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Gem Squash Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to buying gem squash
About gem squash
Gem squash is a round, dark green summer squash that originates from Central America. You can easily cultivate gem squashes in a sunny location. Their seeds, which were once difficult to obtain, are now available through mail-order companies. People usually use dried gem squashes as decorative gourds in the fall.
Gem squash is related to the pumpkin and the butternut squash. It's edible at all stages of its development. Early gem squash is about the size of a golf ball, and its seeds and skin are edible, as is its flesh. You can bake a whole gem squash in the oven or microwave, but you should pierce it before cooking.
You can also cut gems in half and cook them in several ways, including grilling, broiling, and baking. You can also scoop out the gems' seeds before cooking, and you can fill the halves with meats, cheeses, creamed corns, and spices. Gems have a sweet flavor, so sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon also are popular flavorings for these vegetables.
How to pick out gem squash
If you're living in a warm climate and are planning to store gem squashes for a while, the vegetable is ripe and ready to be picked when its skin is very hard to pierce with your fingernails. When buying gem squash at your local supermarket, make sure to examine the skin, which should be unbroken and have no soft spots. The squash should feel solid and hard. When thumped, make sure the squash gives out a hollow sound.
What is the nutritional value of gem squash?
Gem squash is low in saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol. It's also a good source of copper, phosphorus, niacin, thiamin, vitamin A, and protein, and a very good source of manganese, potassium, magnesium, folate, vitamin B6, riboflavin, vitamin K, and vitamin C. As with many other summer squash, gem squash can help regulate blood sugar and provides you with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits as well.
One cup (about 100g) of gem squash has 1.75 grams of protein, 0.3 grams of fiber, and 5.9 grams of carbohydrates. With 28 calories per one-cup raw serving, you can easily add gem squash to your plate without costing you too many calories. If you are trying to control your calorie consumption to lose or maintain a healthy weight, vegetables like the gem squash make an excellent choice.
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FAQs about gem squash
You can roast gem squash, but it might take a little extra time than other cooking methods. The delicious caramelization added to the squash by roasting is worthwhile. If you're looking for a hand-off cooking technique, roasting is one of the best ways to cook gem squash. You can add any seasoning you want before roasting, but make sure not to put too much olive oil, or your gem squash can get soggy.
Preheat your oven to about 425 degrees Fahrenheit and then cut the squash into bite-size cubes or chunks. Place them in a large shallow sheet pan or roasting pan, and then sprinkle with pepper and salt and drizzle with olive oil. If desired, you can add another spice blend. Roast the squash uncovered for about 15 minutes or until the squash is tender.
Generally, ripening or aging gem squash doesn't pose any food safety problems. They are still edible. However, you have to make sure that they're only overripe and not rotten. You can tell if a gem squash is overripe if it has much softer areas than the rest and somewhat slimy.
It's a different matter if you want to consume overripe squash. Both the texture and task will change, becoming spongy, soft, or mealy, and the taste can get bland. You may cook it the same way as a young gem squash. If it doesn't work, you may also try some recipe that masks the texture and taste change, such as something involving a coulis or a puree, and adds spices.
If you have too much fresh gem squash to use and want to save a few for later, you can freeze them. Before you freeze the squash, it's important to blanch them for three to four minutes. Blanching protects the color, flavor, and even the nutrients of the squash. Make sure to drain the squash after blanching to remove any excess water. To make sure they have dried completely, you can sandwich the squash between two paper towels for approximately 10 minutes.
You can freeze the blanched gem squash in a plastic bag for up to six months. You can fill freezer-safe plastic bags or plastic containers with the squash. If using plastic bags, consider pushing as much air as possible out of the bag prior to before you seal and place them in the freezer. Keep them in the freezer until you're ready to use them.