How Long Does Butternut Squash Last?
Butternut squash can last for up to 3 months when stored in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry or root cellar. Once cut or peeled, it should be wrapped in plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container and placed in the refrigerator, where it can last for up to a week.
Why not get on with it and keep this butternut squash in your freezer, that way, it lasts a lot longer, as well as extending the life of your food. Peel and cube your butternut squash, and then store it in a sealed food-storage container in your refrigerator, untouched, where it will last for around three to five days.
Place squash halves or slices into a plastic bag or an airtight container, then place it in the refrigerator. Or, you can simply prepare the squash, roast it, divide into several portions, and package each one into a freezer-safe bag or an airtight container, then store in the freezer.
| Storage Places | Shelf Life |
| Fridge | 3-5 days |
| Freezer | 6-12 months |
| Room Temperature | 1-3 months |
Freezing squash is a good idea, since squash is a seasonable vegetable that keeps for months in the freezer. Avoid keeping entire squashes in the fridge, as moisture causes squashes to degrade quickly. Do not store whole squash in the freezer, because cold temperatures will not extend shelf life, and may impact the texture.
Sometimes, a cooked squash may sit too long at room temperature, causing contamination. If left in the refrigerator for a couple days, due to cold temperatures, this will cause squash to become limp.
If you do not allow squash to cool down first, moisture will escape and create condensation inside your container. In addition to temperature, it is also important to keep the squash dry and well-ventilated (which will help with the humidity removal as well) ([OSU][ISU]). If squash gets soft and liquid starts leaking from it, then best to toss it.
If some parts of squash are soft or damaged, you can just cut off the worst parts and use the others. If the squash has just a few dark spots or soft spots, you cut those off like any other vegetable, and use the remaining parts that are still good.
Set the squash down on a cutting board and slice both ends off with a large knife, and then peel off the skin from the whole squash using a vegetable peeler. That is, if you do not have a peeler, you can halve the squash horizontally (see photos below), lay the cut side down on a flat surface, and then slice off the skin vertically using the knife. If you would rather blanche the squash prior to freezing so it keeps its texture and flavor, then peel and slice squash into inch-sized pieces. Another option is to roast and puree the squash before freezing it, so that you can easily add it to bread recipes and soups, or heat it up for infant formula.
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Cooked winter squash that has been chilled in the refrigerator can keep an extra 3 or 4 days in the refrigerator before baking; winter squash that has been microwaved or in cold water needs to be eaten right away. Properly stored, cooked winter squash will retain good quality for 10 to 12 months, but it is safe past this point. A resealable plastic bag will make it easy to pull out only the amount of winter squash that you need, and seal back up the rest. Remove the squash from the grocery store plastic bags and place in a dry area of your kitchen for up to two weeks.
Even though squash keeps a relatively long time, it is still important to know how to store it properly so that you can keep it fresh. Of course, when the squash is harvested and when you purchase it will have a significant impact on how long the squash actually has. This is just an estimate, since much depends on the condition of the squash when you bought it in the first place. Of course, how long a squash stays good depends on when it was harvested, as well as how long it is been sitting on a shelf.
Remember, these are only estimates; your squash may stay for more or less than these times. Knowing the shelf life of a fresh produce like butternut squash can help you to eat the produce on time, before it goes bad. If you keep your butternuts in a storage room, the duration of a butternut squash may be one to two months, depending on temperatures and other conditions.
Butternuts may have a slightly different flavor, and you may not be able to keep them for the same amount of time that you can with local produce. Even if this soup is a regular on your menu during cold weather, it does not mean butternuts do not spoil if you buy too many, or keep them for too long. Do not try for the longest possible shelf life, instead, plan on eating your butternuts within weeks of purchase.
To store a whole butternut squash, keep it in a cool, dark area in your house, dry out your squash, and keep it far from fruits that produce ethylene gas. Butternut squash is not only versatile and packed with nutrients, it is also easy to store, preserving for a long time both at room temperature and in the freezer. Be sure to label your butternut squash with its contents and the date, so that you will not mistake it for anything else.
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Do not store your squashes cut close to ripening fruits, like apples or pears, because releasing ethylene gas will reduce squash’s shelf life. Small amounts of things that prefer to stay moist, like greens, roots, and tubers, can be stored in the fridge, while things that prefer to stay dry, such as onions, garlic, and winter squash, can be stored on the countertop.
Can you eat old butternut squash?
It is dangerous if mold appears on the skin or flesh. Even if refrigerated, pre-packaged butternut cubes are only fresh for 3 to 4 days. If the stored cut butternut squash is left uncovered for too long, it will become dehydrated, wrinkled, shrunken, and possibly moldy and rotten.
How long does butternut squash last in the fridge?
In a cold, dark environment, such as in a refrigerator, an entire butternut squash usually keeps for one to two months. It stays in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days after being chopped up. Additionally, cooked butternut lasts for 4 to 5 days. Butternut squash can be frozen, if you want to keep it for longer.
How can you tell if butternut squash has gone bad?
If you’re thinking that butternut squash has gone bad then look for fungus, a “strange” smell, and texture changes in cooked or chopped butternuts. Discard it if the surface has any white spots or if the quality is no longer acceptable. Of course, the likelihood that the butternuts may spoil increases with storage time.