How to Freeze Butternut Squash 3 Different Ways

It is officially the fall semester, no what the weather tells you (I'm looking at you South Florida), and that means fall foods are back on the market. While most of us run to Starbucks for a pumpkin spice latte, I'm here to tell you that this isn't a proper source of nutrition 24/7, so you might want to add some variety to your diet. Butternut squash, on the other hand, is a great fall vegetable that you can have in soup, mashed, or chopped ... but those suckers are huge. Here's how to freeze butternut squash three different ways so none of it goes to waste.

How to Freeze Raw Butternut Squash

• Prep Time:1 hr 30 mins
• Cook Time:0
• Total Time:1 hr 30 mins
• Servings:6
• Easy

Ingredients

• 1 butternut squash
• 1 peeler
• 1 freezer-safe container

• Step 1

  Start by peeling the butternut squash. Make sure to have a good grip and peel it at an angle. Once peeled, cut the squash in half horizontally and use a spoon to take the seeds out of the squash.

  

• Step 2

  Chop up the squash into cubes, about the same size as "breakfast potatoes" are usually cut.

  

• Step 3

  Lay out all the pieces on a tray and put it in the freezer until the pieces are frozen (about an hour).

  

• Step 4

  Once they're frozen, take them out to transfer to a freezer-safe container and put back in the freezer. The butternut squash pieces will be stuck to the tray, so just wait a minute or two for them to unstick.

  

This method is really simple and quick. It has the least amount of prep time but more cook time when you later use the butternut squash. I prefer this method because I can cook and season it according to a future recipe whenever the time comes. 

How to Freeze Cooked Butternut Squash Cubes

• Prep Time:1 hr 30 mins
• Cook Time:10 mins
• Total Time:1 hr 40 mins
• Servings:8
• Easy

Ingredients

• 1 butternut squash
• 1 peeler
• 1 freezer-safe container

• Step 1

  Repeat steps one and two from the previous recipe.

  

• Step 2

  Once the butternut squash is peeled and cut into chunks, cook the pieces however you'd like and dry them off. They can be baked, boiled, or microwaved.

  

• Step 3

  Place them on a tray and freeze for an hour. After the hour, transfer the pieces to a freezer-safe container.

  

I cooked the butternut squash in the microwave using this method. It took less than 10 minutes and really saved a lot of time and effort. 

How to Freeze Cooked Butternut Squash Puree

• Prep Time:1 hr 30 mins
• Cook Time:10 mins
• Total Time:1 hr 40 mins
• Servings:8
• Easy

Ingredients

• 1 butternut squash
• 1 peeler
• 1 freezer-safe container

• Step 1

  Start by peeling the butternut squash. Make sure to have a good grip and peel it at an angle. Once peeled, cut the squash in half horizontally and use a spoon to take the seeds out of the squash.

  

• Step 2

  Cook the squash in a microwave for 10 minutes and use a food processor or fork to mash the butternut squash.

  

• Step 3

  Spoon out the butternut squash into sections on a tray and freeze for an hour. Once done, transfer to a freezer-safe container.

  

Now that you know how to freeze butternut squash, you can make so many different recipes. With the puree you could make butternut squash soup. With the uncooked frozen cubes you could make this maple roasted butternut squash or any of these 16 health butternut squash recipes. Freeze the squash now and it should last you three to six months. Just defrost and get cooking!