Steam Or Pressure Cook: Best Way To Cook Squash?

Cooking a whole squash in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker is a quick and easy way to prepare this tasty and versatile vegetable. It can be a challenge to cut a squash, especially a butternut squash, when it's raw, so cooking it whole removes that issue. You can also cook a squash whole in an oven, but this takes much longer.

Cutting and preparing the squash

Cutting and preparing a squash can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and techniques, it can be done safely and efficiently. Here are some detailed instructions on how to cut and prepare a squash:

Tools and Preparation:

Before you begin, make sure you have a large, sharp knife, preferably a chef's knife. A vegetable peeler, preferably a Y-peeler or swivel peeler, will also be needed. Additionally, a rubber mallet and a cutting board will come in handy.

It is important to stabilize the squash while cutting to ensure safety and precision. If your squash is wobbly, you can make an additional cut at the bottom to even it out and create a flat surface.

Cutting the Squash:

• Start by cutting off about a quarter-inch from both the bottom and stem end of the squash. This will help create a stable base for further cutting.
• Using a sharp vegetable peeler, peel off the outer layer of the squash. Hold the squash in one hand and peel downwards with the peeler in the other hand. Alternatively, you can secure the squash upright and make downward peeling strokes.
• With the squash standing upright on the cutting board, make a long cut down the middle from top to bottom. This will help you split the squash into two halves.
• Some squashes can be quite hard to cut through. If needed, use a rubber mallet to gently tap on the ends of the knife to help push it through the squash.
• Once the squash is cut in half, use a metal spoon to scrape out the seeds and the stringy pulp from the cavity. You can choose to discard the seeds or prepare them like toasted pumpkin seeds.

Cutting the Squash into Slices or Cubes:

• Place the squash halves cut-side down on the cutting board for stability.
• Cut the squash into slices of your desired width, either lengthwise or crosswise.
• If you want to cube the squash, stack the slices and make another set of lengthwise cuts. Then, make crosswise cuts to create cubes.

Tips for Softening the Skin:

If you want to soften the skin before peeling, you can use a fork or paring knife to poke holes all over the squash. Then, microwave the squash for about 2 minutes or pop it in the oven for 30 seconds to slightly soften the peel.

Safety Precautions:

Always exercise caution when handling sharp knives and peelers. Keep your non-cutting hand in a safe zone away from the knife to prevent any accidental cuts. Take your time and go slow, especially if you're a beginner.

Now that you've cut and prepared your squash, you can choose to steam or pressure cook it as per your preference and the recipe you're following.

Cooking times and temperatures

The cooking time for whole butternut squash in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker is around 25 minutes at high pressure. The cooking time for halved butternut squash is around 8-10 minutes at high pressure, and for cubed butternut squash, it's around 3 minutes. However, the cooking time may vary depending on the size of the squash and your desired level of tenderness. For example, smaller squashes may require a shorter cooking time of 15-20 minutes, and larger squashes may need up to 12 minutes.

When cooking butternut squash in an Instant Pot, it's important to add water to the pot, usually about 1 cup, to help the pot come up to pressure. Additionally, a trivet, steamer basket, or rolled-up aluminium foil balls can be used to keep the squash out of the water and promote even cooking.

After the initial cooking time, it's recommended to let the pressure come down naturally for about 5-10 minutes before releasing any remaining pressure. Then, the squash can be carefully removed from the pot and allowed to cool before cutting and serving.

For spaghetti squash, the cooking time in an Instant Pot is around 7 minutes for halved squash and 15 minutes for a whole squash. Similarly, acorn squash takes around 7 minutes for halved squash and 12 minutes for a whole squash.

Releasing the pressure

After releasing the pressure, remove the lid and use tongs to carefully transfer the cooked butternut squash to a bowl or cutting board.

If you are cooking cubed butternut squash, you can transfer it to a bowl and season as desired. For whole or halved butternut squash, wait until it is cool enough to handle before cutting it open and scooping out the seeds and flesh.

Your cooked butternut squash is now ready to be served! You can put the cooked flesh into a bowl and sprinkle on some salt and pepper. You can also gently mash it with a fork or add butter, ghee, coconut butter, coconut milk, maple syrup, brown sugar, fresh herbs, or your favorite toppings.

Another option is to blend the cooked butternut squash with other vegetables to make a delicious and warming butternut squash soup.

Removing the squash from the pot

Once the cooking time is up, carefully transfer the cooked squash to a bowl or cutting board using tongs.

If you are cooking a whole squash, you can now cut it open. Use a sharp knife to cut off the top and bottom of the squash, then slice it in half lengthwise.

Open the squash and use a spoon to scoop out and discard the seeds. You can then use the spoon to scoop the flesh into a serving bowl.

If you have cooked the squash in halves, you can simply scoop out the seeds and flesh once it has cooled enough to handle.

Your cooked squash is now ready to be served or stored.

Serving suggestions

Once cooked, butternut squash is incredibly versatile. It can be served as a simple side dish, or used as an ingredient in a variety of recipes. Here are some ideas:

• Purée or mash: Butternut squash purée or mash can be used in pasta sauces, lasagna fillings, soups, or even baby food. For a simple mash with a twist, try adding butter and maple syrup.
• Soup: Create a delicious and healthy butternut squash soup by puréeing the cooked squash with a little coconut milk, chicken stock, or vegetable broth. You can also add other vegetables to the mix.
• Sweet dishes: Butternut squash has a natural sweetness, so it can be used in sweet dishes such as muffins, pies, or even smoothies.
• Salads: Add some cubed butternut squash to a salad for a sweet and nutritious twist.
• Savoury dishes: Butternut squash can be used in a range of savoury dishes, including risottos, casseroles, and hummus.
• Stuffed squash: Use the cooked squash as a base for a vegetarian main dish, such as lentil-stuffed squash or wild rice pilaf-stuffed squash.
• Glazed squash: Brush the cooked squash with a glaze, such as melted butter and maple syrup, and sprinkle with salt and cinnamon.
• Basic seasonings: A sprinkle of salt can help bring out the natural sweetness of the squash. You can also add other basic seasonings like black pepper, rosemary, thyme, or sage.

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