{"id":9011,"date":"2023-11-23T03:27:38","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T20:27:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=9011"},"modified":"2023-11-23T03:27:38","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T20:27:38","slug":"how-to-cook-acorn-squash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=9011","title":{"rendered":"How to Cook Acorn Squash"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nesfp.nutrition.tufts.edu\/world-peas-food-hub\/world-peas-csa\/produce-recipes\/acorn-squash\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Acorn squash<\/a>\u00a0is a kind of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/winter-squash-nutrition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">winter squash<\/a> with a dark green rind and golden-orange flesh. It\u2019s shaped like an acorn and might be just as tough! Earlier civilizations were known to roast whole acorn squash in outdoor clay and brick ovens.<\/p>\n<p>But don\u2019t be put off by the tough exterior \u2014 we\u2019ll share tips on how to cook acorn squash with ease and use it in various dishes.<\/p>\n<h2>How to Choose and Prep Acorn Squash<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/21112118\/how-to-cook-acorn-squash-600-choose.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-167760\" src=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/21112118\/how-to-cook-acorn-squash-600-choose.jpg\" alt=\"ripe acorn squash | how to cook acorn squash\" width=\"599\" height=\"398\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>How can you tell an acorn squash is ready to cook? When buying acorn squash, choose ones that have no soft spots or bruising. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/yardandgarden\/harvest-winter-squash-this-summer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ripe squash<\/a>\u00a0is a deep green with a yellow spot.<\/p>\n<p>Wash and dry your acorn squash since the outer skin will be edible. In fact, most recipes will tell you to keep the skin intact, so you don\u2019t need to peel the squash (unless you really don\u2019t like the skin).<\/p>\n<p>If you want to eat it sans skin, peel it <em>after<\/em> you cook the squash \u2014 it\u2019ll be much easier!<\/p>\n<h2>How to Cut Acorn Squash<\/h2>\n<p>Be careful not to injure yourself \u2014 cutting into an acorn squash is tricky because of its odd shape. Always use a sharp and sturdy knife.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Check for a flat, stable bottom.<\/strong>\u00a0If your squash doesn\u2019t sit flat, cut the squash\u2019s bottom (where you see the bottom stem) to create a flat surface. Then, stand it upright.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cut the squash slowly.\u00a0<\/strong>Place the knife at the top of the squash and rock the blade side to side, using your free palm to apply pressure to the top of the knife. It\u2019s OK to lift the knife out and reposition as needed since you don\u2019t want the blade to get stuck.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Slice all the way through.<\/strong> If you\u2019re almost done and the knife won\u2019t budge, use your hands to pull the squash apart; just be mindful of your blade.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>How to Roast Acorn Squash<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/19101520\/how-to-cook-acorn-squash-600-roasted.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-166640\" src=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/19101520\/how-to-cook-acorn-squash-600-roasted.png\" alt=\"Image of Roasted Acorn Squash Halves | How to Cook Acorn Squash\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Perfectly roasted acorn squash is mild, sweet, nutty, and very easy to make. Once you\u2019ve cut your acorn squash in half, use a spoon to remove the seeds. Then follow these steps:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Preheat the oven<\/strong>\u00a0to 400\u00b0 F.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Season your squash halves.<\/strong>\u00a0For savory squash, lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. For a sweet, caramelized squash, lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray, then sprinkle with sugar or honey and a dash of your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/6-healthy-spices-that-amp-up-flavor-not-calories\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">favorite spice<\/a> (e.g. cinnamon).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Put the squash in a baking pan.\u00a0<\/strong>Place it flesh side down if you prefer a little char. If you\u2019re concerned about the squash drying out, keep it flesh side up and pour in a small layer of water to keep it moist as it bakes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Roast the squash for 45 to 60 minutes.<\/strong>\u00a0If you can poke a fork easily into the flesh, it\u2019s done.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Can You Cook Acorn Squash in the Microwave?<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/19101510\/how-to-cook-acorn-squash-600-microwave.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-166639\" src=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/19101510\/how-to-cook-acorn-squash-600-microwave.png\" alt=\"Woman Uses Microwave | How to Cook Acorn Squash\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Absolutely. Microwaving cuts down on the cooking time for acorn squash. To make microwaved acorn squash:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Poke your squash halves with a knife<\/strong>\u00a0a few times. This allows steam to escape when you microwave.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Season your squash halves. <\/strong>For savory squash, lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. For a sweet, caramelized squash, lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray, then sprinkle with sugar or honey and a dash of your favorite spice (e.g. cinnamon).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Put squash in a microwave-safe bowl.<\/strong>\u00a0Cover it with a microwave-safe splatter cover or a plate.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Microwave on high for 10 to 12 minutes.<\/strong>\u00a0If you can poke a fork easily into the flesh, it\u2019s done.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Microwaved squash misses the caramelized flavor of roasted squash.<\/p>\n<p>But, you can add some of that back by lightly coating your squash with nonstick cooking spray, sprinkling it with a little coconut sugar, and broiling it on high for about 5 minutes.<\/p>\n<h2>Dishes That Pair Well With Acorn Squash<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/19101528\/how-to-cook-acorn-squash-600-soup.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-166641\" src=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/19101528\/how-to-cook-acorn-squash-600-soup.png\" alt=\"Overhead Shot of Acorn Squash | How to Cook Acorn Squash\" width=\"500\" height=\"400\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>You can serve cooked acorn squash as a simple standalone side dish. But, if you\u2019re up for a culinary challenge, many dishes pair well with acorn squash:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Vegetable soup: <\/strong>Acorn squash can be cut into chunks and added to vegetable soup if the soup cooks for at least 30 minutes. You can also add cooked and cubed acorn squash to ready-made vegetable soup. Or make a creamy soup by pureeing cooked acorn squash. You can use acorn squash interchangeably with butternut squash, which means our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/apple-butternut-squash-soup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">apple butternut squash soup<\/a>\u00a0is ripe for a makeover!<\/li>\n<li><strong>Leafy salads: <\/strong>Slice cooked acorn squash into your salads to make it taste that much more satisfying.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pasta sauce: <\/strong>Layer your marinara or other pasta sauces with the sweetness of cooked acorn squash.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Layered casseroles:\u00a0<\/strong>Cooked acorn squash is a supporting ingredient that you can easily add to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/easy-casserole-recipes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">casserole<\/a> before baking. You can also cut the pasta out totally by substituting sliced, lightly baked, or microwaved acorn squash. Go <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/what-is-gluten-free\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gluten-free<\/a>!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Good news: Acorn squash isn\u2019t the only winter squash to enjoy! Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/butternut-squash-nutrition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-children-count=\"0\">The Health Benefits of Butternut Squash<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/fixate-spaghetti-squash-fritters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-children-count=\"0\">FIXATE Spaghetti Squash Fritters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Acorn squash\u00a0is a kind of\u00a0winter squash with a dark green rind and golden-orange flesh. It\u2019s shaped like an acorn and might be just as tough! Earlier civilizations were known to roast whole acorn squash in outdoor clay and brick ovens. But don\u2019t be put off by the tough exterior \u2014 we\u2019ll share tips on how &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9012,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9011","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9011"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9011\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9012"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}