How TO Buy Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is in season from October to February. Picking the best gourd is key to all those comfy fall recipes.
Size does not matter (I been told 😂). It is not a good indicator. Shape doesn’t either. Some have long skinny necks, some are squat. Butternut squash is a little awkward to work with, so just pick one that is easy to handle, for safety reasons more than ripeness.
When it comes to picking a good butternut squash, weight is where it counts. Pick up a few that are similar in size and shape, and compare. You want one that is heavy for its size. The skin is also a good indicator. It should be tan, free from any green, with a skin that is firm and taut. The stem should be dry and firm.
How to Ripen Butternut Squash
Okay. Here is the thing. You can’t. This is why choosing the best butternut squash possible is important.
Here’s the plot twist: butternut squash is technically a fruit—and even a berry! Unlike apples or bananas that keep ripening after they’re picked, butternut squash is non-climacteric, meaning it stays just as ripe as the day it was harvested. Think of it like strawberries or grapes—what you see is what you get!
So once the squash is harvested, it is not going to get more ripe. It is just going to spoil. Non-climacteric fruits like butternut squash produce very little ethylene, a natural plant hormone responsible for ripening in most fruits. More on that below.
How to Store Butternut Squash
First things first: pick a good squash. Since butternut squash doesn’t ripen after it’s picked, you’re looking at the final product. And here’s the bonus—if stored properly, a good one can keep fresh up to 3 months.
For all winter squash, including butternut, the best spot for storage is a cool, dark place with decent air flow. Do not put it in the fridge! Cold makes it spoil faster (shocking, right?).
Here’s another tip: butternut squash doesn’t produce much ethylene gas (the stuff that helps some fruits ripen), but it is sensitive to it. So, to keep your squash in top shape, avoid storing it near fruits and veggies that are high ethylene emitters.
Ethylene Producing Fruits & Vegetables
- Apricots
- Avocados
- Ripening Bananas
- Cantaloupe
- Cherimoyas
- Figs
- Honeydew
- Kiwifruit
- Mamey Sapote
- Mangoes
- Mangosteen
- Nectarines
- Papayas
- Passion Fruit
- Peaches
- Pears
- Persimmons
- Plantains
- Plums
- Prunes
- Quince
- Tomatoes
