornea.
What does Nautilus symbolize?
The Nautilus is one of the oldest sea creatures known to survive in the earth’s oceans. It is a symbol of grace in growth, expansion, and renewal. It is also a symbol of order and peace amidst the chaos, as reflected in its spiral precision.
