How do I peel a butternut squash?

Question

Every time I try, it's a massive effort. I have already broken two peelers. Is there a knack? Help!

Answer 1

Top and tail the butternut squash (cut off). Place the thick end on the chopping board upright. Get a good sharp cooks knife and slice the skin thinly from top to bottom working downwards and around. How you cut it up from there-on is up to you, just remember the smaller you dice the squash the less flavour and goodness you'll get from it.

Answer 2

Depends on how you are cooking the squash. If roasting, cut in 2 pieces, scoop out seeds and roast in oven with butter, salt and pepper without peeling. An easy way to peel it is to microwave the halved squash for a few minutes until it just begins to soften. To peel a raw Butternut squash, I use my Good-Grips vegetable peeler; I've used the same one for 5 years, and never had a problem. Now, ButterCUP squash - there's a tough squash to peel!

Answer 3

Cut in half take out the seeds then into quarters and the quarters into halves ( 8 pieces) use a vegetable knife to peel also chopping board but be careful don't cut yourself. I am from a country where we grow butternut that's how we peel, a peeler will always break.

Answer 4

Kee hee, I know exactly how you feel on this one. They are not easy are they. I found that I couldn't peel them whole, I had to cut them into quarters, scoop out the seeds, and then peel the quarters. If they are big ones, cut the quarters in half again to get as much of a flat surface as possible.
You are going to need a sharp knife rather than a peeler.

Answer 5

I manage a Nursing Home/Hospital kitchen and we get HUGE butternut squash, sometimes over 20 pounds. Our kitchen help cuts off each end, making it flat, then stands the squash on it's end and slices straight down to the cutting board (which will not move if you place a damp towel under it). You are cutting it off, not peeling it, then it is cleaned and cut into squares, placed in baking pans and covered with melted butter and brown sugar before baking. Our residents, patients and employees love this squash.

Answer 6

with great difficulty! i actually refuse to cook butternut squash anymore cos its not worth the 6 hours it takes to peel it! I wouldn't recommend using a peeler - as you have discovered they aren't strong enough. try using a sharp kitchen knife instead with plenty of time and patience.

Answer 7

Cut off the ends with a sharp knife and then cut it into about 2 inch thick slices. Then take the knife..not a peeler. ...and go around each slice taking off the peel.

Answer 8

I Polk holes in it, then put it in the microwave for 30 min or a little longer until a knife slides in easily. Then I cut it in half and take out the seeds. I scoop the squash out and use a stick of butter and some brown sugar. I mash it together.

Answer 9

Cut a slice off the bottom so that it sits firmly on chopping board then slice downwards with swivel peeler.

Answer 10

As above, I use a swivel type peeler with no problems. However, if you're roasting it, it's perfectly acceptable to keep the skin on, it goes pretty soft in the oven.