How to Store Squash - Winter

General Squash - Winter Info

Winter squash includes the following vegetables: Acorn, Amber Cup, Autumn Cup, Banana, Butternut, Buttercup, Carnival, Delicata (Peanut), Fairytale Pumpkin, gold Nugget, Hubbard, Kabocha, Spaghetti, Sweet dumpling, and Turban squashes.

Choose squashes that are heavy for their size with hard, thick shells. Avoid those with any signs of decay, soft spots or cuts in the shells

Short Term Squash - Winter Storage

Most winter squash benefits from a curing stage; the exceptions are acorn, sweet dumpling and delicata. Curing is simply holding the squash at room temperature (about 70 degrees) for 10 to 20 days.

After curing, transfer to a cool (45 to 50 degrees), dry place such as the basement or garage for long term storage. The large hard rind winter squash can be stored up to 6 months under these conditions; warmer temperatures will reduce the effective storage time.

The smaller acorn and butternut winter squashes do not store as well, only up to 3 to 4 months.

Refrigerate cut squash pieces in an airtight plastic container for up to 5 days.

Squash - Winter Long Term Storage

To freeze winter squash, wash and cut into small pieces, remove seeds and peel. Cook until soft, then mash pulp or put through a sieve. Once cooled, place in an airtight freezer container with ½ inch of head space and freeze at 0 degrees F; winter squash will keep for 1 year.