How To Cook Acorn Squash For Sweet and Savory Delights

How to Choose the Right Acorn Squash

Acorn squash is a versatile winter vegetable and it is consumed as a dessert or soup with other main items during other times of the month. The best way to choose the right acorn squash is by looking at the color.

Acorn squash in a dark green color is considered to be the best option. If the squash is yellow then it means that the food has been improperly stored for a long period. The appearance of the squash should be closely examined.

The acorn squash should be smooth and free from cracks. A mushy and watery acorn is susceptible to bacteria. Inspect the stem to see whether the acorn squash is ripe or not if you are directly collecting it from the farm.

Choose the food of the right size. It is better to look for squash that weighs between 1 to 2 pounds as this food should be heavy for its size. Having low weight suggests that the acorn squash is dried out.

So, it is necessary to choose the acorn squash of the right size with a proper balance between green and orange color.

Preparing Acorn Squash for Cooking 

Acorn squash can be cooked in a variety of ways which requires different ingredients. The food is also versatile in adding the flavor. So, to enhance the taste you can add different seasonings of your interest.

Before that, you need to understand that cooking in itself is not sufficient without having the proper cut and the right heat. Make sure to use the kitchen towel while cutting them as this will protect them from slipping away.

Once the squash has been fully cut take out the seeds and the stringy pulp. These seeds can be used for other purposes similar to pumpkin seeds. Now, you can adopt different cooking methods such as baking, steaming, roasting, and many more.

Different Ways to Cook Acorn Squash

As a member of the winter squash family, acorn squash has been the perfect dish to serve in winter. This squash can also be stored in the refrigerator or the storage areas for a month. It is recommended to store only the cut or the cooked acorn squash in the refrigerator.

There are different methods of cooking acorn squash which will offer a variety of tastes and some of them can be stored for a long time. Five of the methods of preparing acorn squash along with the ingredients required and the instructions to follow have been enlisted here. 

1. Baking Acorn Squash 

Baked acorn squash is one the easiest and the yummiest vegetable side dishes to be served. It is not mandatory to peel off the skin of the acorn squash while cooking. So, this saves cooking time and makes the work efficient.

The preparation time is 10 minutes but baking comparatively requires more time to cook than other methods of cooking. 

Ingredients 

• Acorn squash: 2 ( seeded and half-cut)
• Butter: 1/4 cp (diced)
• Brown sugar: 6 tablespoons ( firmly packed)
• Ground cinnamon:1/2 teaspoon 
• Salt: 1 tablespoon (to taste)
• Pepper: 1/2 teaspoon (optional)

Steps to Bake Acorn Squash 

1. The first step would be to collect the required ingredients from the nearby groceries or the kitchen. 
2. Preheat the oven in the second step. Preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
3. Keep the acorn squash in the shallow baking pan. Make sure you keep it in the cut-side-down way. 
4. Bake in the preheated oven until it becomes tender. You can bake it for about 30 minutes. 
5. Use the butter and sprinkle brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and pepper as per the taste and preferences. 
6. Bake for 20 more minutes and your baked acorn squash is ready to serve. 
7. You can consume them with your favorite seasonings and other side dishes.

2. Roasting 

Roasting acorn squash is another easy and popular way of cooking them. You do not have to peel off the skin for roasting acorn squash but if you feel like doing then you need to wait until they become soft to peel off in the cooking process.

They should be kept cut upside down which helps to retain the moisture and makes the cooking process fast. They are sweet and are the perfect choice for everyone during the festive seasons like Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Ingredients

• Acorn squash: 1 1/2 lbs each 
• Olive oil: 1 to 2 tablespoon
• Butter: 1 tablespoon
• Maple syrup: 1 teaspoon
• Salt: 1/2 tablespoon (as per the taste)
• Cinnamon: 1 to 2 cloves (optional)

Steps to Roast Acorn Squash 

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and be prepared with the parchment paper and the baking sheet. 
2. Cut into the desired slices. If they are too hard to cut then you can use the microwave for a few minutes to soften them. 
3. Make sure you use a large spoon to take out the seeds. If the seeds remain inside then they will make the dish bitter. 
4. Brush the acorn squash with olive oil and you can add butter if required. 
5. Sprinkle all the spices and seasonings of your interest.
6. Rost for 40-60 minutes until the squash is tender. 
7. Drizzle with additional maple syrup (if it matches your taste).
8. Cut the squash and serve it on the plates or bowls. 

3. Steaming

The steaming method of cooking is always the easiest and simplest method of cooking as this doesn't require much time and effort. In this method also, make sure you discard the seeds and the stingy membranes.

This will enhance the taste of the dish. This method requires fewer ingredients and fewer instructions than any other method of cooking. 

Ingredients 

• Water: 4 cups 
• Acorn squash: about 1 pound (10 ounces)
• Salt: 1/4 teaspoon
• Unsalted butter: 1 tablespoon (melted)
• Ground pepper: 1/8 teaspoon 

Steps to Steam Acorn Squash 

1. Collect all the necessary ingredients 
2. Pour water into the large pot and keep the steamer basket inside the pot. 
3. Bring the water to the boil in high heat. 
4. Slice the squash into halves and remove the seeds. 
5. Keep the squash in the steamer basket and cover it for 20 minutes. 
6. Brush the squash flesh with butter or olive oil. 
7. Sprinkle the required spices as per the taste and preference. 
8. Remove the squash from the steamer. 
9. Your acorn squash is ready to be served. 

