Butternut squash has become one of the trendiest fall and winter vegetables. With tomorrow being the first day of fall, it’s time to know how to navigate around this delicious ingredient. This widely-enjoyed squash is very versatile, and it contains numerous health benefits. According to the USDA, butternut squash is full of vitamin A, in addition to being a great source of fiber and vitamin C. This healthy fall and winter veg is often served oven roasted, and can also be made into soups, thrown into salads, mixed with pasta and cream sauce and prepared in many other methods. No matter how you whip it up, this sweet, nutty squash that will have your kids begging for seconds. However, before you can begin cooking your favorite butternut squash recipe, you will need to know how to chop it up. And, unfortunately, it is notorious for being hard to peel and cut. Lucky for you, we have outlined helpful steps that will make preparing butternut squash much more manageable.

Step 1. Remove the ends of the squash.

With your squash on its side, steady it using the fingertips of your non-dominate hand. When cutting into the squash, use a large, sharp knife to make an incision and then slowly cut through the fruit. As the knife gets deeper, it is safe to take your non-dominant hand and use it to apply pressure by leaning on the knife.

Step 2. Peel off the skin.

Now, use a peeler to remove the skin of your squash.

Helpful Hint: If the skin is giving you a tough time and refusing to peel, poke holes around the surface of the squash with a fork and microwave for three to four minutes. This method will soften and loosen the skin, making it come off easier. This also slightly cooks the squash, which means you will not need to leave it in the oven for as long.

Step 3. Cut the squash in half, then half the halves.

Once peeled, divide the squash where the neck meets the body and begins to curve out. Then, vertically slice each half open from top to bottom.

Step 4. Scoop out the seeds.

The bottom halves of your squash contain seeds. Use a spoon to cleanly scoop out those seeds.

Fun Tip: Save the seeds! Clean, salt and roast them for a healthy, fall snack.

Step 5. Slice and cube the squash.

When you have cleaned out your squash, slice the halves at the thickness you want your cubes to be. Then cube those slices to your desired thickness.

Step 6. Cook your squash.

Now that you are a master at preparing butternut squash, you are ready to take your favorite butternut squash recipe and bring to life!

Photos by Sincerely Gone Photography

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