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How to Peel and Cube a Butternut Squash

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | September 19, 2020 45 Comments

Today, because almost every butternut squash recipe begins with the words “peel and cube,” I thought I should show you the quick and easy way to — you guessed it — peel and cube a butternut squash! Here’s the short video how-to:

How to Peel and Cube Butternut Squash

Well. I hope this quick tip was helpful to you. Now you can peel and cube your way to this garlicky/herby Linguine with Butternut Squash Sauce.

And by the way, I purchased my “Y” peeler at a local kitchen-supply store. You can find similar peelers over at Amazon. As mentioned in the video, the Y peeler is broad and therefore efficient. No more wasting half the squash when you try to peel it with a knife!

Thank you for watching! xKevin

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Comments

  1. 1

    Judy Clune says

    September 20, 2020 at 8:07 am

    Hi Kevin! Thanks for this helpful video, and the tip on the correct peeler to make the job easier. Excellent! I do have one suggestion: when you cut the slabs in the long part on the squash, pair each curved-top section with a flat section and cut them two by two, thus eliminating cutting two curved sections one at a time! Even quicker. I often use and enjoy your recipes and blog hints. Thanks!!!

  2. 2

    robin gray says

    September 20, 2020 at 8:21 am

    That method is a game changer. Scoring one of those Y peelers today! Thanks, Kevin, for the fabulous video.

  3. 3

    Eleanor says

    September 20, 2020 at 8:57 am

    I always peel butternut squash with fear and trepidation. I do now have a great wide peeler and I will use it. I even have a squash that needs to be used. Thanks for all your help and cheerful advice!

  4. 4

    Cara says

    September 20, 2020 at 9:20 am

    Thanks so much – one of my favourites and I have struggled in the past! Can’t wait for all the recipes.

  5. 5

    Patsy Whiteside says

    September 20, 2020 at 9:21 am

    And when you use the compost, Kevin, you will find butternut squash growing all over your garden!

  6. 6

    mary ann kirchoff says

    September 20, 2020 at 10:39 am

    Thank you for the tutorial on cutting up a butternut squash. Tis the season!

  7. 7

    Marg Mackall says

    September 20, 2020 at 10:43 am

    Thank you much! I grew butternut squash for the first time and had a nice result so your advice is going to come in handy. I am looking forward to seeing the other videos you have. What a wonderful find!!

  8. 8

    Malti says

    September 20, 2020 at 11:10 am

    Thank you Kevin for this. I’m a real soupie and love, love, love, butternut squash soup. I’m looking forward to to your recipe.
    Malti

  9. 9

    Nancy says

    September 20, 2020 at 11:18 am

    Thank you for this video. Very helpful for tackling a job I always didn’t like to do.

  10. 10

    Carole says

    September 20, 2020 at 12:15 pm

    Seeds are great roasted and/or the birds love them.

  11. 11

    Denise says

    September 20, 2020 at 12:55 pm

    Many thanks for the wide peeler tip…as l.was recently diagnosed with rhymotoid arthritis and it can be hard to peel and cut.

  12. 12

    Mary E Adams says

    September 20, 2020 at 1:05 pm

    Love the y peeler! Good info for my “Butternut Squash Soup.” Looking forward to your recipe!

  13. 13

    Cheryl says

    September 20, 2020 at 1:07 pm

    Hi Kevin! Love your videos and love squash….even the big old Hubbard Squash that my Finnish Grandma used to grow in her garden. I’d sure like to have a knife like the one you were using in the Butternut squash video. I’m not as strong as I used to be and standing (for leverage) is difficult for me. The knife you used may be just the ticket, and I was wondering what brand it was.

  14. 14

    Sara says

    September 20, 2020 at 1:34 pm

    Easiest way to clean out your pumpkin is to stick the hand blender in with only one paddle! Thank you so much for your video!

  15. 15

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    September 20, 2020 at 1:35 pm

    Hi Sara – Thanks for the pumpkin-cleaning tip. I must try it!

