Peeling butternut squash

What is the fastest way to peel butternut squash? Have a lot of them and am dehydrating them. Looked on-line and one recommendation was boiling them for 4 - 5 minutes. The rest were knife techniques? Does anyone have a favorite way? Thanks in advance!

SKK
  • Posted by: SKK
  • October 25, 2011
  • 2368 views
  • 12 Comments

12 Comments

Greenstuff
Greenstuff October 26, 2011
I have a serrated Kuhn Rikon vegetable that I love--it is surprisingly rugged and is much easier to use on tough squashes than flat-blade peelers. And I use the roasting and scooping method But, I'm willing to give the microwave a try too--thx for the tip.
 
Droplet
Droplet October 26, 2011
I also read somewhere about serrated peelers. I just tend to chip it away in small pieces with a knife, without accidents so far, but the potential is pretty high.
 
Sam1148
Sam1148 October 25, 2011
Get out of my HEAD!
I just bought one today after seeing the recipe for the soup. I've really never used it and looked online for pealing tech.
(this is for tomorrow's dinner).
I came across the suggestion of microwaving it 4 mins. (with fork holes in the squash) to loosen up the skin and make it easier to cut and peel.
I'm going to add a bit of grated ginger to the soup to depart from the posted recipe.
 
SKK
SKK October 25, 2011
Hey Sam, Let me know how the microwave goes! Thanks.
 
ChefJune
ChefJune October 26, 2011
It works! A good friend recommended microwaving the squash for 3 minutes on high power. The peeling comes off easily after that.
 
SKK
SKK October 26, 2011
Thanks, ChefJune!
 
Sam1148
Sam1148 October 26, 2011
I changed my game plan and cut it in half and roasted it to use in a thai coconut curry type soup.
It's cooling now..I just cut in half and coated with oil. baked at 400 for 40 mins and will scoop it out soon and mix with thai red curry paste, onion, ginger, lime zest, lemon grass paste, chicken stock and coconut milk to make the soup.
 
SKK
SKK October 26, 2011
Thanks, Sam. Going to steal your recipe. I did buy the kuhn r. peeler and it worked beautifully peeling the squash and cutting my finger. Really, really sharp - as the lady in the store warned me.
 
boulangere
boulangere October 25, 2011
I just use a good sharp chef's knife. I separate the neck at the top of the bulb, then take off both the stem and flower ends. I stand them flat vertically, and carve away the peel from top to bottom. They can be a little hard on a vegetable peeler.
 
fiveandspice
fiveandspice October 25, 2011
I've always just used a good, sharp vegetable peeler on the raw squash as well. They work quite well on butternut since the outside is smooth. Ridged squash are a lot trickier.
 
JessicaBakes
JessicaBakes October 25, 2011
Buy a great peeler. I used to really struggle until I peeled one with the kuhn rikon peelers from sur la table and suddenly it was easy. This is my best suggestion.
 
SKK
SKK October 25, 2011
Hey JB - On your advice I went out and purchased a kuhn rikon peeler. Really, really works well. Thanks for the recommendation!
 
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