When it comes to preparing butternut squash the first thing most of us tend to do is cut off the skin, right? This is because the skin is hard in texture and can be rather bitter to eat if not prepared well. It has become something that we just do without too much thought but is butternut squash skin unsafe to eat?
Butternut squash skin is edible
Let's break it down. You sure can eat butternut squash skin. It is perfectly safe to do so and can be delicious if prepared in the right way. However, make sure your butternut squash is organic!! Yes - organic? Why?
Always choose organic foods, especially when eating the skins
Organic food, ecological food or biological food are food and drinks produced by methods complying with the standards of organic farming. Standards vary worldwide, but organic farming features practices that cycle resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Organisations regulating organic products may restrict the use of certain pesticides and fertilisers in the farming methods used to produce such products. Organic foods typically are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or synthetic food additives.
Make sure you prepare and cook the skin well
Butternut squash skin can be tough and unpleasant to eat. It doesn’t have to be this way. If you prepare and cook the skin well, you can enjoy it, turning it into a great snack or side dish. We’ll get into all the details below.
Butternut squash can taste a bit bitter
Butternut squash skin tastes reminiscent of the taste of the squash you are used to, but it has some added bitterness. However, this bitterness is easy enough to balance out with the right seasoning and the correct cooking method or and add some other ingredients to it. The biggest problem is that the skin can be quite tough to get through, so you need to either soften it or crisp it up well if you plan to eat it. Also, there is a little difference in taste between the seasons. In winter, the skins are likely to be tougher and more bitter than in summer. This is because the winter squashes tend to be a little more mature, so they have had the time to develop a tough outer skin to protect the vegetable underneath. If you can, grab yourself some younger butternut squashes that are smaller in size, you’ll find that the skin will be a little easier to eat.
Ideas on how to eat butternut squash skin
Butternut squash skin doesn’t have a huge amount of uses, but there are a couple of ideas you could try if you want to reduce your food waste and find a use for these skins.
- Butternut squash crisps (when you peel your butternut squash, keep the peelings to make crisps. You can throw these onto a baking tray with a little olive oil and your favourite seasonings and pop them in the oven to bake. They should crisp up nicely and make a lovely alternative to potato crisps). Kids love this too ;). Perfect for a healthy snack to add some extra nutrients to your diet. Try them with garlic and a little salt, or why not add paprika, sumac or even some curry powder for some added spice.
- Butternut squash soup (this is far my favourite, add some other veggies with it, half onion, spices to taste and cook until soft. Blend it and serve with a drip of pumpkin seed oil and or parmesan cheese over. All time favourite, trust me :)
- You sure can roast it too (you can always leave the skin on your butternut squash when you cook. To ensure the squash is tasty and easy to eat, you need to slow roast it. This helps to soften the skin and make it much easier to chew. Roasting will also make it really easy to peel the skin away should you decide you don’t actually want to eat it in the end. Simply throw it with the sunday roast chicken and other veggies and you'll end up with a perfect and delicious family meal :)
- Stuffed butternut squash (If you loved stuffed peppers, then you could try using butternut squash skins as an alternative. Slow roast your butternut squash with the skin included until the insides are soft and the skin is malleable. Then scoop out the squash and mix it with your favourite ingredients and seasoning. Add some cheese and pop the mixture back into the squash to cook again for another fifteen to twenty minutes).
There is no getting away from the fact that butternut squash skin is a little tough to eat, but they are perfect for making this delicious meal, and if you roast the squash slowly, they should soften enough for you to enjoy.
And what are the benefits?
Skin sure gives you some extra nutrition. It is often thought that a lot of the nutrition in vegetables in fruit and vegetables is actually held in the skin! All those vitamins and nutrients would be wasted if you threw away the skins of the squashes. But remember - organic ok? ;)
Bottom line
There is absolutely no reason not to eat the skins of your butternut squash. They are good for you and completely safe to eat. Eating them reduces a little extra waste and provides you with extra nutrients.
Enjoy your butter nut squash varieties.
Until next time, S.
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