How to choose and peel a butternut squash
The only hard part of enjoying a butternut squash is cutting and peeling it. It's a chore worth pursuing for this delicious heart-healthy squash.
How to choose a butternut squash
Look for a squash that is a darker shade of beige with no green patches or blemishes. The skin should not be shiny. It should be heavy for its size and sound hollow.
How to cut a butternut squash
According to the blog Gimme Some Oven, butternut squash has a tough skin that can be difficult to peel. You can make peeling easier by poking holes in the squash skin. Then, microwave for two minutes.
Once ready to cut and peel, you will need a sharp potato peeler (or a Y peeler) and a sharp 8-inch chef's knife.
1. Using the vegetable peeler, swipe down the skin as you would a potato, while carefully holding the squash steady with one hand.
2. Slice off a half-inch at the top of the squash, including stem. Do the same for the bottom of the squash and discard pieces.
3. Next, make a short cut through the center so you have two chunks.
4. Set each chunk on the flat side and make a vertical cut through the center. The wider end contains the seeds and pulp — scoop these out and discard.
5. Continue cutting seeded squash into whatever size cube you need.