4. Microwaving 

Microwaving the acorn squash not only helps the people to cook but also makes the squash soft which can be used for other different methods of cooking. It speeds things up in the kitchen and controls the amount of oil or butter.

Microwaving allows the acorn squash to be cooked for a maximum of 20 minutes which is very time-saving. 

Ingredients 

• Acorn squash: 2 ( halved and seeded)
• Salted butter: 4 teaspoons (melted)
• Brown sugar: 4 teaspoons 
• Salt: 1/2 tablespoon (as per the taste)
• Black pepper: 1/2 teaspoon (optional)

Steps to Microwave Acorn Squash 

1. Collect all the required ingredients and check for electricity. 
2. Cut the acorn squash into pieces. Make sure you remove all the seeds from the squash. 
3. Keep the half-cut squash in the microwave-safe dish. 
4. Microwave the squash in high heat until it becomes soft and tender. 
5. Check for the doneness with a fork and microwave them for about 10 minutes. 
6. Season with the salt and pepper of your taste. 

5. Grilling 

Grilled acorn squash is a delicious gluten-free side dish that is loved by all. This method of cooking is mostly prepared during the holidays as this requires more time for preparation. Most commonly people grill food items outside their kitchen in the open space and enjoy the cooking process with the family. 

Ingredients 

• Acorn squash: about 2 pounds each 
• Unsalted butter: 8 tablespoons 
• Maple syrup: 1/2 cups
• Cider vinegar: 2 tablespoons
• Mustard powder: 1/2 teaspoon
• Chilli powder: 1 teaspoon (optional)
• Ground cinnamon: 1/2 teaspoon

Steps to Grill Acorn Squash 

1. Prepare the grill where at first you need to oil the grill grates. 
2. Cook over medium heat. 
3. Melt the butter in a separate saucepan. 
4. Whisk the maple syrup and use the other seasonings such as salt, chili powder, and mustard powder. 
5. Cook the acorn squash for 3 to 4 minutes. 
6. Carefully cut the squash into halves and remove the seeds. 
7. Drizzle the melted butter and put them in the squashes properly. 
8. Keep the acorn squash in the grill and cover. Cover them for 10 minutes until they become brown. 
9. After the squash feels tender, remove them from the grill.
10. Your grilled acorn squash is ready to serve.

How Long to Cook Acorn Squash

Acorn squash is a starchy vegetable that can be prepared in different ways. Since the methods of cooking are different, the time required for cooking is also different. Some methods save you time whereas some of them are time-consuming.

The time taken by 5 different methods of cooking acorn squash has been highlighted here. 

• Baking: Baking acorn squash makes the dish soft, sweet, and buttery. It requires very little time to prepare the acorn squash for baking but the cooking time is more than expected. In an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, it might take around 45 minutes to 1 hour. 
• Roasting: Roasting makes the acorn squash tasty and delicious. Roast them at 400°F for 25 to 30 minutes until they turn golden brown. The wedges should be caramelized which enhances the taste. 
• Steaming: Under this method of cooking, the acorn squash will soften quickly. This is the quickest method as well where you just need to steam the squashes for 15-20 minutes until they become tender. 
• Microwaving: This is the quickest method where you need to microwave in high heat for 8 to 12 minutes and after adding sugar and butter you can cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes. 
• Grilling: The squash will become tender having a slightly smoky flavor under this method. You need to grill them on medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes until they become brown.

Additional Tips

The different methods of cooking acorn squash have their style and require different ingredients. Some of them may offer you the taste of your interest while others may not.

So, here are some additional tips to prepare the acorn squash for more flavor and better taste. 

• Pre-cook: The acorn squash has hard covers. So, it is always suggested to precook them before cutting which helps people to peel off the skin easily. You can microwave the whole squash for 2-3 minutes. 
• Season inside and out: It is good not to just season the surface. Keep seasoning inside the flesh to have a better taste and to increase the flavor. 
• Do not peel the skin: If you are aware of the health benefits of acorn squash then it is better not to peel off the skin as they are full of nutrients and they become soft in the cooking process. 
• Choose a sweet or savory flavor: Acorn squash goes well with both the sweet and savory flavors so make sure to use maple and brown sugar for sweet flavors and garlic and herbs for savory flavors. 
• Serving suggestion: You can be creative enough with the dish so it is your choice to consume them as the broth, as a side dish, or even as pastries.

Serving Suggestions

The acorn squash is well known for its versatile nature. So, it won't be wrong to say that it complements numerous varieties of dishes. Many food items go well with this squash. Some of the major serving suggestions for acorn squash have been highlighted here. 

Vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash

This is one of the healthiest and yummiest dishes you can ever have. The vegetable-stuffed acorn squash is the simplest and quickest recipe that can make your weekend. The fillings are usually made of cheese and cranberry-studded quinoa. You can add your favorite fillings inside the acorn squash and serve it with red wine. 

You can bake the squash twice after filling in the ingredients and toppings of your interest. This will enhance the flavor of the dish. You can complement the dish with the green salad as a side dish.

Roasted Acorn Squash Salad

Acorn squash salad can be prepared using a variety of herbs and spices. This is one of the healthiest and easiest salads to make. This is a must-consume side dish for Thanksgiving or for winter dinners. All the ancient grains and cranberries can be used in this salad to enhance the flavor of the dish.