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Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com · 5 Comments
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This easy Microwave Acorn Squash cooking method yields perfectly tender acorn squash in no time at all! Load up your favorite fillings like the comfort food classic combination of butter and brown sugar for a super quick vegetable side that everyone loves!
Super Easy Roasted Acorn Squash
There is nothing simpler than using the microwave to cook healthy food that tastes great. I love an easy recipe for those evenings when I don’t have a ton of time to make dinner, and this microwave acorn squash side dish is so delightful!
A veggie side dish is always a go-to, and acorn squash goes with nearly any main dish I love to make. In just 20 minutes, this warm and filling side dish is ready, and it smells so delicious as it wafts through the air while heating in the microwave.
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- Super Easy Roasted Acorn Squash
- What You'll Need
- How to Cook Acorn Squash in the Microwave
- Storing Cooked Acorn Squash
- Freezing Acorn Squash
- 📋 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Let’s get going with this in-a-snap microwave recipe. Just like some of my other favorite microwave steamed veggies like microwave carrots and microwave steamed broccoli, you will see that using the microwave is a great way to get a side dish done in no time!
What You'll Need
Only 4 simple ingredients are needed for this microwave acorn squash recipe. What could be easier?
You will be impressed by how something so basic turns out to be gourmet quality. The comfort food feeling acorn squash brings to the table (literally) will treat your family to homemade goodness you just can’t get from takeout or frozen foods.
- Acorn Squash – This is enough for 2 servings. Get additional acorn squash if you wish to make more.
- Water – This will aid in the steaming in the microwave.
- Butter (1 tablespoon pat portion for each acorn squash half) – Butter makes the acorn squash taste even yummier. Then again, when has butter let you down?
- Light Brown Sugar (1 packed tablespoon portion for each acorn squash half) – Brown sugar has a nice flavor that pairs perfectly with acorn squash. It is much better than white sugar. You will notice the delicious difference.
This recipe makes 2 generous servings of one-half of the squash per person. So if you want more, simply multiply the recipe to your needed servings. Slightly sweet and totally satisfying, microwave acorn squash will satisfy your family and they will surely be asking for second helpings!
How to Cook Acorn Squash in the Microwave
Who needs to use the regular oven when the microwave is so much faster? When you have one of those hectic evenings, rely on technology to help you make dinner without delay. Your hungry family will be thankful that they won’t have to wait hours for dinner to be served.
- Prepare your acorn squash by cutting it in half (lengthwise) and coring out the seeds.
- Leave as much flesh as possible in each half of the acorn squash. Rinse the acorn squash under the faucet after coring.
- Place the acorn squash halves facing sliced side downward in a microwave-safe bowl or dish with 2 tablespoons of water. Heat on high in the microwave for 5 minutes, uncovered.
- Transfer the heated acorn squash halves to individual bowls and add 1 tablespoon each of light brown sugar and butter to each half. Heat again on high for an additional 5 minutes in the microwave. Use a fork to poke the acorn squash to check for tenderness after heating. If needed, heat the acorn squash in additional 1-minute increments until it reaches your desired level of tenderness. The acorn squash should be nice and soft for the best texture.
- Remove the acorn squash from the microwave and cool for about 5 minutes before serving. *Watch your fingers, the bowls will be HOT!
You can add salt to taste if desired. Sometimes I like to sprinkle some cinnamon and nutmeg on the acorn squash too. It also tastes yummy with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. Enjoy!
Storing Cooked Acorn Squash
Prior to cooking or cutting your garden acorn squash keep it in a cool, dry, and dark area for up to a month possibly even two months. However, store-bought acorn squash is best used within two weeks of purchase (because we don't know how old the squash is already).
Once cooked, wrap the fully cooled acorn squash tightly with plastic cling film. Transfer the wrapped squash to an airtight container or plastic storage bag.
Your cooked acorn squash will last in the refrigerator for 3 - 4 days. If the squash is not packaged within the first 1 - 2 hours after cooking, discard the cooked squash. *Bacteria will grow quickly at room temperature!
Freezing Acorn Squash
Acorn squash should be cooked before freezing anyway, so now is a great time to freeze your microwave acorn squash! Cut the cooked acorn squash into chunks and transfer them to an airtight freezer container or heavy-duty plastic freezer storage bag.
