How to Store Butternut Squash: 4 Squash Storage Tips

Butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) is a type of winter squash that ranges from light yellow to bright orange. Sweet and nutty, butternut squash grows on the vine and has a tough rind with a pulpy interior that includes seeds similar to pumpkin seeds, which you can roast, salt, or enjoy as a snack. A strong source of carbohydrates, vitamin A, and vitamin C, butternut squash has many culinary uses. Roasted and puréed, butternut squash is a common ingredient in fall and winter dishes including soups, muffins, and pies.

To store winter squash for a longer time, you need to know how to harvest them or pick healthy ones from the grocery store.

• Look at the stem. If your butternut squash has been destemmed, it may not be as fresh or long-lasting. Choose squash with at least an inch of stem on it.
• Feel the weight of the squash. The weight of butternut squash can also be indicative of its freshness. If it is too light, it is not fully matured. Feel a few to get a sense of the average weight; you want to aim for something on the heavier side.
• Examine the skin. Avoid squashes with blemishes, rotting parts, or softer areas. You’ll also want to look for skins with a matte, not waxy, exterior. Use your fingernail to try and scratch the surface; if your nail goes through easily without much pressure, the squash is too soft for use.
• Look for darker colors. If a butternut squash is green, too pale, or without much color, it is not ripe. Look for richer, darker amber and orange colors. A pale spot or two is fine—just make sure the squash isn’t soft or blemished.

Butternut squash keeps for multiple months—generally two to three, but some can have a storage time of up to six months. To ensure this long shelf life, follow these food storage tips:

1. 1. Keep butternut squash away from fruits. Fruits like apples and pears or those that ripen quickly release ethylene gas, which can cause the butternut squash to rot more rapidly. Any relative humidity can exacerbate the release of ethylene gas, speeding up the ripening process.
2. 2. Keep your squash in a cool, dark place. Butternut squash will keep best in a dark and dry place, somewhere just below room temperature in the fifty to fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit range. Root cellars devoid of moisture, direct sunlight, and heat are good places, and those with good air circulation can also make for ideal storage conditions.
3. 3. Use a disinfecting solution. To help certify long-term storage, combine one part liquid bleach to ten parts water. Mix it up, dampen a cloth, and gently wipe the peel of the butternut squash with the solution. This will slow the growth of microorganisms that can cause rotting.
4. 4. Check for rotting and blemishes. Once stored, check your squash once a week for any new blemishes or soft spots. If you notice these, you can perhaps salvage healthy parts of the squash to use right away, or you may need to compost the rotting vegetable.

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