Summer squash such as zucchini and patty pans can be eaten with their peels, but the skins of winter squash tend to be tougher. Although these skins are actually edible, it can be unpleasant to find something fibrous and tough in your food. Butternut squash is the easiest winter squash to peel. Unlike acorn squash, which have awkward ridges that are tough to negotiate even with a paring knife, the skin of a butternut squash is smooth, and relatively thin and delicate. The easiest way to peel butternut squash is with a good vegetable peeler.
Step 1
Trim the tops and bottoms of your butternut squash using a large chef's knife and a cutting board. Try to cut away as little as possible besides the tip where it meets the stem and the rough, hard nub at the bottom.
Step 2
Peel the butternut squash by working the vegetable peeler against it, shifting the angle according to the way the squash curves. Hold the squash vertically, steadying it with your spare hand. Peel from top to bottom, starting where you've cut away the stem end. You should be able to peel almost the entire length of the squash with a single stroke. If you're having trouble peeling the squash, you can tap it with a rubber mallet but if your peeler is sharp enough this should be unnecessary.
Step 3
Trim any remaining flecks of peel with your peeler, rotating the squash as you work.
Things You'll Need
- Cutting board
- Chef's knife
- Vegetable peeler
Member Comments