Feeding and Nutrition :: Question about peeling cuttlebone

[flsprophet]

I was just wondering that everyone says to peel the hard backing off of the cuttlebone. Is there any special way to do it or do i just grab a knife and just start chipping away at it. Thank You

[Nettle]

I just take a butter knife, put the bone on its side, and try to weedle my way under the tough layer until it pops off. Be careful though, cuz I once stabbed myself with a sharp knife and it wasn't fun.

[steve]

You can also look for the huge cuttlebone online (I haven't seen them in stores). Much easier to remove the hard backing on those. I picked it up here: http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/

[Tenodera]

I use those really sharp exacto-knives and do it the same way Nettle does it. My hands get cut up pretty bad sometimes. My friends think I got into a fight with a cat.

[octpusgirl8]

Well now i know where i'm getting my next batch of cuttlebone from! 6.75 for a 1/2 lb is a lot better than $1-2 a piece, and i like the look of those big ones. It would certainly be an added bonus if the backing was easier to get off, i always end up with a puncture woulnd of some sort!

[TheComputerGremlin]

My hubby does it for me, but he uses a paring knife and just slowly works the pieces off, careful not to cut himself. He loses about 10% of each cuttlebone, but I'm okay with that if it means no blood on my cuttlebone!

[flsprophet]

Thanks all I was hoping there was an easier way but i guess not. I'll just try and be a little more careful as I have already stabbed myself a couple times!!

[Chrisbarnett]

I have thought about using my Dremel with a cutting disk on it and just cutting right under the hard part until it comes off. I'll post how well it works when I get a new piece of cuttle bone.

[imderanged]

I use a small sharp knife like a paring knife and "chip" it off by getting the point of the blade under the backing and lifting the blade. It does take some time, but I haven't cut myself, YET.

[Take-One]

I use my Swiss Army Knife. I stab myself ALOT. I do it like Nettle does.

[meltedspork]

My boyfriend used to work at a tire shop and he has a tool that looks like a knife but the end in rounded. The blade is very thin and they used it to slice some part of the rubber tire (he explained it to me but I can't remember). Anyway, it works really well for taking the back off the cuttlebone because it is very thin and it doesn't stab me because it is rounded. I'm sure they have some kind of similar tool at a hardware store.

It looks similar to this:

[steve]

The backing is still a pain to remove but it's easier to hold when you're removing it. Plus, when you lose a few chunks it doesn't seem so bad.