How can you tell when a green acorn squash is ripe? Is it supposed to be entirely yellow/orange?

Answer 1

Purchase a squash that is yellow/orange on the spot where it touched the ground while growing. The rest should be dark green and free from blemishes and soft spots. I learned this from a produce manager friend.

Answer 2

I picked this acorn squash, and it was NOT ready. It was yellow inside. I cooked it anyway, not wanting to waste it. It was bland, but turned out much like applesauce. The light spot it had where it touched the ground, was yellow. Yellow spot=yellow squash. I would wait until the vine dies on it's own (like potato tops do), before harvesting them, or until the spot darkens to a more orange color. Then you know the plant has done all it can. I have 3 more acorn squash outside. The vines are dying. I will add photos of those later, to see if they got done. I also ate a two inch light green baby acorn squash, that had been knocked off. Last year, I was forced to cut a 4" long Long of Naples baby squash off the vine before a freeze that night. It tasted like a sweet cucumber, but firmer. I ate it like on would eat a cucumber, without cooking it first.

Answer 3

In addition to Gnometome's answer, which, by-the-way, is correct, I always look at the stem end to see if it is extremely dry or missing.

Answer 4

what would you want to drink acorns for? they'd kill you!