Acorn squash is a type of winter squash that belongs to the genus Cucurbita and offers a slightly nutty flavor. It has an elongated shape and resembles an acorn. In the kitchen, you can use acorn squash in many different ways:
You can roast acorn squashes in chunks on a parchment-lined baking sheet with olive oil or puree it into acorn squash soup and bake it like sweet potatoes drizzled with butter, brown sugar, or maple syrup. The winter squash is packed with vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A and the B Vitamins Riboflavin, Niacin, Thiamin, Pantothenic Acid, and Folic Acid.
Because of their size, you may not eat all in one go, so, how long is acorn squash good for? Like many veggies, the acorn squash shelf life isn’t that long once you cut into the fruit. In our guide, you can learn how to store acorn squash the right way. You’ll find storing acorn squash is easy, whether raw acorn squash or cooked. (Learn How Many Peaches In A Pound)
How Long Can You Keep An Uncooked Acorn Squash?
If left intact and undamaged, acorn squash has a shelf life of 1–2 months. Therefore, you can store your small winter squash at 50°F (10°C) in a dry area, although you can keep it on your kitchen counter.
Acorn squash lasts longer outside the refrigerator than inside one, and don’t worry if the temperature rises above 50 degrees; your squash will still keep.
When you cut into the fruit, though, this changes. When stored in the refrigerator, raw acorn squash lasts two weeks. Store squash in a sealed bag or container to prevent moisture from escaping and the squash from rotting.
How Long Does An Acorn Squash Last In The Fridge?
Unlike most fresh produce, whole acorn squash goes bad faster when stored in your refrigerator.
The damp and cold lead to rot, and spoilage in a couple of weeks, so rather than put a whole acorn squash in your refrigerator, leave it on your counter.
Raw, sliced acorn squash lasts for 3–4 days in the fridge inside a plastic bag, and after you cook acorn squash, it can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days before it spoils.
Uncooked acorn squash halves or chunks will last for 3–4 days. Similarly, cooked acorn squash will still be good to eat for 3 days if it is stored in the fridge.
How Do You Store Acorn Squash Long Term?
Cooked acorn squash can be safely frozen for up to one year, and the best way to do this is to bake or roast acorn squash. Next, remove the pulp and skin, and mash or dice the roasted acorn squash for freezing.
Baked or roasted acorn squash can be safely frozen for up to 12 months.
If you wish to freeze, there is also no need to cook acorn squash first. You can freeze raw acorn squash for up to 1 year as well.
For this method, remove the skin of the squash with a vegetable peeler. Then, cut the squash into halves and remove the seeds and pulp.
Dice the squash flesh into cubes, freeze it on a baking sheet first, and add it to a storage bag or airtight container. You then have squash ready to use whenever you fancy the mild flavor in your dishes. (Read White Spots On Squash Leaves – What To Do)
What Is The Best Way To Store Acorn Squash?
How Do You Know If acorn squash is bad is one of the trickiest questions you can find?
Knowing when to choose acorn squash is as vital as knowing how to spot a spoiled squash.
Cracks in the rind or visible mold are signs of rotten acorn squash on the outside. Avoid squash with soft spots or skin that is very glossy. These are the telltale signs of ripe and unripe winter squash.
If you purchase your acorn squash, find a squash with firm flesh. It should be mostly green with one or two orange spots, and it soon starts to turn yellow as it ripens.
Signs of bad squash:
- A cracked or moldy exterior.
- Soft spots around the squash shell.
- Glossy skin.
- Slimy squash flesh when squeezed.
- Gray seeds.
Examine the inside of your squash once you’ve cut it open. It’s spoiled if the squash halves are excessively slimy. If the acorn squash is bad, the seeds will turn gray; that’s another symptom of a rotten squash. When in a fresh, ripe squash, the acorn squash seeds are cream or tan in color.
How to tell if Acorn Squash is good?
You’ll get the greatest flavor from ripe acorn squash, whether you harvest it yourself or buy it at a store or farmer’s market.
The underside of ripe acorn squash is typically dark green with orange spots. The orange marks on the squash get bigger as it ripens, and your squash may be overripe if the orange covers over one-third of the squash.
Because some acorn squashes are white or orange, it’s impossible to tell when they’re ready.
- For its size, a ripe squash should feel hefty.
- When you squeeze a squash, it should bounce and give—hard or soft squash should be squeezed.
- When you try to poke ripe squash with your thumbnail, it has tough skin that gives some resistance.
How To Preserve Acorn Squash?
Whether the acorn squash is whole, diced, uncooked, or cooked, there are different ways to store it. Acorn squash storage guidelines are as follows:
- Whole squash, uncooked, can be stored on the counter for 1–2 months.
- In the refrigerator, uncooked, diced squash last 3–4 days.
- Squash that has been cooked can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- Acorn squash, both cooked and uncooked, can be frozen for up to 12 months.
Although freezer storage needs a little more preparation time, it’s a terrific method to conserve your produce and enjoy acorn squash around the year. Remember to keep the squash seeds for the following spring!
Is an acorn squash still good when it turns orange?
If there are no soft spots, and as you cut it open, there is no mold or rot inside, it is OK to use. You can use acorn squash that has partially turned orange, as this is just a part of the ripening process.
Once you cut your squash, wrap raw pieces in plastic wrap, and keep refrigerated for up to four days. Cooked acorn squash can be refrigerated for up to four days
What color should acorn squash be?
Ripened acorn squash turns dark green color. The portion in contact with the ground goes from yellow to orange. (Learn How Do You Know When Spaghetti Squash Is Ripe)
How do you know when an acorn squash is ready to pick?
75-100 days after planting the seeds, most acorn squash varieties are ready to harvest. The color and texture of the skin are the best clues that your acorn squash is ready to be harvested. The squash should be a rich orange color where it touches the ground.
Can you eat the skin on an acorn squash?
Acorn squash skin is delicious whether it’s chopped into pieces or filled, and you bake or roast acorn squash whole. When roasted, the skin becomes soft enough to eat, but those who want skin-free pork can simply detach the meat from the peel.
Is Acorn Squash healthy?
Acorn squash is a high-nutrient carbohydrate option. High in vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, provitamin A, B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, iron, and manganese are all found in abundance in the brilliant orange flesh of acorn squash.
What does white acorn squash taste like?
When cooked, a white acorn squash delivers a smoother tender texture and mild flavor mixed with hazelnut and black pepper notes. Likewise, if you eat a summer squash, you’ll find acorn squash is sweeter as the growing time is longer than summer squash.
What happens if you eat bad squash?
You can get some awful symptoms when eating bad zucchini, cucumbers, and other veggies from this category! For example, cucurbit poisoning, also known as toxic squash syndrome, can occur when people eat the toxic compound called cucurbitacin E.
How do you know if yellow squash has gone bad?
Bad smell, mold, or a thick, yellowish liquid are signs the squash is bad. Throw it out if the bad zucchini is shriveled, has soft spots, wrinkled skin, or is mushy within.
Do you keep squash in the fridge?
If you are storing yellow squash or zucchini in your refrigerator, do not wash the squash before storing. Instead, they are best stored in a plastic bag with a few holes poked in it for airflow and then placed in the vegetable crisper drawer.
Does squash go bad?
Once sliced, fresh winter squash stays fresh for 4 to 5 days. Cooked butternut squash should stay fresh for two days longer than fresh slices.
Can you eat the seeds?
Acorn squash seeds are edible: To cook, place seeds on a baking sheet and preheat oven to 300°Fand bake for around 20 minutes.
