How to Peel & Cut Butternut Squash

Once you learn how easy it is to Peel and Cut Butternut Squash, you’ll be dicing and chopping it up like a pro! Preparing this Winter squash can be intimidating, but peeling and cutting is a breeze with a few tricks. Once you’re done, roast the cubes in the oven, add to soups, salads, and more.

Recently butternut squash has been all the rage in our house.

It is essentially a lower calorie and lower-carb option to use instead of sweet potatoes.

And just like their orange-colored cousin, they have a subtle sweetness that tastes great in savory dishes.

But boy can they be hard to peel and cut!

Preparing butternut squash can be quite challenging and oftentimes downright frustrating.

The peel is stuck to the flesh…

A knife will barely cut through…

And there’s no way you can scoop out all of those seeds!

So after a bit of testing, tweaking, and researching I have come up with the best way to prepare butternut squash, and I can’t wait to share it with you!

Kitchen Utensils

There are a few kitchen utensils you will need when peeling and cutting butternut squash.

• Potato Peeler. This is the quickest and easiest way to remove the skin from this gourd.
• Fork. Any fork can be used to poke holes all over the peel.
• Sharp Knife. A well-sharpened knife is essential to easily cut into the squash.
• Spoon. Find a large spoon with a slightly sharp edge to make scooping out the seeds a breeze.

Peeling Butternut Squash

There are a few steps you will want to follow in order to easily peel butternut squash:

Trim the Ends

Use a sharp knife to remove both the stem end and bottom of the squash.

Poke Holes

This allows moisture to release while heating in the microwave.

Microwave a Few Minutes

Heating for 2-3 minutes should suffice, however you may need more time if it is a larger squash. This softens the skin to make it easier to peel and cut through the tough vegetable. Cool the squash to room temperature until it is comfortable to touch.

Peel the Skin

Using a vegetable peeler is the easiest way and ensures you don’t lose too much of the flesh. You can also remove it with a knife and cut along the length of the squash if you do not have a peeler available.

Cutting Butternut Squash

Now that the squash has been peeled, it’s time to move onto cutting it into cubes:

Cut in Half

Find where the slim part meets the larger part and make your cut there. You’ll soon see the reason why!

Remove the circle.

The thicker, more rounded portion is the part with the seeds. Cutting and removing the circle will expose the seeds so you can easily scoop them out.

Scoop Out the Seeds

Use a large spoon with a relatively sharp edge. Scrape the sides of the squash as you go to get the strings to release.

Cut into Cubes

Now you can get to chopping! Cut into cubes for roasted butternut squash, or into strips for fries!

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep-Ahead: Peeling and cutting a butternut squash in advance is a great time saver to use in other recipes.
• To Store: Seal cut, uncooked butternut squash in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• To Freeze: Pre-freeze the pieces in a single layer for 1-2 hours, then transfer to an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

FAQs

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Find the right size. Look for a squash that is not too large in width for the easiest peeling and cutting.
• Make it easy. A potato peeler with a large handle is the easiest way to peel the squash and will help avoid losing too much of the flesh.
• Soften it up. Heating up the squash in the microwave is the most important step to ensure the squash is easy to cut and peel.
• Go sharp. Using a freshly sharpened knife will also make cutting easier.
• Prep extra. Cut up more than one and freeze it for using in recipes later!

Butternut Squash Recipes

Butternut squash makes a great addition to numerous soup, stew, and salad recipes. It also is a wonderful side dish to serve roasted on its own with a touch of fresh herbs.

Here are a few recipe ideas to try:

• Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
• Maple Roasted Butternut Squash Cubes
• Fall Harvest Salad
• Macaroni and Cheese with Butternut Squash.
• Butternut Squash Sage Risotto
• Stuffed Butternut Squash