Once frozen, the cooked acorn squash retains great quality for up to a year. Properly frozen acorn squash that is maintained at 0ºF ( -18ºC ) can last much longer.
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Microwave Acorn Squash
This easy Microwave Acorn Squash cooking method yields perfectly tender acorn squash in no time at all! Load up your favorite fillings like the comfort food classic combination of butter and brown sugar for a super quick vegetable side that everyone loves!
Author | Angela
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 232kcal
Prep 5 minutes
Cooking 10 minutes
Cooling Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
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Ingredients
- 1 acorn squash
- 2 Tbsp water
- 2 tablespoon butter (1 tablespoon portion each)
- 2 tablespoon light brown sugar (packed - 1 tablespoon portion each)
Instructions
Prepare your acorn squash by cutting it in half and coring out the seeds. Leave as much flesh as possible in each half of the acorn squash. Rinse after coring.
Place the acorn squash halves facing downward in a microwave-safe bowl or dish with 2 tablespoons of water. Heat on high for 5 minutes.
(Video) Easy Roasted Acorn Squash IdeasTransfer the heated acorn squash halves to individual bowls then add 1 tablespoon each of light brown sugar and butter. Heat on high for an additional 5 minutes in the microwave. Use a fork to check for tenderness after heating, if needed heat in additional 1-minute increments until the squash reaches your desired level of tenderness.
Remove from the microwave and allow to cool for about 5 minutes before serving.
Equipment You May Need
Notes
Prior to cooking or cutting your garden acorn squash keep it in a cool, dry, and dark area for up to a month possibly even two months. However, store-bought acorn squash is best used within two weeks of purchase (because we don't know how old the squash is already).
Once cooked, wrap the fully cooled acorn squash tightly with plastic cling film. Transfer the wrapped squash to an airtight container or plastic storage bag.
Your cooked acorn squash will last in the refrigerator for 3 - 4 days. If the squash is not packaged within the first 1 - 2 hours after cooking, discard the cooked squash. *Bacteria will grow quickly at room temperature!
Acorn squash should be cooked before freezing anyway, so now is a great time to freeze your microwave acorn squash! Cut the cooked acorn squash into chunks and transfer them to an airtight freezer container or heavy-duty plastic freezer storage bag.
Once frozen, the cooked acorn squash retains great quality for up to a year. Properly frozen acorn squash that is maintained at 0ºF ( -18ºC ) can last much longer.
Nutrition
Calories: 232kcal (12%) | Carbohydrates: 34g (11%) | Protein: 2g (4%) | Fat: 12g (18%) | Saturated Fat: 7g (44%) | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 30mg (10%) | Sodium: 110mg (5%) | Potassium: 767mg (22%) | Fiber: 3g (13%) | Sugar: 12g (13%) | Vitamin A: 1141IU (23%) | Vitamin C: 24mg (29%) | Calcium: 84mg (8%) | Iron: 2mg (11%)
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Course Side Dish, vegetable side dish
Cuisine American
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
bakeitwithlove.com/about/
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Ron says
Excellent and simple 👍Reply
(Video) Roasted Acorn Squash Soup - Creamy & Velvety & Delicious - Gluten Free!Dee says
This was great. My oven is not working and this saved the day dReply
Melanie says
So easy and no one knew it hadn't baked for an hour! Thank you!!!
Reply
J C says
A quick alternative but the texture isn't quite the same as oven roasted. Still a nice solution if you are time limited.Reply
Tess F. says
This recipe reminds me of how my Mom used to make acorn squash. It is so much easier with the microwave. Love it!Reply
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FAQs
How do you soften acorn squash before cutting? ›
You can quickly soften an acorn squash before cutting it by using a microwave. Using a knife or fork, make a few small incisions in the squash to allow steam to escape. Place the squash in a microwavable bowl and heat on high for three minutes.
How do you peel an acorn squash in the microwave? ›- Pierce the skin of the squash with a fork or knife all over.
- Microwave the squash anywhere from 2 to 4 minutes, or longer if needed depending on the size.
- Let it cool, them start peeling and cutting!
Microwaving Acorn Squash. Baking or microwaving whole acorn squash will give you the most reliable results. No matter which method you use to cook the squash, always start by poking holes all over the squash to prevent a buildup of pressure — or the vegetable may explode.
