How To Cook Acorn Squash In Microwave?

How to cook acorn squash in the microwave? Cut your acorn squash into half and remove the seeds. Place squash halves face down onto a microwave-safe dish with 2 tbsp of water. Set the microwave strength to high and microwave for 10 minutes. Add brown sugar and butter and cook for another 5 minutes.

Acorn squash can be a delicious side dish with a buttery flavor and creamy texture. This squash variety is full of nutrients and minerals, such as folate, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. That makes acorn squash a healthier alternative to spaghetti squash, butternut squash, and winter squash.

This article will go over some easy and delicious recipes for cooking acorn squash in the microwave. Keep reading to learn more!

How To Cook Acorn Squash In Microwave?

1. Cut your acorn squash in half lengthwise.
2. Remove the seeds from each acorn squash half with a spoon.
3. Place squash halves onto the microwave-safe dish face down, with 2 tbsp of water.
4. Microwave acorn squash on high for 5 minutes.
5. Remove the squash halves from the microwave and place them into separate microwave-safe bowls.
6. Add 1 tbsp of brown sugar or maple syrup and 1 tbsp of butter into each bowl.
7. Return the bowls to the microwave.
8. Microwave on high for 5-6 minutes.
9. Remove the bowls from the microwave and allow the cooked acorn squash halves to cool down for 5 minutes before eating.
10. Enjoy the buttery, sweet flavor!

How To Cook Acorn Squash In Microwave Oven?

Like in the previous recipe, cut the acorn squash half lengthwise. Scrape out the seeds and microwave on high for 5-6 minutes. Remove the acorn squash halves from the microwave and place them in separate bowls.

In each bowl, add 1 tsp honey, 1 tbsp butter, a dash of cinnamon, a dash of nutmeg, and a dash of salt. Return the bowls to the microwave and microwave on high until the butter mixture is bubbly, for 2-4 minutes. Serve hot.

How Long To Cook A Whole Acorn Squash In The Microwave?

If you try to cook the entire squash in the microwave, the cooking time will be a bit longer than when you cook acorn squash halves. In general, it will take you 10-15 minutes to cook the whole acorn squash in the microwave.

1. Instead of cutting it in half, make several slits in the acorn squash peel.
2. Place the whole acorn squash onto the microwave-safe dish.
3. Set the microwave timer to 12 minutes.
4. Microwave on high until the timer expires.
5. Check the tenderness of your squash with a fork.
6. It should be fork-tender, soft enough for a fork to pierce through it effortlessly.
7. If it is not tender enough yet, microwave for another 2-3 minutes.
8. Allow cooling before handling it further (peeling, slicing, etc.).

How Long Does Squash Take To Cook In The Microwave?

A squash cut in half needs 10 minutes to cook in the microwave. Whole squash takes between 10 and 15 minutes to be fully cooked in the microwave. A stuffed squash may take 12-15 minutes to cook in the microwave, like in this recipe:

1. Cut acorn squash in half lengthwise and remove the seeds.
2. With face down, place the acorn squash halves onto the microwave-safe dish.
3. Place 1 tbsp of water on the bottom of the dish.
4. Microwave on high for 7 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine 1 chopped Granny Smith apple, 1 chopped celery stalk, 2 tbsp dried cranberries, 2 tbsp melted butter, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp chopped walnuts, and 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice.
6. When squash halves are microwaved for 7 minutes, turn them over and fill them evenly with apple mixture.
7. Cover and return the dish to the microwave.
8. Microwave on high for another 5 minutes.
9. Let the dish stay in the microwave for 3 minutes after cooking.

Choosing your acorn squash

Now you know how to cook acorn squash in the microwave, but how to choose the best one? Here are a couple of tips!

Acorn squash comes in all shapes and sizes, so it can be tricky to know which one to choose. Here are a few things to look for:

• Look for acorn squash that is heavy for their size. This means they will have more flesh and fewer seeds.
• Avoid acorn squash that has any soft spots, bruises, or blemishes. These squash are more likely to be overripe and not as flavorful.
• Choose acorn squash that has a dull, matte finish. This means they are less likely to be overripe.

Prepping your acorn squash

So you chose the best acorn squash that you could find, but how to get it ready for cooking?

Step 1. Start by rinsing your squash under cold water.

Step 2. Next, use a sharp knife to cut off the stem. You can discard this or save it to cook with later.

Step 3. Now it’s time to cut the squash in half. Place the squash horizontally on your cutting board, then slice it in half from top to bottom.

Step 4. If your squash has seeds, scoop them out with a spoon and discard them. If you want, you can also remove the stringy flesh from inside the squash.

Step 5. Lightly rinse the squash halves one more time, then pat them dry with a clean towel.

Now that your squash is prepared, it’s time to cook!

How to store cooked acorn squash?

In case you went a bit crazy and microwaved too much acorn squash – no problem. You can store it.

Let your cooked squash cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

When you’re ready to enjoy it again, reheat it in the microwave.

How to freeze cooked acorn squash?

If you do not plan to finish the cooked acorn squash anytime soon, freeze it.

As before – let the cooked squash cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight freezer-safe container or bag.

Squeeze out as much air as possible before sealings freezing for up to 3 months.

To thaw, place the frozen squash in the refrigerator overnight. Then, reheat in the microwave before serving.

Can You Microwave An Acorn Squash To Make It Easier To Cut?

Many people use microwave heat to achieve a tender squash. If you don’t plan to fully cook your acorn squash, but you only want to make it more tender and easy to cut, then you should microwave it on high for 2-3 minutes.

Since you are microwaving a whole acorn squash, make several slits in the skin with a knife. This will allow the steam to escape.

Will A Acorn Squash Explode In The Microwave?

If you are trying to microwave an acorn squash that has been already cut in half, it won’t explode for sure. However, if you are planning to microwave whole acorn squash, it will definitely explode.

While being exposed to the microwave, inside the acorn, the steam will build up. Eventually, it will need to find a way to escape. That’s when the squash “explosion” happens.

The good news is that you can prevent acorn squash from exploding by making several slits on the skin with a knife or by piercing the skin several times with a fork.

These slits or holes will allow the steam to escape, hence preventing the explosion.

Should I Microwave Squash Before Cutting?

Microwaving squash before cutting is a neat trick to make the cutting process easier and faster because the squash becomes tender when microwaved. 2-3 minutes of microwaving on high are enough to achieve the desired tenderness.

If you microwave the squash for longer, it will become cooked, which will make it too soft for cutting and using in certain dishes.

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Summary

Now you know how to cook acorn squash in the microwave. Cut it in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Place the acorn squash halves onto the dish face down, along with 2 tbsp of water. Microwave on high for 10 minutes.

If you want to enhance the acorn squash taste, remove the acorn halves from the microwave halfway through the cooking time. Turn them face up and coat them in brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey. You can also fill squash halves with various fillings. Return them to the microwave and cook for another 5 minutes.

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