Preparing a butternut squash can be daunting to say the least. Here’s a look at a simple method for how to cut butternut squash that’s quick and straight forward—and yummy ways to cook it!
How to Cut Butternut Squash
We love having winter squash around in fall and winter—and I like to use butternut squash in both sweet and savory dishes. It’s inexpensive to buy at the farmer’s market or store, and is packed with Vitamin A and C, as well as fiber.
It’s a nutritious addition to family meals!
I do realize that many grocery stores now sell precut butternut squash, but I find that it can sometimes smell funny (because it might not be the freshest? Not exactly sure!) and it often costs more so I tend to buy them whole most of the time.
I’m not saying there’s any reason not to buy precut squash, just giving you the simple way to prepare it if you do buy it whole.
(You may also like Butternut Squash Hummus, Roasted Acorn Squash, and How to Cut Sweet Potato.)
Table of Contents
Your toddler won’t eat? Help is here!
Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.
Ingredients You Need
All you need for this method is:
- Whole butternut squash: Look for one that’s heavy for its size and has a smooth skin.
- Sharp knife: I prefer a chef’s knife, which is heavy and sharp enough to cut through the hard winter squash.
- Cutting board: I like to use a very large cutting board to make sure I have plenty of work space.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Cutting a butternut squash is easy. Here’s a look at how to do it. Scroll down to the bottom of the recipe for the full information.
- Start by cutting the long neck from the more round base. (The seeds are all at the bottom, so this streamlines the process.)
- Peel the skin off with a vegetable peeler. You may need to do two layers to get to the bright orange flesh.
- Cut into rounds of an even thickness.
- Cut the rounds across, then across the other way to dice the squash.
- Cut rounds of the base and use the knife to trim off the skin. (It’s often a smaller piece so it’s not that easy to use a vegetable peeler.)
- Cut around the interior seeds and membrane and dice the remaining squash.
TIP: You can also use a knife to trim off the skin if that seems easier than a vegetable peeler.
Frequently Asked Questions
Look for one that’s heavy for its size and has a smooth skin.
Yes, peel the skin off with a vegetable peeler. You may need to do two layers to get to the bright orange flesh.
Microwaving a butternut squash is definitely something that people do and that you can do if you want to. This could be a good idea if your knives aren’t particularly sharp or if you tend to have a hard time cutting through winter squash.
Should I put a whole butternut squash into the microwave?
Microwaving a butternut squash is definitely something that people do and that you can do if you want to. This could be a good idea if your knives aren’t particularly sharp or if you tend to have a hard time cutting through winter squash.
Recipes for Cubed Butternut Squash
Here are a few recipes that I like to use butternut squash in.
How to Store
Once you have your diced butternut squash, you can store it in a quart size mason jar with a lid in the fridge for up to 5 days before you cook it.
Best Tips for Success
- Use a sharp knife to trim off the stem and base, and a vegetable peeler to remove the skin.
- Discard the interior seeds.
- Once you have your diced butternut squash, you can store it in a quart size mason jar with a lid in the fridge for up to 5 days before you cook it.
- A whole squash usually makes 4-6 cups of diced squash, though it will vary depending on the size of the squash you have.
Related Recipes
Recipes
How to Cut Sweet Potato
Vegetables
Easy Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes
Recipes
How to Serve Grapes to Kids
If you have any questions or feedback on cutting winter squash, I’d love to know so please comment below. I appreciate all feedback!
How to Cut Butternut Squash
Ingredients
- 1 whole butternut squash
Instructions
- Start by cutting the long neck from the more round base. (The seeds are all at the bottom, so this streamlines the process.)
- Peel the skin off with a vegetable peeler. You may need to do two layers to get to the bright orange flesh.
- Cut into rounds of an even thickness.
- Cut the rounds across, then across the other way to dice the squash.
- Cut rounds of the base and use the knife to trim off the skin. (It’s often a smaller piece so it’s not that easy to use a vegetable peeler.)
- Cut around the interior seeds and membrane and dice the remaining squash.
- Once you have your diced butternut squash, you can store it in a quart size mason jar with a lid in the fridge for up to 5 days before you cook it.
- A whole squash usually makes 4-6 cups of diced squash, though it will vary depending on the size of the squash you have.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was first published September 2020.
This is what I was looking for thank you so many authors for sharing such a helpful guide with use. Such a sleek and responsive blog thanks a lot again keep sharing.