30 Delicata Squash Recipes to Try This Fall (Because Butternut Is Old News) (2024)

FAQs

Why is delicata squash hard to find? ›

Delicata Squash Defining Qualities & History

It was rare to find it on the shelves of grocery stores or in many restaurants. This is actually because delicata squash was once prone to mildew diseases in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Storage tips: Winter Squash is best stored between 55-65 degrees, however, Delicata squash does not store quite as well as heartier varieties like Acorn and Butternut. Place in a cool dry room in your house (do not refrigerate) and it should last 3 months.

Squash Substitute Number 1: Acorn Squash

Acorn squash is a great alternative to delicata given its mild nutty flavor and mild sweetness. The yellowish flesh becomes tender and caramelizes well during roasting, much like delicata.

Keep your eye out for any brown spots or blemishes; these can indicate the start of spoiling. Any soft spots or slimy areas are also a sign that your squash has gone bad. Old squash tends to have soft flesh, leathery skin, and a hollow feel. And, of course, any spots of mold mean it's time to toss your squash.

"Squash contains a toxin known as Cucurbitacin E, which can give the squash a bitter taste. If too much of the toxin is consumed it can cause illness. It is rare, but if the squash has a bitter taste, stop eating it, and grab another one."

Its flavor is not as rich as the butternut, but is still quite sweet. The delicata squash has a moist, creamy yellow flesh that tastes and smells like a blend of corn, butternut squash and sweet potato. It is often referred to as the sweet potato squash.

And if it starts to leak fluid, that's a sure sign that the squash is spoiled. Likewise, if the flesh and seeds of the fruit are mushy and slimy, that's a clear sign that it shouldn't be eaten. Color - the outer skin of the squash is a quick way to check for any sign of spoilage.

Finding delicata squash that's ripe and fresh is always best. You'll know it's ripe if the vertical strips of color in the grooves turn orange. They are unripe when they're dark green. But if you don't plan on using them right away, there's nothing wrong with buying them unripe.

The higher the levels of cucubitacin, the more bitter the squash will taste. The most likely cause for a bitter taste in squash is due to an environmental stress of some sort, most likely a wide temperature flux or irregular irrigation. Either of these will create an excess of cucurbitacins to concentrate in the fruit.

One serving of winter squash (about a heaping cup's worth) gets you nearly 10% of your daily value for potassium. Delicata squash is also brimming with antioxidant nutrients, like vitamin C. Vitamin C is a known antioxidant that helps keep cells healthy and can help prevent cell damage.

What is the white mold inside butternut squash? ›

The fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes white mold. This pathogen infects a wide variety of vegetable crops including beans, carrots, tomato, cabbage and lettuce. In the cucurbit family, the disease severely affects pumpkins and some varieties of winter squash.

Skip eating most hard-skinned squash raw. "Hard skinned squash is difficult to eat raw," Marz says. "They are usually much larger in size, have a harder flesh, and are much more fibrous." Examples of hard-skinned squash that should not be eaten raw include: pumpkins, delicate, butternut, Hubbard, and acorn.

After harvest, the first symptoms are small, dark, round or irregular-shaped, greasy or water-soaked spots anywhere on the fruit surface. Occasionally, a gummy ooze appears in the center of the spots, which later dries to a hard deposit. Later, affected areas become blackish and will dry out and shrivel.

Delicata squash is available in the fall up until early winter. However, in some areas, you can get it year-round.

Delicata squash is at its best in early-mid fall, so now is the perfect time to cook it. Below, you'll find my go-to method for roasting it, as well as one of my favorite delicata squash recipes (pictured above). Made with kale, pearl onions, apples, and sage, it's packed with sweet and savory autumn flavor.

Delicata squash is a variety of winter squash with cylindrical fruits that are cream-coloured and striped in green or orange. As its name suggests, it has characteristically a delicate rind (or skin). It is also known as peanut squash, Bohemian squash, or sweet potato squash.

Growing Delicata squash is not nearly as challenging as one might initially believe. The growing season is predominantly summer, and it takes approximately 80–100 days for the plant to reach its full maturity.