Q. A common question that we frequently receive is can you microwave acorn squash? We can finally answer this question in the section below for those of you that are interested.
Can you microwave acorn squash?
A. The definitive answer is yes, you can absolutely cook acorn squash in the microwave. To get the best result, however, you need to microwave the acorn squash in a variety of microwave-safe ways. The best method is to cover the acorn squash with a paper towel or place it into a covered microwave safe dish. By covering the acorn squash while it is cooking you will preserve the squash’s moisture content and it will not become overly dry from the cooking process. Be sure to always remember that one important tip, do your best to keep the squash covered.
If you microwave the acorn squash and it is not covered, then you run the risk of over drying it and forcing it to lose most of its internal moisture. The end result will be a squash that is rubbery in texture and has little to no pleasant flavor remaining. If you serve rubbery squash to your family or dinner guests then they will certainly be disappointed in your recipe preparation skills, so it is highly advisable that you avoid doing this.
Q. Can you microwave acorn squash along with other ingredients, such as butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, or extra virgin coconut oil?
A. You can absolutely cook acorn squash in the microwave with other ingredients. In fact, we actually recommend that you cook it with butter, sugar, or extra virgin coconut oil. By microwaving the squash with other ingredients, especially butter or oils, you will actually help the squash retain its delicious flavor and moisture content. Butter and oil, in particular, are great additives to squash that will help to seal its moisture in. The flavor of the squash will also be greatly increased with sugar, cinnamon, and other fresh ingredients.
How to Microwave Acorn Squash?
There are many ways that you can cook acorn squash in the microwave. In the article below we’ll walk you through the do’s and don’ts of the process, as well as offer you a few tips and pointers that will leave you with the very best result and squash flavor possible.
When it comes to what type of container to microwave acorn squash in, we strongly recommend that you use a microwave-safe glass baking dish. The great thing about glass is that it won’t leave you with that terrible plastic taste that so many microwave-safe plastic containers impart on foods. If you don’t have a glass container that you can use in the microwave, then simply use a glass plate and thoroughly cover the acorn squash with a one or two paper towels. Squash of any variety is extremely porous and very susceptible to picking up unintended or unpleasant flavors from the container that it is stored or cooked in.
If you are trying to figure out the best fat source to add to your microwave acorn squash, we highly recommend salted or unsalted butter. Butter compliments the light and unique flavor of acorn squash wonderfully, and it will also help to keep the squash nice and moist while it is cooking. If you would prefer a more healthy fat source, however, then we recommend using extra virgin coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil. Our own personal preference between the two aforementioned oils would be the coconut oil, however, the olive oil is still a tasty option.
The microwave cook time for acorn squash can vary greatly depending on how you decide to cook it. If, for example, you would like to microwave the squash in a cubed form, then you will want to let it cook for approximately 5-7 minutes, or until the squash is tender and warm. If you would prefer to cut a whole squash in half and cook each half at a time, then you would typically want to let it cook in the microwave for 10-12 minutes, again, removing it from the microwave once the squash becomes tender and warm. As a precautionary note, always make sure that you remove all of the squash seeds with a spoon before cooking it. The microwave could burn the seeds if you accidentally leave them inside of the squash.
As far as the acorn squash’s skin is concerned, you can microwave it without having to worry about any adverse cooking effects. In fact, it is actually recommended that you microwave the acorn squash with the skin in place as this will help it retain a lot of its moisture and flavor, whereas, cubed or skinless squash might turn out a bit drier. Before cooking the squash, however, you will need to make sure that you thoroughly wash and rinse any dirt or debris from the skin, as you absolutely do not want to cook that portion. We highly recommend using an all natural fruit and vegetable spray to wash the produce clean.
What are the best spices and flavoring additions that an acorn squash can be cooked with? We highly recommend adding freshly ground cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, and any other sweet or savory ingredient that you feel like adding to it. We’ve even heard of people adding a little vinegar, honey, lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil to the squash before placing it in the microwave.
What are the best ways to cook microwave acorn squash? The squash can be cooked whole, halved, cubed, or even mashed. Mashed acorn squash is a particularly delicious and extremely underrated recipe. You can blend your acorn squash in a blender and microwave it for a super quick and easy microwave soup. Stuffed microwave squash is also another great idea, giving you the flexibility to stuff the squash pieces with meats, cheese, fruits, brown sugar, and a variety of other delicious ingredients. Acorn squash has an extremely accommodating flavor, meaning that you can add pretty much anything to it and it will pair up nicely.