Knock, Knock: Here's Exactly How To Tell If A Butternut Squash Is ...

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How to tell if butternut squash is ripe Lindsey Shults/Demand Media

Ripe butternut squash is known for its creamy, sweet, and nutty taste that's perfect for puréeing and roasting. Unripened squash, on the other hand, is bland, hard, and not useful for much. As with most fruits and veggies for sale at the grocery store, though, we can't just whip out a knife and cutting board to crack open the food and check its level of ripeness.Since the butternut squash has a hard, protective shell, it makes determining the quality of the flesh inside tricky. This means that we have to go by these three senses: feel, sight, and touch. Here's exactly how to utilize them so you can gauge whether your squash will be delicious or a dud.

Look at the squash

Visual clues can tell you a lot about the ripeness of a particular butternut squash. It should be beige all over, the darker the shade, the better. It should have no green patches. The skin should be mat, not shiny, and free of cuts and blemishes.

Feel the squash

The weight of a squash can also give indications about its ripeness. It should feel heavy for its size. If you have many squash to choose from, look for the least ripe, greenest one and pick it up. Compare the weight of the squash you're considering to the weight of the less ripe squash.

Tap it

Finally, try gently tapping the squash with your knuckles. You'll hear a hollow sound if it's ripe.

Never hesitate at the grocery store again with these tried-and-true methods. By utilizing them, you're pretty much guaranteeing yourself a perfectly ripe squash, every time. We'll take those odds.

References

  • Serious Eats: Knife Skills: How to Prepare, Peel, and Cut Butternut Squash
  • The Kitchn: 5 Quick Tips For Choosing Winter Squash

Writer Bio

Kathryn Walsh has been writing about health, wellness and beauty for nearly 10 years. Her work has appeared on sites including USAToday.com, Mamapedia and Livestrong.com.

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