How To Cut Butternut Squash

Things to Look For When Buying Butternut Squash

A cold-weather staple, butternut squash comes in all shapes and sizes but if you know what to look for you will go home with the freshest squash to use in your fall cooking. Here, you might ask, “How can you tell if butternut squash is ripe when shopping at the grocery store?” Below you will find exactly what you need to look for:

• The Stem should be intact: Make sure that the stem is intact. This is important as the stem helps keep it fresh for longer. If it isn’t intact, the squash may have passed its prime.
• It should have a dark beige/tan color: A perfectly ripened butternut squash should be dark beige with no green soft spots or streaks. 
• The skin should be matte: The skin should be matte versus shiny (or waxy). It should also have thick skin or a hard exterior. To test, gently prick the surface with your fingernail. It should have tough skin. If it goes through easily, it may be too old.
• It should feel heavy for its size: Take one in your hand and make sure it is heavy for its size.
• Do the sound test: Tap outside the squash. If it sounds hollow, it is good to go.

Tools You Will Need

When it comes to cutting butternut squash safety comes first. It is important to be patient and use the right tools. A dull knife or an unstable cutting surface may result in accidents.

Below are the tools you will need along with brands I use and recommend. The links included below are affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links, I will earn a small commission at no cost to you.

• A Sharp Chef’s Knife: You should use the sharpest knife you can get your hands on for easy and precise cutting. My favorite brand for Chef’s knives is Nakano Knife (affiliate link) with a carbon steel blade.
• Large Cutting Board: It is imperative to work on a sturdy and flat surface to safely cut butternut squash. I use and recommend this wooden cutting board (affiliate link). It is quite heavy and doesn’t move around as you are cutting heavy winter squash.
• Sharp Vegetable Peeler: Butternut squash is known to be difficult to peel because of its thick skin. I use this Kitchenaid peeler in the photos but I recently invested in this y peeler and actually think that it is the best peeler I have ever used.
• A large spoon or An Ice Cream Scoop: You can use a large dinner spoon or if you have one an ice cream scoop or a melon baller to scoop out the seeds easily. 

Preparing It For Cutting

You picked the freshest and ripest butternut squash and got your tools ready, now it is time to prepare it for cutting. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you prepare butternut squash for cutting. Here you will learn how to clean, soften, and the best way to peel butternut squash safely:

1. Clean Butternut Squash: Nowadays, most grocery stores put a large (usually sticky) label on butternut squash. If yours has it, gently remove it. Wash the squash under cold running water and dry it with a clean kitchen towel.
2. Optional Step – Microwave Butternut Squash Before Peeling: While it is optional, some people find it easier to pop it in the microwave to soften the skin to make it easier to peel. I personally do not think that this is a necessary step, especially if you are working with a good vegetable peeler and a sharp knife.
   However, if you want to give this a try, prick 6-8 holes on the squash using a fork. Pop it in the microwave for 2 minutes. Continue with the next steps but be careful as it will be hot when it is done.

3. Trim the ends: Place the squash on its side while holding it firmly with your non-dominant hand to stabilize it on the chopping board. Trim the top and bottom of the squash by cutting about  ½-inch off each end, removing both the stem and the root.
4. Cut it in the middle & Peel: You can peel the whole butternut squash but I find that it is easier to manage and peel it when it is smaller in size. To do so, cut it from the middle (as it is shown in the pictures) while it is laying on its curvy side. Hold the cut butternut squash firmly in one hand and peel it away from yourself while turning it as you peel to ensure that it is evenly peeled.
   If the skin of your butternut squash is too hard, you may have to go around it twice or until you reach the bright orange flesh.
   
   Your butternut squash is trimmed and peeled, now it is time to cut it. Below you will find a step-by-step tutorial on (1) how to dice a butternut squash and (2) how to halve a butternut squash.

How To Cut Up Butternut Squash into Cubes?

If you are preparing butternut squash for soup (i.e. when making Butternut Squash Soup) or roasting it for a salad (i.e. (when making Ina Garten’s Butternut Squash Salad), you will need to cut it into small cubes to cook or roast it. Below are the steps for cutting butternut squash in cubes:

Cut The Belly First:

The bottom part of the butternut squash is referred to as the belly. To cut it:

1. Place it vertically with the larger bottom flat side down. Since we already trimmed the bottom part, it should be stable (and not wobbly.) 
2. Cut it vertically down the middle with a sharp chef’s knife.
3. Using a dinner spoon or an ice cream scoop, remove the seeds. Save the seeds to roast them later if you prefer.
4. Slice each half into 1-inch half-moon slices and then cut each slice into one-inch cubes.

Cut the neck into cubes:

The top section of the butternut squash is usually referred to as the neck. To cut it:

1. Place the neck of the squash upright on your cutting board. Cut it vertically down the middle using a sharp knife. 
2. Cut each half into 1-inch half-moon slices and then dice each slice into one-inch cubes. As you are dicing it, do your best to cut it in a way that the squash cubes are equal in size for even cooking, air frying, or roasting.

How To Halve It?

While butternut squash cubes are ideal for cooking and roasting, you can also roast butternut squash halves in the oven to use in recipes. Below are the steps showing you how to cut butternut squash in half:

1. Trim the stem: Place the whole butternut squash on its side on your cutting board. Hold it firmly in the middle with your non-dominant hand. Trim the stem (the top) by cutting about ½-inch off. When I am cutting it in half, I skip trimming the bottom part. However, it is a personal preference; if you want, you can trim the bottom part as well.
2. Halve it: While still holding it firmly on its side, cut it vertically (or from top to bottom direction) in the middle. I recommend cutting one side first and then turning it around and cutting the other side next. As you are cutting you may have to jerk it back and forth while applying a little pressure to loosen it. This is the part where you do not want to rush and be slow and steady.
3. Remove the seeds: If preferred, remove the seeds with a spoon or ice cream scoop before using the butternut squash halves in your recipe.

How To Store Cut Butternut Squash?

Now that your butternut squash is cut or halved, you might be wondering the best way to store it. Below you will find how to store butternut squash before and after it is cut:

• Fresh Whole Butternut Squash: Store butternut squash in a cool and dark place to prevent it from ripening too fast. If stored properly, it should last two for up to three months.
• Uncooked cubed butternut squash: Store cut butternut squash in an airtight container or a Ziploc bag (air removed and sealed tightly) in the fridge. It should be fresh for up to 5 days.

How to Cook Butternut Squash?

It is no secret that butternut squash could be cooked in so many different ways. 

Below are some of my favorite methods of cooking butternut squash. Below, you will find a summary of each method of cooking:

Roasted Butternut Squash Cubes:

For more information, be sure to check out my post on Roasted Butternut Squash. In short, to roast butternut squash cubes:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. 
2. Place diced butternut squash on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle it with salt and black pepper. The important thing here is to make sure that they are evenly distributed throughout the pan.
3. Roast for 30-35 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the squash cubes are light brown, or until a knife inserted in one of the cubes comes in and out easily.

Roasted Butternut Squash Halves:

If your recipe calls for using a whole squash, you can halve it and roast it in two pieces. For more tips, be sure to check out my post on Oven Roasted Butternut Squash Halves and Air Fried Butternut Squash Halves.

To roast halved butternut squash:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 
2. Place each half on a baking sheet cut side up. Lightly brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. 
3. Roast for 50-55 minutes or until it turns golden brown. You can test doneness by inserting a knife into the belly. If it comes in and out easily it should be fully roasted.

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