When you think of fall produce, butternut squash is undoubtedly one of the first veggies to come to mind. It's a hearty winter squash with a versatile flavor that pops up in your favorite sweet and savory recipes.
The flavor is similar to pumpkin, and it shares its squash cousin's thick skin, firm flesh, and seeds. Butternut squash has a sweeter flavor than pumpkin, more similar to sweet potato. Starting as early as September, farmers' markets and grocery stores are overflowing with this autumnal bounty, so once you bring one (or more) home, it's handy to know how to store these gourds.
Inventive Ways to Enjoy Butternut Squash
How Long Does Butternut Squash Last?
Fridge: 4-6 days (not recommended)
Room temperature on the counter: 2-3 months
In the freezer: 8-12 months
How to Store Whole Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is a hearty vegetable and, like many other fall and winter veggies, is meant to stay fresh long after harvest. Before butternut squash even gets to the grocery store, it has to go through a process called curing. This is where the picked squash is stored for anywhere between two weeks and two months to dry it out so it can be stored for long periods of time and kept for months without rotting.
Because of this curing process, butternut squash can stay fresh for months when stored properly. Squash loves cool, dry, dark conditions. They were originally meant to be stored in cellars to provide food over the winter, so think of cellar-like conditions when it comes to storing. If you have a pantry or cabinet in your kitchen that stays cool, this is the perfect place for a squash.
10+ Butternut Squash Desserts That Prove Pumpkin Isn't the Top Gourd
Avoid storing them with fruit, as the ethylene gas they produce will cause the squash to rot. On the counter is okay if you plan to eat it soon, but your squash will be much happier stowed away from the sunlight and heat your kitchen counter may receive.
Whatever you do, avoid the fridge at all costs. The low temperature and humidity spell trouble for whole winter squash; the refrigerator will accelerate spoiling and can make the texture of the squash mealy and stringy.
How to Store Cut Butternut Squash
Butternut squash can be huge, sometimes larger than one recipe calls for. Once peeled, squash needs to be stored in the refrigerator. Cut squash will last up to a week in an airtight container like plastic storage containers. If your butternut squash is cut and cooked, aim to use it within 3 or 4 days.
If you've ever peeled and cut a butternut squash, then you know it can ooze a liquid that's nearly impossible to get off your hands and clothes. This is entirely edible but might make your cut squash a bit challenging to store. You can place a small sheet of parchment paper in the bottom of your container to keep the squash from sticking.
How to Peel Butternut Squash
Butternut squash can also easily be frozen. Simply cut it into cubes, spread it out on a lined sheet tray, and freeze solid. Once the squash is fully frozen, transfer the cubes into a freezer-safe zip-top bag or plastic storage container with a label and the date. It will keep like this for up to a year. Cooked butternut squash can be frozen, cut, pureed, in soups, you name it. Plain, cooked butternut squash can be frozen for up to six months.
How to Tell if Butternut Squash Has Gone Bad
Butternut squash is meant to be stored for months but doesn't last indefinitely. Keep your eye out for any brown spots or blemishes; these can indicate the start of spoiling. Any soft spots or slimy areas are also a sign that your squash has gone bad. Old squash tends to have soft flesh, leathery skin, and a hollow feel. And, of course, any spots of mold mean it's time to toss your squash.
Related:
- This Hack Makes Cutting Hard Butternut Squash a Breeze
- Butternut Squash Noodle Recipes That Might as Well Replace Pasta
- Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes of All Time Will Get You Through the Cold Months
FAQs
Butternut squash will keep best in a dark and dry place, somewhere just below room temperature in the fifty to fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit range. Root cellars devoid of moisture, direct sunlight, and heat are good places, and those with good air circulation can also make for ideal storage conditions.
Should butternut squash be stored in the fridge or cupboard? ›
The ideal temperature for butternut squash (and any winter squash) is between 50℉ and 60℉, so a cool pantry or cellar would work best. Do not store whole squash in the refrigerator as the cold temperatures don't increase the shelf life and could affect the texture.
