From slicing to serving, this guide explains all.
Fear not, well explain all the dos and don’ts when it comes to how to cook butternut squash.
Heres what to consider when searching through the squash in the produce section.
Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Skin:The color and appearance of a butternut squashs skin will tell you how ripe it is.
Weight:The squash should feel heavy for its size, if its fairly light, its likely unripe.
It should also sound hollow when tapped.
Credit:Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
Stem:You want to see an intact, brown stem.
Technically the answer is yes, however most non-organicbutternut squashare treated or waxed (which isnt exactly delicious).
And although edible, eating the skin is not always the most enjoyable experience.
Credit:Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
Then, slice the squash in half and scoop out all the seeds.
From there you’ve got the option to cut the squash down as needed.
For neat cubes, first cut the squash into 12-inch slices, then break down each slice in cubes.
Credit:Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
Steam
Similar to boiling, this quick method will yield tender squash in no time.
it’s possible for you to also do this with butternut squash halves.
For a whole squash, start by piercing it all over with a sharp knife.
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Place it on a microwave-safe plate, cook on HIGH until cooked through, about 15 minutes.
Then carefully slice the squash in half and remove the seeds before using.
The more crowded the basket is, the more time it will take the squash to cook.
Credit:Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner
Here are some recipes to get you started:
