How-to-Choose-a-Squash
October 14, 2011
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Le Cordon Bleu
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How to Choose a Squash
Late summer and fall are the perfect times of year to wander down to your local farmers market or grocer to discover all the best seasonal produce. Squash is one of the most versatile and easy to prepare foods that you will find this time of year but it can also be an intimidating vegetable to get started with. Here is what you need to know about how to choose a squash.
What to Look For
While each squash is unique in color, taste and texture there are some general things you will want to look for when choosing a squash.
Color: Look for a squash that is rich and vibrant in color
Weight: Pick a squash that is heavy for its size
Stem: Look for a stem that is firm, dry and intact
Skin: a dull, matte skin is a sign of a mature squash; a shiny skin means it was picked too early. The skin should also be very hard and free of nicks, cracks or soft spots.
Now that you know what to look for it is all about picking the right variety of squash for your particular tastes and recipes. Here are some of the most popular varieties of squash that you can prepare at home.
Acorn Squash
Once the most popular squash grown in America, this sweet fleshed little green squash is perfect for baking, roasting, steaming or mashing. Smaller squashes are excellent for stuffing with favorite fillings.
Butternut Squash
This pear shaped tan squash is the sweetest of all winter squashes and a favorite of the culinary arts. Its skin is relatively thin and easy to peel and has a thick, damp flesh. Butternut is excellent for roasting or sautéing and its smooth texture makes it perfect for mashing and pureeing. It is a cooking class favorite for making soups and ravioli filling.
Delicata Squash
One of the smallest and most delicate of the winter squash family, this small striped squash is the only variety with an edible skin. Because of its thinner skin it does not store as well as other squash so you will want to use it relatively quickly. It’s sweet and nutty flavor makes it an excellent choice for roasting or baking.
Pumpkin
While most often seen carved on a front porch around Halloween these cheery orange squash are indeed edible. The large varieties have a tough, flavorless flesh so look for small varieties like Cinderella, Blue Hokkaido, and Sugar Pie. Pumpkins can be roasted or baked just like any other variety of winter squash.
Spaghetti Squash
This large pale yellow squash has a very unusual and highly versatile texture. Once baked or roasted the flesh pulls apart into spaghetti like strands that can be used as a pasta alternative. Try serving spaghetti squash with pasta sauce or baked into gratins or casseroles.
These are just a few of the many colorful winter squash available this season. If you enjoy the culinary arts learning how to prepare a wide variety of squash is a great way to embrace all the flavors of the autumn season. If you would like to learn more about preparing seasonal foods perhaps you would enjoy enrolling in a cooking class.
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