You do not have to cook butternut squash before freezing it.   That is the short answer and the one most people are happy to hear.   But while you don’t have to cook butternut squash before freezing, how you freeze it can change how well it holds up later.   If you have ever … Read more

You don’t have to cook butternut squash if you don’t want to, because it’s perfectly safe to eat when prepared certain ways without heat.   That might sound surprising if you’ve only ever had it roasted or pureed into a soup.   But butternut squash is a versatile vegetable that can be enjoyed raw, steamed, … Read more

You do not have to blanch summer squash before freezing, but doing so will give you much better results when you thaw and cook it later.   If you’ve been wondering whether you have to blanch summer squash before freezing, the short answer is no, it’s not strictly required for safety.   However, blanching summer … Read more

You do not have to blanch squash before vacuum sealing, but doing so can help you get a better result depending on how you plan to use it.   If you’re wondering whether you have to blanch squash before vacuum sealing, the short answer is no, it’s not mandatory.   However, blanching squash before vacuum … Read more

You do not have to blanch butternut squash before freezing, but blanching is the best way to preserve its flavor, texture, and nutrients for long-term storage.   If you have ever wondered whether you have to blanch butternut squash before freezing, the short answer is no, but there is a big difference in quality.   … Read more

You can cut spaghetti squash before cooking, and many people do it to make the process easier.   But whether you should cut spaghetti squash before cooking depends on how you plan to cook it.   If you’ve been wondering do you cut spaghetti squash before cooking, the short answer is yes, you can.   … Read more

Yes, you can cover spaghetti squash while cooking, and in many cases, covering it is actually the preferred method depending on how you’re preparing it.   If you’ve been wondering whether to cover spaghetti squash while cooking, the answer really depends on your cooking method, the texture you want, and how much time you have. … Read more

Yes, you can cut the skin off butternut squash, and many cooks do it because the skin is tough and fibrous when raw.   But whether you should cut the skin off butternut squash depends on how you plan to cook it and what texture you want in the final dish.   The skin of … Read more

You do not have to cover squash casserole when baking, and in fact, most of the time you shouldn’t.   Leaving the dish uncovered allows the top to brown nicely and lets excess moisture escape so the casserole sets up with a good texture.   If you’ve been wondering whether to cover squash casserole when … Read more

You don’t have to cover acorn squash when baking.   However, covering acorn squash while baking is actually a common technique that can give you creamier results.   So if you’ve been wondering whether you should cover acorn squash when baking, the short answer is that it’s optional.   It really depends on the texture … Read more