How to Store and Freeze Butternut Squash

It’s the season of butternut squash, and they are in abundance at your local grocery store. But how do you store them? Is it better to freeze or refrigerate them? We’ll answer these questions and more in this blog post on how to store butternut squash!

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Keep it At Room Temperature

The squash will keep for one to three months if you don’t need it right away; store it raw and whole (not peeled!) in a cold, dark location on the counter or in the fridge. It has a storage life of up to three months like this, so don’t be concerned if you decide to stock up ahead of time.

Pop it in the fridge

If you decide to store your butternut squash in the refrigerator, there are a few options for how to go about it:

Peel and cube the butternut squash, then keep it in an airtight food storage container in the fridge for three to five days.

If you’re thinking about preparing food in advance, butternut squash is an excellent way to have some on hand for grain bowls, pastas, and other meals. Cooked butternut squash cut into cubes and stored it in the refrigerator is an easy option for having a little of butternut squash always on hand for grain bowls and other recipes.

Roasted butternut squash can then to left to cool completely. You can then place it in an airtight food storage container and keep it refrigerated for up to five days.

Make Puree and Save the Seeds

Another alternative is to cook and purée your squash before freezing it so you may simply add it to bread and soup recipes or reheat it for baby food.

It also can be used in place of the pumpkin puree some recipes might require. The two are mostly indistinguishable in taste. You even can use it to make a “pumpkin” pie. Butternut squash seeds also are edible, just like pumpkin seeds, so you can toast them the same way you might toast pumpkin seeds.

The squash is a rich source of nutrients and antioxidants, making it an excellent addition to your diet. It may also be used in place of pumpkin puree in some recipes. In terms of taste, the two are nearly indistinguishable. You can also make a “pumpkin” pie out of it. Butternut squash seeds are likewise edible, and can be used anywhere you might add pumpkin seeds.

Peel and Freeze Cubes of Raw Butternut Squash

After peeling and removing the seeds from butternut and other types of winter squash, the ideal method to freeze it is in one-inch cubes.

Peel and cut the squash into one-inch pieces. Place them in a single layer on a parchment or wax paper-lined cookie sheet and freeze. When solid, transfer the squash cubes to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container with about 1/3 inch headspace for air circulation and food expansion.

Frozen squash may be roasted straight from the freezer (no thawing required!), or added to soups, stews, and chili.

Storing butternut squash

One of the great things about butternut squash is that there are loads of ways to store it and it is easy to freeze. That means even if you only need a small amount, you can have it and not risk wasting the rest.  Other types of winter squash and even summer squash will work much the same way when it comes to storing the vegetables until you need it.