How To Cut and Prepare Butternut Squash

There are some essential tools that are required to cut butternut squash. These tools vary depending on the method you choose to follow. The required tools are mentioned below in detail.

• A knife: This is useful to cut both the top and bottom ends of the butternut squash. Using a dull knife makes the task more difficult. So, make sure you use a sharp knife. 
• Cutting board: This tool is very useful in supporting the squash while peeling, cutting the ends, and cutting it into pieces. So, a cutting board is normally required throughout the cutting process. In its absence, the vegetable slips away while preparing and cutting it. 
• A normal peeler: You will need this tool to slice out a thin layer of the butternut skin. If you use a knife to do this job, you might end up slicing the thicker layer. So, always use a peeler to peel the skin from the squash. 
• A spoon: This tool allows you to remove the seeds from the butternut's belly. 
• Paper towel: A bunch of paper towels helps to wipe out the moisture from the squash. This results in easy cutting without making the squash slippery. 
• A large bowl: You will need this bowl to collect the chopped squash. This helps to prevent things from becoming messier. 

Once you've bought this vegetable, it needs to be prepared to cut. The preparation is important and includes steps like washing, removing the seeds, and peeling the squash. Here is how you can prepare butternut squash: 

1. Wash

To wash the squash, place it in a pot and fill it with enough water to submerge the squash. Now, using your hand swish and rub the squash in the water. This helps to remove any dirt or external particles. Repeat the washing 2-3 times or until water turns clear. 

Once the proper washing is done, dry the squash using a paper towel. This absorbs the remaining water on the skin. The drying-out process also helps to stop the nut from being slippery and, as a result, makes the cutting part easier. 

2. Cut the ends 

The second step in preparation is to cut the ends of the butternut squash. Cutting the top and bottom ends allows the squash to stand firmly during the peeling and cutting process. Also, it ensures the even cooking of the squash due to the easy distribution of heat and seasonings. 

Additionally, some squash ends may have bitter or off-taste, so it is a good idea to cut them down. 

3. Peel

Once you're done with cutting ends, move towards peeling the skin of the butternut. This step is easy and looks satisfying to watch. You just need to use a normal peeler here. Clean the peeler and wipe it out with a paper towel. 

Now, place the squash on the cutting board facing the bottom part down. Then, grab its neck part, start peeling the skin from the top, and bring to the bottom. You need to put some pressure on the peeler while pulling it down. 

Peel all the skin from the squash carefully. Even though the chances of hurting your finger are very low, it is a good idea to pay attention to that. 

Cutting a butternut squash may seem like an easy one but it actually demands a thoughtful process. There are a few methods that are good choices for cutting the squash. They are: cut with a knife, food processor, julienne peeler, and box grater. These methods give different shapes to the squash when chopped. 

For example, a knife usually gives a cube shape of squash pieces, whereas a food processor shreds the squash into small strips. Based on your liking, you can choose the tool.

This method is the most commonly used in almost every household. This is due to the tool it requires, a big shape knife, that is easily available in every kitchen.

Here is how to cut butternut squash with a knife: 

Things You'll Need

• Ripe and peeled butternut squash
• A big sharp knife
• Cutting board
• A large bowl

Instructions To Follow

1. Cut the squash in half

Start by cutting the peeled squash into two halves. Put the squash on the cutting board for easy handling. Then, place a sharp knife on the top center of the squash and push it down to the bottom part.

While pushing the knife, put as much pressure as you can to quickly cut the squash. Ripe butternut squash is very firm, so it can not be cut down without a sharp knife and solid force. 

2. Remove the seeds

Here comes the second step. This is to get rid of the seeds. To do this, take a spoon and scoop out all the seeds from the squash. Make sure to also remove any stringy pulp you find. Clean that area really well!

Here is some advice for you on the seeds. Instead of throwing them out in the bin, why not dry them in the sunlight? Then, you can plant them in your garden & grow more squash.

3. Cut the squash into stripes

After removing the seeds, cut each half squash into strips using a knife. The reason for striping the squash is to turn them into even cubes later. If you start cutting the squash randomly, it becomes difficult to generate cubes with even sizes. 

Evenly-sized cubes cook equally. Also, it minimizes the hurdles that you may experience when some cubes are undercooked and others are cooked well. 

4. Cut the squash into cubes

Once the squash is cut into stripes, it is time to turn those stripes into cubes. This step is super easy. You just need to arrange some strips on the cutting board. Here, you need to align the stripes in a line.

Once the squash stripes are nicely arranged, start cutting them with a knife in a way the cubes are even in size. While cutting into cubes, use your one hand to hold together the stripes. This prevents them from spreading while cutting. 

5. Collect and use 

After all stripes are cut into cubes, you can gather them in a bowl or you can start collecting cubes in a bowl when a batch of cutting is done. This helps to make less mess. The collected squash can be used in several recipes to turn into a delicious dish. 

Besides a knife, there are some other tools that you can use to cut butternut squash. The tools include a peeler, food processor, and grater box. One thing to remember is that you won't get the perfect cube-shaped squash with these tools. 

Let's get to know how to use these tools to cut butternut squash: 

1. Cut butternut squash with a julienne peeler

The julienne peeler is useful if you wish to make thin and long stripes out of the squash. Those stripes might be useful in mixing with noodles, or any other dishes. Here is how you can do that:

Things You'll Need

• Ripe and peeled butternut squash
• julienne peeler
• Cutting board
• A knife
• A bowl and spoon

Instructions To Follow

• First, cut the squash in half and remove the seeds using a spoon. Again cut a half in two halves. This makes the peeling easier. 
• Second, clean the julienne peeler with water and wipe it out with a paper towel.
• Third, place a piece of squash on the cutting board and start peeling it with a julienne peeler. Put the peeler on the top part of the squash and pull it down by putting some pressure on it. You'll see a bunch of thin squash stripes on the cutting board. 
• Fourth and last, repeat the same thing with the remaining pieces and collect the stripes in a bowl.

