Quality characteristics of squid-sikhae prepared by four different methods(SHM: sikhae method, SHM-LA; sikhae method added with L plantarum, MM; mixed method of sikhae method and salting method, MM-LA; MM method added with L plantarum) were investigated during fermentation at $20^{circ}C$. The pHs of all the 6-days fermented sikhae samples were in the range of 4.01-3.76, meaning that there were no significant difference in pH according to the preparation methods. Number of total microbes(TM) were decreased, while the ratio of lactic acid bacteria against TM in SHM-LA and MM-LA was higher than those of SHM and MM. There were no differences in acid protease activity, while $NH_2-N$ content of SHM and MM were higher than those of SHM-LA and MM-LA. Amylase activity was the lowest in MM-LA. Proteins separated by SDS-PAGE belonged to 7-200 kDa, the major proteins (153<94<41 kDa) of the sikhae in all plots were disappeared at 6 days fermentation. In sensory evaluation, sour taste of MM was the highest, while it was the lowest in SHM-LA. Sweet taste, bitter taste, salty taste and hot taste were not significantly different Off-flavor was decreased in lactic acid bacteria added products. Scores of the softness and overall acceptability were the highest in SHM-LA. These results indicated that SHM-LA was the best method for the preparation of squid sikhae because of the enhancement of lactic acid fermentation and overall acceptability.