Butternut Squash Delivery or Pickup

Butternut squash has a similar flavor to a pumpkin and is a winter squash with a light orange and yellow skin that is more beige overall. The inside is orange with a compartment of seeds, and the shape is long and thin with a rounded bottom. Native Americans believed squash had many nutritional properties and buried their dead with squash to sustain them in the afterlife. Squash has an important history throughout the Americas and is used as a symbol and staple of local diets.

Squash originated in Central America and Mexico and grows well in warm weather. Squash has been an important food for native people of the Americas, along with beans and maize, where seeds and flowers are also eaten. The variety of squash was an important part of native people's diets, and they are still grown throughout the Americas. The size, shape, and color of squashes in different parts of the world is very wide-ranging.

Butternut squash, though, is a modern squash developed by Charles Leggett of Massachusets, who, in the 1940s, took a crookneck squash and crossed it with other squashes. This squash has a smooth as butter interior with a sweet taste like nuts, which is why it was called butternut. Presently, butternut squash is available in North America, South America, Central America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. 

Butternut squash has more than one hundred percent of the daily requirement for vitamin A. This vitamin is important for vision, growth and cell division, reproduction, and the immune system. It's also fiber-rich, which makes it a filling fruit to eat and helps with digestion. It's also a starchy vegetable that has more carbs than leafy greens. Eating one serving of butternut squash, which is over eighty percent water, also keeps you hydrated. Other nutrients include vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium.

Butternut squash is prized for having a soft flesh, with little to discard as the skin is thin and there are not many seeds or pulp. The seeds and skin are also edible but are not often eaten. Although it's classified as a fruit, butternut squash is cooked like a vegetable and usually takes part in hearty dishes. 

It's common to prepare butternut squash roasted by cutting it in pieces or in half. The squash can also be made into a soup, stuffed with meats or vegetables, or made into a puree like mashed potatoes. The squash is versatile and can be eaten alone since it's sweet and tender.

Butternut squash can simply be roasted in the oven. Just cut the ends of the squash and cut it in half, or if you prefer, remove the skin and cut the squash in diced pieces. Preheat the oven to four hundred degrees and toss the squash with your choice of oil, salt, and pepper. Place the butternut squash on a baking sheet and roast until tender for about half an hour.

When the butternut squash is ripe, its flesh is deep orange and has a sweeter and richer taste. Look for a skin that has no cuts or bruises and a squash that is heavy. Avoid butternut squashes that have brown areas or punctures. The skin should be hard and a uniform beige color.

Butternut squash can be frozen to last longer and be used when needed. Pack the cooked squash into freezer bags. You can also freeze without cooking, but the flavor can be different. Prepare the squash by boiling the cut squash for about five minutes, letting it cool, and placing it in freezer bags.