How to Pick The Perfect Winter Squash

Picking the perfect squash is easy when you know these simple chef tips! Just 4 little things are all you need to look for!

Now that it’s officially Fall weather here in Pittsburgh, it’s time for a few things that I love…

– Football
– Hockey
– Halloween
– Winter Squash

Living in the country, winter squash is readily available.  Butternut, acorn, pumpkin, patty pan, spaghetti are just some of my favorites however the variety of selections are abundant.  Winter squash is rich in Vitamin A (beta-carotene), Vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. Plus squash is one of the top anti-cancer foods to eat, not to mention it’s great for your skin and your heart! Winter squash is low in fat and calories plus it delivers significant nutritional benefits. For example, one cup of baked butternut squash is rich in vitamins A (from beta carotene), B6, C, and E, as well as magnesium, potassium, and manganese. What’s awesome about squash is that the flavors are generally mild to somewhat sweet therefore they won’t overwhelm other ingredients.

However, when you see these things in the store, they are kinda odd-shaped and it’s not always to clear to know what are “good” ones to buy.  That’s where I come in.  On today’s edition of Tuesday’s Tip with The Kitchen Whisperer, I’m showing you how to choose winter squash!

4 things you need to look for when picking the perfect squash!

1. First, pay attention to color!

Look for a squash that has a matte, soft finish. It shouldn’t be spotted and shouldn’t appear shiny or waxy.

→ Acorn squash should be uniformly green and matte—streaks/spots of orange are fine, but too much orange indicates over-ripeness and the squash will be dry and stringy.
→ Butternut should have no signs of green.
→ Heart of gold/Carnival should be brightly colored squash that is heavy for their size.
→ Pie Pumpkin should have no hint of green and still has a stem attached; older pumpkins may lose their stems.
→ Spaghetti Squash should be a bright yellow squash that is free of blemishes and soft spots.

2. Check out the stem!

If squash is past its prime, the stem will pop off easily. Old squash may even harbor mold on the stem if you look carefully enough. The stem should be dry and corky.

3. Weight

This is one of those things where if you look at squash and it doesn’t look that big however when you pick it up, it’s heavier than anticipated; that’s what you want. It should be slightly heavy for its size when you pick it up. If it feels light, it’s either past its prime or it’s not ripe yet. Think of a shot put – the size of an 8-pound shot put is a little bigger than say a baseball however it’s still 8 pounds.  Its visual appearance is deceptive.

4. Listen to it

Tap on the squash.  The squash should have a hollow sound.

Storing your squash

Store in a cool spot with good air circulation (not the refrigerator, but a cool pantry or cellar) for up to a month.

Enjoy some of my favorite Winter Squash recipes!

Butternut squash gratin

Spaghetti Squash in a vegetable mornay

Harvest Spice Butternut Maple Soup

Apple Streusel Stuffed Acorn Squash

Butternut Chicken Chicken Pasta Bake

Chicken & Quinoa Patty Pan Squash

How to Pick The Perfect Winter Squash

• Author: TKWAdmin

Picking the perfect squash is easy when you know these simple chef tips! Just 4 little things are all you need to look for!

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Ingredients

Winter Squash

Instructions

First, pay attention to color!

1. Look for a squash that has a matte, soft finish. It shouldn’t be spotted and shouldn’t appear shiny or waxy.
   • → Acorn squash should be uniformly green and matte—streaks/spots of orange are fine, but too much orange indicates over-ripeness and the squash will be dry and stringy.
   • → Butternut should have no signs of green.
   • → Heart of gold/Carnival should be brightly colored squash that is heavy for their size.
   • → Pie Pumpkin should have no hint of green and still has a stem attached; older pumpkins may lose their stems.
   • → Spaghetti Squash should be a bright yellow squash that is free of blemishes and soft spots.

Check out the stem!

1. If squash is past its prime, the stem will pop off easily. Old squash may even harbor mold on the stem if you look carefully enough. The stem should be dry and corky.

Weight

1. This is one of those things where if you look at squash and it doesn’t look that big however when you pick it up, it’s heavier than anticipated; that’s what you want. It should be slightly heavy for its size when you pick it up. If it feels light, it’s either past its prime or it’s not ripe yet. Think of a shot put – the size of an 8-pound shot put is a little bigger than say a baseball however it’s still 8 pounds.  Its visual appearance is deceptive.

Listen to it

1. Tap on the squash.  The squash should have a hollow sound.

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