Instant Pot Whole Butternut Squash

Butternut squash is a type of winter squash and has a bell shape. It's yellow flesh is similar to a pumpkin and has a sweet and nutty flavor.

However, it can be a tedious task to peel and cut the butternut squash. An instant pot makes the job of cooking whole butternut squash really easy.

What are the benefits of butternut squash?

Butternut squash is loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and high in antioxidants. It is low in calorie and can help weight loss.

It helps reduce inflammation, lower the risk of certain types of cancers. (Reference Healthline)

Can you cook butternut squash with the skin on?

It can be quite a task to peel the skin of butternut squash and I am never up for it. Even cutting the raw butternut squash can be tedious.

But the best part of pressure cooking butternut squash in the instant pot is that you can pressure cook it with the skin.

How do you cook butternut squash in an instant pot?

Butternut squash is easy to cook in the instant pot without peeling its skin. The most important thing to keep in mind is to select a size that will fit in the instant pot.

A 6-8 inch long butternut squash can fit well in a 6 qt. instant pot liner. A larger instant pot like 8 or 10 qt can fit a bigger size.

Pour one cup of water in the 6 qt. instant pot liner and place a trivet inside it. Put the whole butternut squash on the trivet. You might have to tilt it to an angle to fit it if needed.

Close and lock the lid and pressure cook on high pressure mode for 25 minutes followed by a 10 minute natural pressure release.

Remove the remaining pressure manually by turning the pressure knob to the venting position.

Pierce a butterknife or a fork to check if it is well cooked and if it is not done then you can cook it again for about 5 minutes.

Remove the butternut squash from the instant pot using a pair of kitchen tongs. Now it is extremely easy to slice it into halves using a knife.

Scoop out the seeds and now you can use the butternut squash for your favorite recipes.

The skin can be peeled easily with a knife or you can just scoop out the pulp with the help of a spoon.

You can also check out how to cook whole beets in Instant Pot and sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot.

What to do with cooked butternut squash?

Cooked butternut squash can be eaten in a variety of ways. You can add some butter, salt, and pepper after mashing it and serve it as a side dish.

Instant Pot butternut squash soup is a fall favorite and makes a comfort food.

Once you cut the butternut squash into halves and remove the seeds, you can roast them. They make a good snack to munch on.

I also like to make stuffed paratha by replacing potatoes with butternut squash in my aloo paratha recipe. They can be a bit difficult to roll so I make smaller size parathas.

Just like pumpkin bread rolls, butternut squash dinner rolls can be made after blending the cooked butternut squash into a puree.

Cooked and pureed butternut squash also make healthy baby food.

How long can you keep cooked butternut squash in the fridge?

Cooked butternut squash stays well in the fridge for 4-5 days. Cut the whole butternut squash into halves and remove the seeds.

You can either remove the peels and mash the squash and store it in the fridge. Another option is to just store the halves with the skin intact and then peel it when you are ready to use them.

Can you freeze butternut squash after it's been cooked?

Yes! Butternut squash freezes well after cooking and can be frozen for 2-3 months. Allow the whole butternut squash to cool down after cooking and then cut it into halves.

Remove the seeds, peel them, and cut them into smaller pieces if needed. Store it in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bags. Check out how to freeze butternut squash.

If you enjoyed this recipe, you may also like

• Whole sweet potatoes
• Cubed sweet potatoes
• Corn on the cob
• Roasted cauliflower
• Roasted broccoli

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