2. Cut butternut squash with a food processor

Having a food processor is super helpful. It can shred carrots & even squash. When your recipe needs finely shredded butternut squash, a food processor is just what you need.

Things You'll Need

• Ripe and peeled butternut squash
• A knife
• Food processor
• A bowl and spoon

Instructions To Follow

• Firstly, cut the squash in two halves with a knife and scrape out the seeds using a spoon. 
• Secondly, place the half-cut squash on the cutting board and cut the squash halves into smaller pieces. You can randomly start chopping the squash but make sure the pieces are smaller. 
• Third, set up the processor basket in the food processor if it was separated. 
• Fourth, add smaller pieces of squash to the processor basket and run the processor. Don't add too much of squash pieces this only results in uneven shredding. 
• Fifth, use the pusher to push down the squash pieces to the blades. This helps to cut the squash quickly.
• At last, turn off the processor. Then, take out the shredded squash from the basket and put it in a bowl. 

3. Cut butternut squash with a grater box

Cutting the butternut squash with a garter box is very easy and quick. Just take out the grater box from the kitchen drawer and use it. This tool transforms squash into fine shreds. This could be an ideal tool if you are planning to make butternut soup or pudding.

Things You'll Need

• Ripe and peeled butternut squash
• A grater box
• Cutting board
• A knife
• A bowl

Instructions To Follow

• The first step is to cut the squash into two halves. Then remove seeds and stringy pulp using a spoon. 
• The second step is to cut the half squash in another half. You can skip this step if grating the big squash pieces is easier for you. 
• The third step is to place the grater on the cutting board. Then, start grating the squash by placing it on the top of the grater and pushing the squash down with some force. 
• The fourth step is to repeat the same thing with other squash pieces. 
• The last step is to collect the grated squash in a bowl. You can use them in any dish that you like. 

Choosing the right butternut squash is not as hard as the vegetable itself. A right butternut squash means a ripe one. For this, a few things need to be considered when buying butternut squash from the grocery store. Those things are color, texture, weight, stems, and shapes.

Color

Ripe butternut squash has a skin color of beige, tan, or slightly orange color. The outer layer is cleared matte without any green spots. It is best not to choose butternut squash with green spots or bruises on the skin. 

Texture

A ripe butternut normally has a firm texture with no blemishes. So, always choose the one with even firmness and avoid getting squash with a soft texture or some wrinkles. This indicates the vegetable is not the right one. 

Weight

Usually, a ripe butternut squash weighs heavier. This is because of the greater water content in the vegetable. This also means the quash is perfectly ripe and filled with juices. So, avoid buying squash with lighter weights. 

Stems

Don't look for the butternut without stems. Because the stem helps to protect the vegetable from outer contamination and the entrance of bacteria. So, choose the one with a firm stem and free from any mushy or soft texture in it. 

Shape

After considering the color, texture, weight, and stems, we can't miss out on shape. The shape of a butternut squash literally tells if it is the right one or not. A longer and thicker neck along with a small round shape in the squash tells that it has more flesh and fewer seeds..

Ways To Use Cut Butternut Squash

With cut butternut squash, several dishes can be prepared. We'll explore some of the dishes that can be made with this: 

1. Roasted butternut squash

One of the best dishes that you can make with butternut squash is to roast them. This becomes more flavorful when seasonings like salt, pepper, lemon juice, and some green herbs are added. Eating this dish either in breakfast, lunch, or dinner, helps you stay full. 

2. Butternut squash pudding

Pudding is my favorite dish. This sweet and milky dessert is good enough to fulfill the cravings for sweet desserts. Squash is full of a good amount of nutrients, which fuels the body along with the tastebuds. With milk, grated butternut squash, and some dried fruits, prepare this dessert and enjoy it after dinner. 

3. Butternut squash soup

Butternut soup is easy to make when shredded squash is used. The shredded squash with a food processor cooks quickly and dissolves easily with other seasonings. Some finely chopped carrots, onions, minced garlic, and chopped green herbs are more than enough to make the soup delicious. 

4. Steamed butternut squash

Steamed butternut squash is considered very healthy. Because there is no use of oil or any fatty content in it. This dish might be a perfect one for those with a health-conscious mindset. It's a low-calorie food which helps you in weight loss as well. 

Storage Of Cut Butternut Squash

Besides using the cut butternut squash in dishes, you can store them in the fridge which can last up to 4-6 days. Just grab an airtight container, put the cut squash inside, & make sure to seal the lid tightly.

Once that's done, find the coolest spot in your fridge for it. Oh, and try not to place it near the door because that part tends to get warmer.

There's one more way that can last the cut butternut squash for up to 6 months and that way is the freezer. Simply place the container in the freezer and keep the freezer temperature at 0˚F (-18˚C) or lower.

Is It Okay To Eat Butternut Squash Seeds?

Butternut squash seeds are edible and can be eaten. Even they contain some level of nutrition which helps with health as well. The seeds can be roasted or pan-fried and then enjoyed. How you use it is all up to you. 

Can You Cut Butternut Squash Ahead Of Time?

Yes, you can cut butternut squash ahead of time. But leaving the squash just like this may get contaminated with external factors. Additionally, the texture also changes slightly.

Can You Eat Butternut Squash Raw?

The answer is yes. You can eat raw butternut squash. This vegetable is just like a carrot. So, when you eat it raw it won't hurt your stomach. Instead, mix raw butternut squash in veg salads and enjoy a healthy snack.