How to Cut a Butternut Squash Quick and Easy

dicing a butternut squash

Learn here how to peel and cut a butternut squash quick, easy and safely. Also called squash or butternut pumpkin this delicious, versatile vegetable with its odd shape and tough peel can be intimidating, where to even start peeling this thing! I show you how to cut and peel a squash easily to prepare delicious soups and dishes.

Squash is actually a fruit that grows on a vine, it has a sweet and nutty taste, similar to that of pumpkin. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, butternut squash is a healthy and disease fighting fruit that is low in calories and rich in fiber. Perfect for a healthy diet.

Butternut Squash
Butternut Squash also known as Squash or Butternut Pumpkin

Select a Ripe Butternut Squash

Butternut squash season is during the fall and winter months, here is how to choose a ripe squash.

The color: choose a squash that’s a solid beige color with a matte finish, it should not be shiny. A darker beige shade is better.

The skin: your squash should be hard and firm without any soft spots.

The weight: a ripe squash feels heavy for its size. If it feels light it is not ripe or too old.

Tap the squash: if you knock on the squash a ripe squash usually has a more hollow sound.

How to Peel a Butternut Squash

The skin of a squash is edible, but can be chewy, so we prefer to peel them for most recipes.

  • Cut off about 1/4-inch of the top and bottom of the squash.
  • Cut the bulb of the neck and peel the bulb and neck separately using a sharp Y peeler.
cutting a butternut squash
Cut of the top and the bottom of the squash. Cut the squash in two by cutting between the neck and the bulb.

If you want two peeled halves, don’t cut the squash in two before peeling, peel the whole thing. Make the squash stand upright and peel along the length with a vegetable peeler from top to bottom before cutting the squash in two halves down the length.

To make the peel of the squash a bit softer and easier to peel you can microwave the butternut squash whole for 30 seconds, before peeling. Take a fork and make some holes in it before putting in the microwave.

After cutting the squash in two, peel the bulb and neck separately using a sharp Y peeler.

How to Cut a Butternut Squash into cubes

  1. Slice the bulb and neck down the middle. Place each piece upright on the cutting board and slice down the middle.
  2. Scoop out the seeds from the bulb. Scoop out the seeds using a spoon.
  3. Cut the squash quarters into strips. Place the quarters on the cutting board with the flat side down and cut into strips
  4. Cut the squash strips into cubes. 
cut butternut squash into quarters
Cut the butternut squash into quarters by cutting each peeled half in two from top to bottom.
remove the pits
Remove the pits from the bulb halves with a spoon.
cut the butternut squash quarters into cubes.
Place the quarters on the cutting board with the flat side down and cut into strips. Cut the squash strips into cubes. 

How to Cook a Butternut

Roast a Butternut Squash

  1. Peel and cut the squash into pieces.
  2. Pre-heat the oven to 350 F/200 C
  3. Sprinkle olive oil and salt over the squash pieces.
  4. Add the butternut squash to a baking tray and roast for around 30 minutes turning half way.

Boil a Butternut Squash

  1. Cut squash into approximately 1–inch cubes.
  2. Place squash cubes in a pot and fill with water to cover by about an inch above the squash. Season with salt and boil for about 12-15 minutes, test until it is until fork-tender.
  3. Drain the water.

Butternut Squash in the Pressure Cooker

  1. Cut the squash into quarters and remove pits as described.
  2. Place steam basket into the pressure cooker and pour in 1 ½ cups of water. Place squash quarters on top of the steam basket, lock the lid, secure the valve, and cook on high pressure for about 6-7 minutes. Depending on your pressure cooker, you may have to press the steam button and manually set to 6 or 7 minutes.
  3. Natural Release for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the lid and transfer squash to another bowl or dish.

Butternut Squash in the Microwave

  1. Cut the squash into quarters and remove pits as described.
  2. Place the squash quarters face up (skin side down) in a microwave safe dish or plate.
  3. Cover with microwave lid.
  4. Microwave 8 to 10 minutes, until soft enough to easily pierce with fork. 
dicing a butternut squash

How to Cut a Butternut Squash

Learn here how to peel and cut a butternut squash quick, easy and safely.
Prep Time 15 mins

Ingredients
  

  • 1 butternut

Instructions
 

  • Cut off about 1/4-inch of the top and bottom of the squash.
  • Cut the butternut squash into two pieces by cutting the bulb of the neck.
  • Peel the bulb and neck separately using a sharp Y peeler.
  • Slice the bulb and neck down the middle by placing each piece upright on the cutting board and slicing down the middle.
  • Scoop the seeds out of the bulb halves by using a spoon.
  • Place each quarter of squash on the cutting board with the flat side down and cut into strips
  • Cut the squash strips into cubes. 
Keyword butternut

See our Butternut and beetroot salad recipe a simple, colorful and delicious side dish that is beautiful and easy to prepare.

Beetroot and Pumpkin Salad
Delicious Beetroot and Pumpkin Salad

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