Can you put squash in a microwave? ›Lay cut side down on a piece of microwave safe plastic wrap placed directly on microwave bottom or plate. Cook on high in 5 minute intervals until completely softened and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes for 1/2 an acorn squash. Cook times will vary depending upon the size and variety of your squash.
How do you soften squash in the microwave? ›Using the same sharp knife that almost cost you a finger, carefully cut off the top and bottom of the squash on a cutting board. Microwave the squash for at least 3 minutes and 30 seconds (you might need to go a little longer, depending on the size, but that should do the trick).
Do you eat acorn squash skin? ›Can You Eat the Skin? Yes, you can technically eat the skin of acorn squash. It tends to get pretty soft and is quite easy to eat once roasted. That said, I personally find the skin of acorn squash to be thicker and less enjoyable to eat than the skin of delicata squash or kabocha squash so I tend to take it off.
What is the easiest way to peel an acorn squash? ›Place the whole squash in gently boiling water for 15 minutes; pour off water and chill in cold water for 5 minutes. When cool enough to handle, slice off peel from peaks or ridges with a knife; use a spoon to dig out the peel from the valleys.
Should I peel acorn squash before cooking? ›In fact, it's a delicious part of the squash. The trick is that you need to roast it until it's tender or it will be too tough to eat. However, once roasted and tender, acorn squash skin is totally edible and yummy so no need to peel!
How do you cook acorn squash in the microwave Youtube? ›How to Microwave Squash - YouTube
Can you microwave squash to make it easier to cut? ›Start by making several large slits through the skin with the tip of a sharp knife. This helps the air release as your squash heats up (so your squash doesn't explode when you microwave it). Next, microwave the squash on high for approximately 3-5 minutes to soften the skin, which makes it easier to cut.
What does acorn squash taste like? ›
What Does Acorn Squash Taste Like? Acorn squash is milder in taste and slightly more fibrous in texture than butternut squash: Its sweet, nutty flavor is additionally muted by the watery character of its flesh.
How do you soften kabocha squash in the microwave? ›Trick to Cutting Kabocha Squash Easily - YouTube
Can dogs eat butternut squash? ›Most dogs can consume butternut squash in small, infrequent quantities and do just fine. As an occasional snack, butternut squash can even contribute vitamins and other important nutrients to your dog's diet.
Can you eat squash raw? ›The seeds and skin are soft and fully edible. They are sometimes referred to as “soft shell squash” and as such, can be cooked or eaten raw. The entire squash is edible, versus the winter squash's hard seeds and shell that needs to be removed. The most common summer squash are yellow squash and zucchini.
Is it safe to melt butter in microwave? ›Cut butter into 1-tablespoon pieces. Place butter in microwave-safe bowl. Place bowl in microwave and cover bowl with small plate. Heat butter at 50 percent power until melted, 30 to 60 seconds (longer if melting a lot of butter).
How do you soften squash before cooking? ›So if you would like to soften the skin a bit before peeling your butternut squash, just use a fork or paring knife to poke holes all over the skin of the squash. Then pop it in the microwave for 2 minutes, remove, and proceed onward with peeling the squash.
What is the easiest way to cut squash? ›How to Cut Hard Squash - YouTube
Can you eat butternut squash skin? ›You can eat the skin, so there's no need to peel it. Simply halve it, scoop out the seeds and chop it into chunks, then roast it and add it to a warm winter salad or throw it into curries, stews or soups. You can also roast the seeds and eat them as a snack or sprinkled over a finished dish.
How do you soften squash to cut it? ›③ Microwave the squash for about 3½ minutes. This softens the skin considerably. ④ Let the squash cool enough to handle, or use a towel to hold it, and simply peel away the skin.
How do you cut hard squash? ›How to Cut Hard Squash - YouTube
What is the easiest way to cut squash? ›
Start by making several large slits through the skin with the tip of a sharp knife. This helps the air release as your squash heats up (so your squash doesn't explode when you microwave it). Next, microwave the squash on high for approximately 3-5 minutes to soften the skin, which makes it easier to cut.
How do you soften squash in the oven? ›Cut the butternut squash in half lengthwise and place flesh side down on a foil lined baking sheet. Bake at 400 F for 30 to 40 minutes. The squash will be soft and tender when it has cooked through.