What to do when you need to defrost over 1,089 pounds of colossal squid? Haul out an industrial microwave oven, that’s what. The 33-foot sub-adult colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) in question was netted in Antarctic waters by New Zealand fishermen in February. After the fishing boat’s crew spent two hours reeling it in, the squid was immediately frozen for preservation onboard the ship. Now, after a two-hour flight back to New Zealand, scientists wish to study the creature in detail (and eventually, embalm it in preservative), but they fear that in the time it would take to defrost the entire squid at room temperature—days—the outer skin of the animal would begin to rot while the internal organs remained frozen. One possible solution is a sort of microwave oven used by the timber industry to improve wood permeability to preservative. Whatever they use, it’d better be big. A calamari ring from the kraken would be the size of a tractor tire. Alas, it would also taste strongly of ammonia, a prevalent chemical in giant-squid flesh that helps maintain neutral buoyancy underwater. Yum. —Martha Harbison
Link - BBC News
That is a mighty big squid!!
Posted by: Carlos | March 23, 2007 at 09:15 PM
Carlos, You can say that again.
Posted by: D Flynn | March 23, 2007 at 09:35 PM
Let me get this straight: the squid's flesh and skin are ridden with ammonia to keep it neutrally buoyant. Does that mean that small ones are also filled with ammonia (perhaps, to a lesser extent)? And if so, are we eating it when we have those calamari rings?
Now I remember why I dont eat seafood!
Posted by: Adam | March 25, 2007 at 01:49 PM
to think they have microwave ovens that big!! but wouldnt it get too hot from the micro waves going through it?
Posted by: cody | March 25, 2007 at 06:30 PM
Why don't they just leave it in a big refridgerator at say 40 F until its thawed like what we do for steak? I would think a microwave would fry parts of it just like it does to a chicken breast.
Posted by: Steve | March 26, 2007 at 08:55 AM
when are we ever gonna find some live giant squid.i mean come on , I know they live deep under water but isnt there a new gizmo out there that could help us.
hey I should be on animal planat for this.
Posted by: Theo | March 26, 2007 at 05:07 PM
I think that they should go to like sea world and boil the water slightly and then just drop it in then let it defrost...... of course with out shamu in their...lol
Posted by: Josh | March 26, 2007 at 07:41 PM
A few years ago, a group of Japanese guys actually did photograph a live giant squid. There's an article at National Geographic. Someone did a documentary of the guys and their journey; I've caught it on TV once or twice. These guys baited a camera to get photos of the squid. It's not live action (one photo every x seconds). But it shed a lot of light on their movement and mannerisms. It's worth a look.
Posted by: Lesley | March 27, 2007 at 04:58 PM
if im reading this wrong id say that this giqnt was alive before they froze it...
Posted by: Irann | March 29, 2007 at 11:04 AM