How To Seamlessly Peel A Squash In No Time

Unsplash/Alice Pasqual

Roasted squash is a staple side dish that everyone should have in their rotation. It’s cheap, versatile and easy to make. The only potentially frustrating part of the squash process is the peeling part. Instead of splurging for pre-cut squash at the store, there’s an easier technique that takes away the stress of peeling or slicing off the stubborn squash peel.

There are times when the microwave ruins your food and times when the microwave comes in handy for meal prep. This is one of those times when your microwave comes to the rescue. One of the best ways to peel a squash is to pop it in the microwave.

Before you toss the squash into the microwave, cut off the stem and the bottom. Next, puncture the entire squash about 15 to 20 times with a fork.

Place the squash on a plate and microwave it for about three to four minutes. After the quick zap, the skin should be tender and easy to pull off. Take the squash out of the microwave and let it cool down for a minute before removing the skin with a vegetable peeler. From there, all you have to do is slice it open, lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and cut it up into cubes or slices, depending on how you want to cook it.

Flickr/Martin Cathrae

You’ll still need to roast the squash afterward, but you’ll be giving it a head start. Put it in curry stew, roast and mash it up for squash toast, add it to your favorite rice dish or roast it with maple and cinnamon. Any time you’re in a rush and you need to cut down the roasting time, use this microwave hack to make things easier on yourself.

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