    Hi Cheryl – I use (and love!) Wusthof knives. For the video, I used Wusthof’s 8-inch chef’s knife.

  16. 16

    Janice Smith says

    September 20, 2020 at 1:44 pm

    Nice tip.
    When I remove the seeds I save and give them with the fiber to the birds. The birds love em. I do this with all squash. If you don’t want the squirrels eating the seeds, sprinkle some Cayenne pepper on the seeds. The cayenne pepper does not hurt the birds and the squirrels won’t touch it.

  17. 17

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    September 20, 2020 at 1:55 pm

    Hi Janice – I will do just that — give the seeds and fibers to the birds. They need this autumn/winter food more than I do!

  18. 18

    Jay says

    September 20, 2020 at 1:58 pm

    Talk about timely! This post was the perfect remedy for my current dilemma: what to do with the butternut squash now that I’ve grown so much! Another first-timer here. Now I know what to do, and it seems to be pretty straight-forward. Can’t wait for the soup recipe!

  19. 19

    Teri C says

    September 20, 2020 at 2:41 pm

    Hi Kevin, this was my first view, thank you for keeping it simple. I had great luck this year in Colorado with my butternut squash as well Thanks for the wide peeler tip, definately going out to buy one of tjosr as well. Do the seeds end up growing in your compost?

  20. 20

    Cherylann McGuire says

    September 20, 2020 at 4:00 pm

    Thanks for sharing this! I also had a good harvest and will be using these tips.

  21. 21

    BarbT says

    September 20, 2020 at 4:20 pm

    Looks so much easier than a large and small knife..
    Am adding a butternut squash to grocery list – just gotta try it!

  22. 22

    Ardelle says

    September 20, 2020 at 4:38 pm

    I love the ‘y’ peeler suggestion – it looks easy to use. I will be getting a supply of butternut squash from my favorite farmer’s market vendor because they don’t pick their squash until they are truly ripe -which adds so much more flavor. I cut my squash in half lengthwise cover with foil and roast – after removing the seeds. Then I scoop out the squash and bag it in recipe size amounts to make ‘Pumpkin Pie’, Muffins, yeast rolls & bread. My family all love pumpkin recipes and this is our version. Excellent idea with the peeler – always used to peel with a chef’s knife…

  23. 23

    Nancy Tauber says

    September 20, 2020 at 6:14 pm

    Your tutorials are invaluable, and I mean that now I will prepare and freeze a few (store-bought) squashes when a burst of energy hits me. The Kevin videos always bring a smile and more to my life!

  24. 24

    Barb Robinson says

    September 20, 2020 at 11:32 pm

    Looks delicious!! And will try the peeling.

  25. 25

    Patti LAW-POGGI says

    September 21, 2020 at 7:08 am

    Kevin, how on earth could you cut into the b. squash? I finally had to poke a couple of holes in it and put it in the microwave for about 8 minutes to even just cut into it.

  26. 26

    Kris says

    September 21, 2020 at 10:42 am

    Thanks for the peeling tips Kevin! I always wait until Monday morning to read your email because it’s the best way to brighten up a Monday! I didn’t grow any butternut squash but I’m going to try to preserve some in my cellar for while and freeze some as well. Thanks!

  27. 27

    Bette says

    September 21, 2020 at 3:38 pm

    Your roasted butternut squash soup is the best ever. I make it several times a year in double batches and freeze it. I have one container left and after watching this I am going to grab it out of the freezer and have it for dinner. Truly the best tasting soup ever.

  28. 28

    Beverly, zone 6, Eastern PA says

    September 23, 2020 at 8:04 am

    Very informative! Love the camera work, as well.

  29. 29

    Barbara says

    September 24, 2020 at 5:09 pm

    Great presentation.. made it look easy….luv squash.. look forward to recipes.. my friend stopped by today with delicious squash soup.. so look forward to Sunday..

  30. 30

    Janis says

    September 25, 2020 at 11:06 pm

    Thank you Kevin. Do you have any tips on how to keep the acids in the butternut squash from irritating your hands? I tried using disposable loves but could not seem to ‘feel’ the squash well enough while cutting and feared an injury. Thanks!

  31. 31

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    September 26, 2020 at 10:20 am

    Hi Janis – My best advice is to wear rubber latex (i.e., “Playtex”) gloves while peeling/cutting the squash. The gloves (they are reusable) will afford a good grip as you work.

  32. 32

    Deonna Rae Bishopp says

    September 27, 2020 at 8:27 am

    Great tips! Same method for Pan Pan squash!? I picked some up at our local FM and need suggestions!! They’re white and so cute! Love you and your family!

  33. 33

    Lori says

    September 27, 2020 at 9:58 am

    Thanks for your tutorial, Kevin, but you scared the bejesus out of me when you laid your beautiful Wusthof knive down on your cutting board with your cubed squash and then proceeded to scoop up the cubes with your hands. I’m so glad that you didn’t cut your self!

  34. 34

    Terry says

    September 27, 2020 at 10:41 am

    Thank you for the tip on using the Y grater and showing how effective it is.

  35. 35

    Marcy MacDonald says

    September 27, 2020 at 1:47 pm

    I’m getting that vegtable peeler does a much faster job. Thanks

  36. 36

    Anne-Marie says

    September 27, 2020 at 10:54 pm

    Hi Kevin .. I just ordered a Y potato peeler, so thank you for that! I’ve been using a straight peeler for veggies so am looking forward to receiving this. Amazing that you grew all this squash from just a few seeds! I love squash so much, got a lot of volunteers from the compost, so when I watched you cut out the seeds and put them in a container for the compost, I was wondering how many volunteer butternut squash that you will have next year! I love what you do and appreciate all of the wonderful information and recipes that you share! You are just the best!!

  37. 37

    Marlyn says

    September 28, 2020 at 12:32 am

    To clean out winter squashes, I use the spoon shaped scrapper that came with a Jack O’ Lantern carving kit. The edge of the plastic spoon is sharp and cuts right thru the stringy fiber. It works great.

  38. 38

    Vivienne Parkes says

    September 28, 2020 at 1:03 am

    Hi Kevin, My Japanese daughter in law taught me that peeling squash is unnecessary. It has worked well for me. The peel is loaded with healthy fibre. The seeds from many, but not all, squashes are great roasted with a bit of salt & butter. Although, as a bird lover and feeder, I love the concept of feeding the seeds to the birds.

  39. 39

    Peggy Iversen says

    September 28, 2020 at 5:40 am

    Hi Kevin! Loved the tutorial. Ordering peeler too. Thank you you very much. How is your new member of the family doing? Thanks again for the tips.

  40. 40

    Wmarye says

    September 28, 2020 at 7:14 am

    The Y peeler is a game changer. To scoop out seeds I use an old fashioned ice cream scoop. -it gets the job done.
    Thanks for a great video

  41. 41

    Linda Greiss says

    September 28, 2020 at 7:41 am

    Kevin, Thanks for the great video!

  42. 42

    Blaschke Shirley says

    September 28, 2020 at 12:22 pm

    I roast the squash whole in aluminum foil. Then it is very easy to work with. Love all your recipes!

  43. 43

    M Catherine Montiegel says

    September 29, 2020 at 5:32 pm

    Thanks for the reference video. I knew some of the technique but never thought of using a grapefruit spoon to remove seeds. This is perfect.

  44. 44

    Jo Ann says

    September 29, 2020 at 6:21 pm

    Good tutorial Kevin! One of the ways I like to use butternut squash is to roast it with other veggies with olive oil and seasoning and then make a frittata using all the veggies. The butternut squash makes the frittata taste like velvet! I just love this squash!

  45. 45

    Sandra says

    October 4, 2020 at 1:11 pm

    Thanks for the peeling tip, Kevin. Great vid. xo

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