How long will cut butternut squash last in the fridge? ›
Butternut squash can be huge, sometimes larger than one recipe calls for. Once peeled, squash needs to be stored in the refrigerator. Cut squash will last up to a week in an airtight container like plastic storage containers. If your butternut squash is cut and cooked, aim to use it within 3 or 4 days.
Is it better to freeze butternut squash raw or cooked? ›
Freezing raw squash is not only simple, it's preferred. You may decide to blanch the squash before you freeze it if you're worried about the taste, texture, color, and nutrients staying intact, but it is truly unnecessary, and the vegetable will last just as long whether you complete this extra tedious step or not.
Should you wash butternut squash before storing? ›
Any little scratch or cut provides an entrance for bacteria and rot. Always wash away the dirt, grime and mildew, before storing, and many “experts” suggest you wash your pumpkins and squash in a very mild chlorine bleach solution consisting of 2 TBS of bleach to one gallon of water.
How to store squash long term? ›
Storage Conditions
Squash store best at an even 50°F in a dark place.
Does squash last longer in the fridge or on the counter? ›
You should store summer squash (like zucchini) in the fridge, but thick-skinned squash like acorn, butternut, or kabocha should stay at room temperature. This is partially to preserve their texture, but it's mostly because squash tend to take up a lot of real estate in the drawers and on the shelves of your fridge.
Where is the best place to store fresh squash? ›
Store fresh squash in the refrigerator crisper in plastic storage bags or rigid containers to retain moisture. Stored in this manner, squash will maintain quality for 5-7 days. Avoid storing fresh squash in areas that might freeze.
Is butternut squash healthy? ›
Butternut squash contains considerable amounts of fiber, which can help you keep a healthy weight and regulate bowel movements. It's known to help prevent colorectal cancer while the beta-carotene in butternut squash can also improve eye health.
How to tell if cut butternut squash is bad? ›
A squash with soft spots and is soft to the touch, is a sign that the squash has gone bad. And if it starts to leak fluid, that's a sure sign that the squash is spoiled. Likewise, if the flesh and seeds of the fruit are mushy and slimy, that's a clear sign that it shouldn't be eaten.
Follow the step-by-step guide to freezing butternut squash for long-term storage:
- Peel the squash rind. Peel off the butternut squash rind using a vegetable peeler.
- Halve the squash. ...
- Remove the seeds. ...
- Cut the squash. ...
- Flash freeze the squash cubes. ...
- Store in the freezer.
The One Way To Tell Butternut Squash Is Ripe
Light to dark green spots on the skin tells you it's definitely not ready to be eaten. If the skin is very pale—more creamy white than tan—it's not ripe. Look for a rich tan, darker amber, or orange color. It should also be matte, not glossy.
Do you peel butternut squash before you freeze it? ›
The best way to freeze raw butternut and other varieties of winter squash is in one-inch cubes, after first peeling it and removing the seeds. Peel and cut the squash into one-inch chunks. Spread the pieces in a single layer on a parchment or wax paper-lined baking sheet and place in the freezer.
Can you vacuum seal butternut squash? ›
In all cases, pack your squash into freezer-safe bags, and use a vacuum sealer if you have one.
Is frozen butternut squash mushy? ›
But there is one thing you have to be sure to do to ensure your frozen squash becomes caramelized and creamy rather than bland and mushy — roast it on the bottom rack of the oven. Frozen vegetables tend to become waterlogged, resulting in a rubbery, unappetizing mess.
How do you make squash last longer in the fridge? ›
Store fresh squash in the refrigerator crisper in plastic storage bags or rigid containers to retain moisture. Stored in this manner, squash will maintain quality for 5-7 days. Avoid storing fresh squash in areas that might freeze.
How long will butternut squash keep after picking? ›
Depending on the type of pumpkin or squash, it should last 2 to 6 months when stored at the ideal temperature of between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit; a cool basem*nt can work well. Under ideal storage conditions, acorn squash can last up to 2 months, butternuts 2-to-3 months, and hubbarbs 5 to 6 months.
