This is the best way I’ve found to store cut butternut squash that is super simple and perfect for meal prep recipes!
Oh hello, all things fall! Hello, pumpkin spice everything, Halloween candy, cooler temperatures, and butternut squash! I swear once I start seeing all of the various squash varieties in the store, I am in seventh heaven! I LOVE most squash and specifically butternut squash.
Butternut squash is such a versatile food for me – from desserts to casseroles, soups to stews. I love it! However, one thing I wasn’t a huge fan of is I found that I did two things when I bought it:
- I bought the biggest I could find (do we all do that or is it just me?)
- I feel like I’m forced to use it all at once.
The last part is what I disliked about it. However, I’m here to tell you that you can store it in the fridge, cut for anywhere from a week to 10 days (obviously if it’s super ripe then you need to use it faster). I bought a bunch of these at my local farmer’s market. I got caught up in the moment and then, when I came home it was like Oh Crap! What do I do with all of these???
I started with a simple test that I’ve been using for years now to keep it fresh once it’s cut. And no, I’m not about the whole “but you can just buy it pre-cut Lori.” Sure you can but that’s also more expensive and not a ‘me thing’. I’d rather use my money more wisely personally. It doesn’t take long to prep either.
How to Cut a Butternut Squash
While I’ll do a full post with detailed images on this, I’ll give you a high-level overview.
- Lay the butternut squash on a cutting board, and, with a Chef’s knife, cut off top and bottom of the squash (about a 1/2″).
- Using a “Y” shaped peeler, peel the skin off squash starting at the top and going down. Discard the peel.
- Once peeled, lay it on its side and cut the squash in half at the curvy part (right above where it starts to curve out).
- Then, slice each piece in half down the center vertically – splitting the squash open.
- Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and pulp. *Note you can roast the seeds like pumpkin seeds if you wish.
- Once scooped out, cut the squash into cubes. I go with 1/2-1″ cubes.
How to Store Cut Butternut Squash
This is the part that, honestly, I was surprised it worked the first time I did it. But after doing it this way for years, it’s the only way I store them.
- Place the cubes into a glass container (that has an air-tight lid).
- Pour about 1/4″ of cold water on the bottom of the dish. You just want a little bit of water as this will help keep the squash from drying out. Too much water and they will get soggy.
- Next, take 1-2 wet paper towels, and lay them on top of the cubes covering as much as you can.
- Place the lid on and store it in the fridge. Use within 7-10 days in your favorite recipes!
How to Store Cut Butternut Squash
- Prep Time: 15
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Category: vegetables, meal prep
- Method: food storage
- Cuisine: vegetables, vegetarian, vegan
This is the best way I’ve found to store cut butternut squash that is super simple and perfect for meal prep recipes!
Ingredients
1 Butternut Squash, peeled, seeded, cubed
Instructions
- Place the butternut squash cubes into a glass container (that has an air-tight lid).
- Pour about a 1/4″ of cold water on the bottom of the dish. You just want a little bit of water as this will help keep the squash from drying out. Too much water and they will get soggy.
- Next, take 1-2 wet paper towels, and lay them on top of the cubes covering as much as you can.
- Place the lid on and store in the fridge. Use within 7-10 days in your favorite recipes!
Keywords: How to Store Cut Butternut Squash, storing butternut squash, kitchen tips, food savers, meal prep ideas, food storage, cubed butternut, #butternutsquash
Genius Lori, pure genius!!! Mine is still super fresh from 2 days ago!
★★★★★
Such a brilliant tip Lori! I did this last night and this morning they are still perfect in the fridge! Thank you so much!
★★★★★