The BHG Test Kitchen break down which squash skin are OK to eat — and which are better left alone .
Regardless of whether it’sacornorzucchinior if it ’s lead by the nose or so gay that we need shades , we eff to savour squelch . It ’s always “ go sentence ” for gourds , if you require Team BHG .
While we adore all kind of winter and summertime mash , we do n’t love every individual ounce of them . Those stringy interior , for instance , we could do without . And the possible injury risk involved withcutting butternut squash ? verbalize about stressful .
Credit:Carson Downing
Readers narrate us that another big feature of speech that all gourds share often trips them up : Can you eat squeeze skin?We tappedSarah Brekke , M.S.,Better Homes & GardensTest Kitchen culinary specialist , to strip down back the layer on this tricky topic . Read on as she ranks the squash skins from well to worst to deplete . Then discover the skillful ways to prepare each of the eight most coarse types of squash rackets we feature in the pages of BHG ( and we hear from you that you fake at home ) .
Carson Downing
Can You Eat Squash Skin?
All crush skin is technically comestible . However , similar to a banana peel orkiwi tegument , there are many individuals who do n’t find the texture of all types of squash racquets to be appealing . Some varieties of squash rock-and-roll a thin , tender , and delicious peel . Others are palisade by a uncompromising , problematic , chewy , and stringy scale that ’s not quite so appetising ( even after cooking ) .
“ small squash be given to have course more warm and thinner cutis , ” Brekke says .
list from most to least enjoyable to eat the cutis , we ’re place the most common types of squash rackets :
Credit: Scott Little
“ Delicata , summer , acorn , and honeynut are all varieties of squash vine with skins that become nicely tender after preparation , ” Brekke explicate . “ We ’d urge peeling butternut , spaghetti , and authoritative autumn pumpkin . We can go either way with kabocha , depending on the size of the squash and the cookery method . ”
So the resolution tocan you use up squash skin?is technically yes , although you might desire to peel some kinds before or after cooking . ( Read on for the best way to misrepresent each of the aforementioned styles of squash . )
Rather than fling your squash skins , wash away the intact vegetablewell before cutting . Then considercompostingthe leftover skin or using them to flavorstock or stock .
The Best Ways to Cook Squash
If Brekke was forced to only choose one preparation method acting to rule them all regarding squash rackets — wintertime and summer , peeled or unpeeled — she’d advise you to preheat your oven and round up a shroud pan .
“ All of these varieties do really well when roasted , ” she says .
“ Spaghetti squash rackets can also cursorily be prepared in a microwave , ” Brekke adds . “ We also care preparing summer mash by slicing and sautéing . ”
Those are two of many ways to prep your zucchini , yellow , and patty pan squash , in fact . Do n’t pretermit our scout for thebest ways to cook summer squash .
Brekke coaches us through how to prepare all of thesewinter squashstyles below .
To roast acorn, butternut, or honeynut squash:
psychometric test Kitchen Tip : The butternut squash can be peeled before ridicule if desired , but this is n’t necessary bet on how you intend to apply the cooked squash racquets . Acorn and kabocha are A - OK to eat whole , unless you prefer to outflank out the figure and hold the skins for another use .
To roast spaghetti squash or sugar pumpkins:
tryout Kitchen Tip : Spaghetti squashcan be ridicule on the scant side of that time frame for more “ al dente ” strands .
To roast delicata or kabocha squash:
tryout Kitchen Tip : When roasted in wedge or half - moon word form , a la ourCrispy Delicata Rings with Herbed Buttermilk Dip , we find delicata and kabocha crush skin to be quite pleasant . Peel before roasting if trust .
Whether you plan to run through or eliminate the pelt from your menu , you may also consider cooking any of these type of squash stuffed . If that vocalise a - Robert Peel - ing ( sorry ! ) , addSausage - Stuffed Honeynut Squash , Bulgur - Stuffed Acorn Squash , orSausage - Stuffed Delicata Squashto yourmeal planthis workweek .
