How to Cook Spaghetti Squash: A Step-by-Step Guide

Subsequent step is determining tips on how to cook dinner spaghetti squash. To that finish, we caught up with cookbook creator and recipe developer Erin Clarke of Well Plated, who squashed (pun meant) any confusion relating to this healthful ingredient. Forward, the easiest way to soundly prep spaghetti squash, a few of the tastiest recipes for serving it up, plus the primary mistake of us make when making ready this anti-inflammatory wintertime staple.

Learn how to put together and cook dinner spaghetti squash

Though spaghetti squash could look intimidating, cooking it’s removed from. Actually, Clarke says that spaghetti squash is without doubt one of the most budget-friendly, easy-to-prep, and versatile meals yow will discover within the produce part. That’s as a result of, when cooked, the flesh of this scrumptious fruit transforms into semi-translucent strands that resemble angel hair pasta with a bit extra texture and crunch.

The most effective half? Very like plain pasta, it has a largely impartial, but barely candy taste that pairs properly with nearly any sauce, dish, or pairing. A few of Clarke’s favourite methods to serve spaghetti squash embrace her Spaghetti Squash Lasagna and Spaghetti Squash Casserole recipes.

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So, what’s the easiest way to cook dinner spaghetti squash? Clarke says it’s plain and easy: Bake it. “The oven is my favourite technique for cooking spaghetti squash as a result of it makes the strands just a little caramelized and candy,” she says. Plus, a fast 35 to 40 minutes at 400ºF is all it takes to cook dinner a halved, medium spaghetti squash to perfection.

You may also attempt the “ring technique,” which entails slicing the spaghetti squash horizontally, about one-inch broad, which yields longer, string-like “spaghetti” noodles as demonstrated on this TikTok video by @eatingbirdfood. All that is lacking is a heaping serving of vegan bolognese to prime issues off.

@eatingbirdfood In order for you lengthy pasta-like strands that are not watery, it’s important to give my ring technique a attempt! 💛 #spaghettisquash #squashseason #wintersquash #roastedvegetables ♬ greedy – Tate McRae

That mentioned, if cranking on the oven isn’t an choice (say, it doubles as a cupboard space to your pots and pans), you may also pop your uncooked spaghetti squash right into a gradual cooker and even microwave it. “In case you choose to not have your oven on that lengthy, attempt my Crockpot Spaghetti Squash recipe. For a 3 to 4 pound squash, cook dinner it on excessive for 3 to 4 hours or low for 5 to 6 hours,” Clarke says. Further perk: It is a hands-free approach of getting dinner on the desk.

“The oven is my favourite technique for cooking spaghetti squash as a result of it makes the strands just a little caramelized and candy,” Clarke says. Plus, a fast 35 to 40 minutes at 400ºF is all it takes to cook dinner a halved, medium spaghetti squash to perfection.

Learn how to cook dinner spaghetti squash within the microwave

In case you select the microwave route, there’s a number of professionals and cons to remember. Professionals: It’ll take just a little underneath 10 minutes to cook dinner (however don’t overlook to poke holes when microwaving it complete to assist launch any trapped steam). Cons: It’ll be just a little mushier and muted in taste, since you are not reaching that oh-so-desirable flavorful Maillard reaction as you’ll when roasting it. “You aren’t getting the caramelization that you simply do within the oven. This can be a very good or a nasty factor, relying upon how you want your squash,” Clarke says.

To cook dinner spaghetti squash within the microwave, minimize it in half length-wise, take away seeds, then poke every half it with a fork a number of occasions round to let steam escape. Microwave every half face down in a baking dish crammed with water for about 5 minutes, including extra time as wanted, as much as 10 minutes (or longer, relying in your microwave).

What’s a simple option to minimize spaghetti squash?

In response to Clarke, security comes first when dealing with and slicing spaghetti squash. That is one sturdy veg, which implies additional care ought to be taken when slicing into one. To make sure you’re being additional cautious, she recommends enlisting the assistance of some important cooking instruments: a pointy chef’s knife, a sturdy slicing board, and a spoon.

Because of the uneven, cylindrical form of the fruit, slicing right into a wobbly spaghetti squash could be relatively difficult. So, to make the duty simpler (and safer), the primary order of enterprise is to position the squash horizontally on a slicing board, and slice off the stem and base to create two flat surfaces.

Then, you may stand it up vertically on one of many flat ends you simply created, and slowly slide your knife from prime to backside to create two equal-shaped halves with out the spaghetti squash rolling round (though they do not need to be good). Lastly, utilizing a spoon, you will need to rigorously take away the seeds and any stringy flesh surrounding them, with out slicing into the flesh. Et voilà! The toughest half is over and your spaghetti squash is able to cook dinner.

However, have in mind: If the mere considered slicing via a giant ol’ squash sends a shiver down your backbone otherwise you merely don’t have a pointy knife at hand, there’s a fast repair for that. Warming it up may also help soften the flesh making it a lot simpler to chop. “You do must halve spaghetti squash lengthwise and scoop out its seeds previous to cooking. To make it safer to chop, poke the surface of the squash skin throughout with a fork and microwave it for a couple of minutes. This softens the surface of the squash a bit and makes it simpler to chop,” Clarke says.

The most typical mistake made when cooking this fruit

Relating to cooking spaghetti squash, Clarke says it’s past straightforward to by accident overcook it. “It occurs extra usually than you suppose. You need the squash strands to be al dente in order that they maintain their texture, and should you cook dinner it too lengthy, they’re going to get mushy,” she says. To inform in case your squash is finished, she recommends evenly urgent on the surface of the squash. “It ought to give just a bit. The squash will look golden on the surface and the within could have simply turned fork tender.”

Learn how to decide the proper spaghetti squash

When selecting the proper spaghetti squash from the bunch, Clarke recommends paying shut consideration to 2 key parts: firmness and bruising. “A agency spaghetti squash that feels heavy for its measurement and one that does not have any smooth spots,” is juuuust proper, in keeping with the recipe developer. “Keep away from ones with cracks or lacking stems. And, in case your squash is inexperienced and also you’d prefer to ripen it, put it in a hotter place,” she says.

The excellent news: Clarke says most squashes you’ll discover on the grocery retailer are able to cook dinner immediately. So, should you’re not able to pop it within the oven simply but, retailer it in a cool, dry place to maintain it from over-ripening. Additionally, remember the fact that, usually talking, you may plan to get about two to a few servings per spaghetti squash, though this will fluctuate relying on its measurement, which can come in useful when meal planning for the week.

Cannot get sufficient squash? This acorn squash chips recipe will do the trick: