Questions About How To Cook Butternut Squash For Baby

Betty asks…

How can you tell if butternut squash has gone bad?

I got one to cook for my baby, but it's been over 3 weeks or more since I bought it. I was giving her other foods, and I wasn't supposed to give her more than one new food at a time.
I cut it open, and it doesn't smell bad or anything. It smells okay, and the color seems okay too. But I wanna make sure it's okay to use it.
Should I just throw it out? I would just to be safe, but where I live, it's really hard to find butternut squash this time of year.

admin answers:

Honestly I had a squash go bad without looking bad, but I don't think butternut is like that I think it gets squishy.

In any case cook it and then you eat some, if it tastes ok it is probably ok.

Michael asks…

What can I do with butternut squash?

I have bought a butternut squash to make a puree for my baby, as they are supposed to like it. I've never eaten or cooked with this veg before, and am going to have loads left over. What can I do with it? Can I roast it? How about the skin, do you eat that?

admin answers:

Cut it in half, put butter, brown sugar, nutmeg, and a dash of salt in the middle, and bake at 400 degrees until it's soft. Scoop out with a spoon, and don't eat the skin.

Ken asks…

What is the best way to cook baby food to save the most nutrients?

I have sliced up, yellow squash, zuchinni, butternut squash, sweet potatoes and carrots and banana and apple. Now what lol? How do I add chicken or other meats in, just cook shred and then add to finished ingredients? I want to preserve as many nutrients as possible. i have heard boil till almost soft then bake. bake with olive oil and salt and pepper. I do not know any recipes or how long to bake for and at what temp? How do you store it and how long is it good for? can i freeze it in my glass babyfood jars or the plastic ones that gerber makes? Any info would be very helpful. thanks

admin answers:

I am so happy that you are doing this! It's great, i did it with my baby, and she's 5 now, i cant cook and she survived!! Lol

ok so lets say mac - n - cheese. Cook it like normal, then pour it in a blender and mix! If it is too thick then add formula, milk, breast milk to it. Then pour into ice trays, set it in the freezer. After it freezez like 2 hrs, pop em out and put them in ziploc bags. I put like 3 cubes per bag. B/c that was a good portion for her. When your ready for em' heat and serve.

When your doing meat it is the same way. To save time, cook her meat right before you cook yours, so that way hers wont have all of the seasonings and sal and pepper in there. You can puree chicken, or steak, or beef in a food processor if the blender does not work. For the blender just cut it in chucks.

Meat is good for 3 months
vege, fruit is good for 6 months

dont forget about deserts..my daughter loved mommas homemade cherry apple pie!!!

E-mail me if you want more info, or for some of my recipies i made for her!!!

James asks…

How long can veggies stay in the freezer for?

so i'm making homemade baby food..but i don't know how long they can last in the freezer..nothing going to be added to them just the water to cook it in...i have carrots, green pees,, Yellow and green wax beans, butternut squash, pear shaped squash, white potatoes, sweet potato, and turnip
my health nurse told me to pick up these items...
also brocolli and colli flower

admin answers:

Given that you will not be adding any additional ingredients they should be good for a month to 2 maybe even three depending on how well they are packaged. But I wouldn't prepare more then you could use in a months time to keep them fresh for the baby. I would assume that you plan to puree them so if you can get your hands on other baby food jars wash them well and be sure not to fill them to the top when you freeze them. Also make sure to label them all and that the labels will stick.

Charles asks…

how do i cook butternut sqaush for a baby?

my baby is now eating solids and i would like to cook my own instead of jarred stuff. he likes this one jar with butternut squash. i dont have a clue how to cook it though! is it like when i do his potato? boiled it up and blend? also any easy recipes for baby food if anyone has any would be fab! thanks guys. x

admin answers:

I cook all sorts of squash, potatos (especially sweet), and pumpkins for my 8 month old. She loves it!

All I do is cut the squash/pumpkins in half from the stem down. Clean out the seeds, and place them cut side down in a cake pan. Pour in enough water to go a 1/2 an inch up the side of the squash and bake at 350 for approx 45 min or until you can easily stab with a fork. Let it cool and use a spoon to scrap out of the skin.

For the potatoes, I wrap them in foil and just throw them on the rack beside the cake pan while I'm cooking the squah.

Depending on how thick or thin you need for the age of your baby, you may need to add some water when you mash them. I just mash them with a fork now, but you need to blend them if your baby is younger or chokes easily.

Another thing I do, is I do a big batch at once. Once it is blended up I put it in an extra ice cube tray and freeze it. Once the cubes are frozen, I put them in a freezer bag and label it. Each cube is approx. 1 ounce.

Hope that helps.

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Questions About How To Cook Butternut Squash In Oven

James asks…

How do you cook butternut squash?

I bake it upside down in the oven but what
should I add to flavor it up and satisfy picky kids?
thanks in advance.

admin answers:

The classic is butter and brown sugar. You can also add a little oj to that, and some chopped pecans and cinnamon. OR you can use maple syrup. Bake it "meat" side up if you're doing that, or turn it up 1/2 way through baking and then add.

Mark asks…

Butternut Squash... best way to cook it soft?

I have had butternut squash a couple times, and once someone made it really soft with salt. No Sugar or sweetness. It was wonderful! How should I cook this? I have never cooked it before. I saw a recipie for cutting it in half, or cooking it in the oven whole. What makes it softer?
should i peel it? wrap in foil?

admin answers:

I am cooking some right now

Cut in half - take out seeds
Place in 8x8 baking dish
1/4 inch water in bottom of dish
Cover with saran wrap
Cook in microwave for 4 minutes
Take out unwrap (CAUTION HOT)
Place butter and brown sugar in each 1/2
Recover and cook about 3-5 min depending on how soft you want them.

Even my 10 month old grand daughter loves these - minus the sugar

Helen asks…

How do you make butternut squash?

i want to cook it in the oven. im going to mix the meat (after cooked) with brown sugar and butter.
•how long should i cook it for?
•how high should i put the heat?
•how much butter and brown sugar should i use?

10 points!

admin answers:

I cook the squash at 350F for about 45 min.

I cut it in half lengthwise and clean out the seeds (leave the peeling on). To each half add a tablespoon of butter, and generously sprinkle with brown sugar (about 1 teaspoon) and cinnamon (Maybe 1/2 Tsp) and cover with foil. Once it is baked you can serve it as is by cutting into serving pieces or remove the meat and mash adding butter and salt and pepper to taste.

Charles asks…

How do you microwave a butternut squash?

Hey Y'all, I just got a new winter and summer squash recipe in which the directions say to pierce and cook the squash in the microwave until barely tender. I'm using a butternut squash in the recipe, but I've never cooked one in the microwave and I need to know how long it might take to get to barely tender. Has anyone ever nuked a squash? How long do you think it would take? I know how to cook them in the oven, but I think this is supposed to sqeed the process because the recipe is to saute afterward. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

admin answers:

I cook butternut squash in the microwave all the time.

You can poke holes in the big end (where it's hollow) then cook for 8-10 min or so for "barely tender" (you can turn them over and reverse their direction, halfway through if you want). But you'll still end up with two problems... The small end will take longer to cook because the flesh is solid and thickest there. And secondly, the outside skin will be re-e-eally hot for awhile and hard to hold on to while you scoop out and cut the flesh into bits to saute.

So generally now, I just cut the flesh up and microwave only that (not cutting the whole squash... That's kind of difficult and dangerous). You could do the same thing, just don't microwave so long for "barely tender."

Before nuking, I peel the skin off down to the orange with a peeler (I like the Y type, but the regular type will work too).. You can lay the squash on a dish towel rather than trying to hold it with one hand if it's large.
Then I lay the naked squash on my cutting board and cut it into thick slices (disks) and remove the seeds when I get to them (here you could cut them into the shapes you want for sauteing, or you could do that after nuking). Then place them in a baking dish (covered) and microwave for 10 min or longer. (I usually then mash up with a fork and serve with butter...yum.)


Good luck!

Diane B.

Ken asks…

a question about how to prepare butternut squash?

ok i am looking for someone who can tell me how they make butternut squash? right now i have one butternut squash peeled and cut into chunks boiling in a large pot of water on my stove. the last time i made this vegetable i roasted it in the oven and it didnt come out too well so i am trying it this way. is it possible to make them come out whipped like mashed potatoes with the way i am cooking it now? anyone else ever boiled butternut squash before? any ideas?

admin answers:

Yes, you can prepare butternut squash just as you would mashed potatoes. Salt, pepper, a little cream and butter. When you roast butternut squash, use a high temperature i.e. 425. Keep an eye on them tossing every 5 minutes to prevent over browning.

