How to Peel & Cut Butternut Squash

Recently butternut squash has been all the rage in my house. This 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!

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 it’s only a few simple steps!

Kitchen Utensils

There are a few kitchen utensils you will need:

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

How to Peel and Cut a Butternut Squash

Jump to the recipe for the full and printable instructions.

• Prep the squash. Trim the ends of the squash off. Poke holes with a large fork all over, which will help it release any excess moisture when it is heated in the microwave. Microwave the squash on a paper towel for 2-3 minutes or until the squash is slightly softened. Cool squash at room temperature until it is easy to touch.
• Remove the skin. The easiest way to peel the squash is with a good vegetable peeler or Y-peeler.  However, you can also use a nice sharp knife. Take care to move the knife or peeler away from your hands and body.

• Cut in the squash in half. First, use a sharp knife and a plastic or wooden cutting board on a flat surface to slice the squash in the middle where the slim part meets the larger, more round section. Then, use a knife to cut a circle in the middle of the larger part to reveal the seeds.
• Remove the seeds and cut. Use a large spoon or ice cream scoop to carefully scoop the seeds from the meat. You might have to scrape a bit to get all of the seeds and the strings out. Then, use a chef’s or paring knife to chop the squash into cubes or slice it into strips, depending on how you’re using it!

FAQs

Learn How to Cut Other Vegetables

It’s amazing how mastering a few simple skills will drastically reduce stress in the kitchen. These how-to’s will get you cooking in no time.

Learn How to Cut an Onion, How to Cut and Clean Leeks, How to Shred Cabbage, and How to Cut Green Onions.

For an impressive presentation, check out How to Julienne Strips and How to Chiffonade!

More 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. 

Once you’ve followed these steps, whip up some Maple Roasted Butternut Squash Cubes or Butternut Squash Risotto.

This Roasted Butternut Squash Soup is so easy, no need to peel the squash, just cut it in half and roast it up!

 Add roasted butternut squash a salad, like this Fall Harvest Salad or Roasted Cauliflower Kale Salad.

You can also substitute butternut squash in many sweet potato recipes!