How To Cut Butternut Squash
Choose the perfect butternut squash! Learn all about peeling, storing, and roasting your favorite fall vegetable.
Butternut squash is a super healthy fall squash that can be prepared in various ways. Some of these are Butternut Squash Soup, Roasted Butternut Squash, and one of my favorites, Butternut Squash Alfredo.
All these recipes are delicious in their own right and have one thing in common. You must find the perfect butternut squash and then prepare it for cooking.
Fear not if you’ve felt intimidated about picking and peeling a butternut squash! Foodology Geek is here to the rescue.
Table of contents
- How to Pick a Butternut Squash
- Special Equipment You’ll Need
- How to Cut a Butternut Squash
- How to Peel a Butternut Squash
- How to remove the seeds for a butternut squash
- How to Dice a butternut squash
- How to store cut-up butternut squash
- How to roast butternut squash
- How to Cook Butternut Squash in the Microwave
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Other ways to use butternut squash
- What to serve with butternut squash
How to Pick a Butternut Squash
Butternut squash comes in all different shapes and sizes. You’ll want to pick a squash that is the right size for whatever you are making.
The bottom of the squash contains seeds, so most of the meaty area you will use for cooking is in the top two-thirds of the squash.
The skin of the butternut squash should be smooth, tan, and free from marked blemishes. A few scratches are fine. You want to look out for soft spots and bruises.
Special Equipment You’ll Need
- Heavy Baking Sheets (affiliate link)
- Parchment Paper (affiliate link)
- Sharp Knife
- Olive Oil (affiliate link)
- Airtight Storage Containers (for storing in the fridge)
- Zip Top Bags (for freezing)
How to Cut a Butternut Squash
- Start by cutting off both ends.
- Cut the squash in half: roughly dividing the wider round end from the thinner top end.
- Peel: Use a sharp knife or a Y-peeler.
- Remove the seeds: use a spoon to scrape out the seeds.
- Slice & Dice: Slice the squash and dice it into bite-sized pieces.
How to Peel a Butternut Squash
- Set the squash on the flat end and use a sharp knife to cut the skin off.
- Alternatively, you can use a Y-peeler (affiliate link), a vegetable peeler designed for vegetables with thicker skins, such as this butternut squash.
- To soften the skin and make the butternut squash easier to peel, you can microwave the squash for 5 minutes.
How to remove the seeds for a butternut squash
- Once the butternut squash is peeled, it’s time to remove the seeds.
- Cut the bottom portion in half and use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and pulp.
How to Dice a butternut squash
- Use a sharp knife to dice the butternut squash.
- Start by setting the top half upright and slice into 4 to 5 one-inch sections.
- Separate these into manageable stacks and lay them flat.
- Then slice the butternut squash into one-inch sticks. Turn and slice the stacked sticks into one-inch cubes. Easy peasy!
How to store cut-up butternut squash
- In the fridge: Store diced cubes in an airtight container for up to a week.
- In the freezer: Butternut squash can also be frozen for several months. Frozen squash is fine if you use it in a soup but stick with fresh squash if you are roasting it.
How to roast butternut squash
- Preheat the oven: to 425℉/220℃
- Roasting diced butternut squash: You can roast diced butternut squash on a parchment-lined baking sheet—for approximately 20 minutes. Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper before cooking.
- Roasting halved butternut squash: To roast a butternut squash that has been halved and seeded, place the squash cut side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet—roast for 20 to 30 minutes. Turn over, cool slightly, and scrape out the cooked squash.
How to Cook Butternut Squash in the Microwave
- Pierce the skin: Use a sharp knife or fork to prick the skin of the butternut squash.
- Cook on high: Place the entire squash in the microwave for 10 minutes on high. To check for doneness, you can use a fork, a metal skewer, or a bamboo skewer. The flesh should be tender throughout.
- Remove the seeds: Cool slightly, cut the cooked butternut squash in half, and use a spoon to remove the seeds.
- Remove the meat: Scrape out the flesh to use for soup or butternut squash puree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can!
How to microwave butternut squash with the skin on. You can cook butternut squash in the microwave by piercing the skin several times and microwaving it on high for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the size.
Roast butternut squash with the skin on. Preheat the oven to 350℉. Cut the butternut squash in half lengthwise and place it face down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast for
Other ways to use butternut squash
What to serve with butternut squash
Roasted butternut squash is perfect for hearty meat dishes like a Grilled Steak or Comforting Meatloaf. Pair it with grilled or baked chicken.
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Butternut Squash
Equipment
- chef's knife (affiliate link)
Ingredients
- butternut squash
Instructions
How To Roast Butternut Squash
- Preheat the oven: to 425℉/220℃
- Roasting diced butternut squash: You can roast diced butternut squash on a parchment-lined baking sheet—for approximately 20 minutes. Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper before cooking.
- Roasting halved butternut squash: To roast a butternut squash that has been halved and seeded, place the squash cut side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet—roast for 20 to 30 minutes. Turn over, cool slightly, and scrape out the cooked squash.
How To Microwave Butternut Squash
- Pierce the skin: Use a sharp knife or fork to prick the skin of the butternut squash.
- Cook on high: Place the entire squash in the microwave for 10 minutes on high. To check for doneness, you can use a fork, a metal skewer, or a bamboo skewer. The flesh should be tender throughout.
- Remove the seeds: Cool slightly, cut the cooked butternut squash in half, and use a spoon to remove the seeds.
- Remove the meat: Scrape out the flesh to use for soup or butternut squash puree.
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