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Questions About How To Cook Butternut Squash Cubes

Mary asks…

How do I store cut up butternut squash?

I peeled and cubed a butternut squash. The recipe said to do this a day ahead of time. I have put the cubed pieces into a locknlock container. Do I store it in the fridge or on the counter. I will be cooking with it tomorrow.

admin answers:

To store the cut up squash.... Seal it in an airtight plastic bag or container and keep it in the refrigerator. It will keep for two to four days................

Maria asks…

How can I increase the amount of iron in this butternut squash risotto?

For my Food Tech, I have to create and cook a dish that's high in vitamin C and iron. This recipe has the Vitamin C part, but not the iron. How can I increase it?

Here's the recipe:

Butternut squash Risotto
(Serves 2)

Ingredients:
1tbsp olive oil
Small onion, chopped
Lemon zest
175g butternut squash, diced (cubes)
110g risotto rice
375ml vegetable stock
50g low fat cream cheese with garlic and herbs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:
Low to medium heat
•Heat the olive oil in a large pan and cook the onions until softened (cook gently). Add the squash and rice and cook for a further 2 minutes.
•Gradually add the vegetable stock, a little at a time, and cook, stirring, until the rice has absorbed all the stock, the squash is tender and the risotto has a creamy texture. This should take about 20minutes. Season to taste and then stir in the cream cheese.
•Stir until the Boursin has melted and serve at once.

admin answers:

Unknown to many people, but pepitas, pumpkin seeds (out of the shell), are high in iron. And seeing as you are using squash for the main in this recipe the pepitas will not distract from the recipes harvest and sweet flavors. You can crush them and they will add a nutty texture and flavor to this recipe and the needed iron. I wouldn't use more than 1 cup, and I would reserve 1/4 of them whole for garnish on the top! It would be wise to use the toasted variety when you do. Good luck.

James asks…

What spices should i add to my butternut squash soup?

A few weeks back i made, for the first time, butternut squash soup..here is how i did it,( but think it could use more or different spice)....i put 1bx chicken broth in my pressure cooker plus...2 cubed butternut squash..3 large cubed sweet potatoes..3 chopped stalks celery, handful of baby carrots...1 large browned onion...then pressure cooked..20 min. placed cooked veges in a blender..added cream and butter..salt pepper touch of garlic..AND..nutmeg...any other spices work with or instead of...thanks and merry, you know!

admin answers:

I like to use a lot of ground black pepper and some salt to taste.

Mandy asks…

5 inch Pleco, Butternut Squash?

I've read my pleco will love butternut squash. So, now I have one, How do I prepare it? Cooked/Uncooked? I've heard you dont need to cook veg for plecs as they have the ability to deal with raw veg! Plus how much should I feed him (in inch cubes)?

Experienced L number keeper answerers only please!
Yes I mean Plecostomus. Specifically L265, From Tapjoja, Peckoltia sp.

admin answers:

YES!

They will love it! I feed mine cucumber and canned green beans all the time. Just cut it into a 1/2 inch thick piece and blanch it. Same with cucumbers.

Here is a page with info on how to blanch veggies:
http://www.ehow.com/how_13887_blanch-vegetables.html

Good luck!

EDIT-

I would feed them some fresh veggies every other day. It also helps to feed them at night because they are more active when it's dark.

Michael asks…

Starchy hands when cooking squash?

Ok two part question. I'm making roasted butternut squash soup. I just got done peeling and cubing the squash to roast and now my hands feel like they are covered in starch, it feels strange, like my hands are really dry. I've tried washing and scrubbing them, twice. I've even tried a little rubbing alcohol to get rid of the feeling.

Does any one know why this happens and how to get rid of the starch now covering my hands? I guess a third part might be how to prevent it but I'm guessing the only way is to wear gloves.

A little help would be appreciated, this feeling is annoying.
Tried the lotion. Thanks but didn't help. any more ideas?

admin answers:

A compound in squash actually causes dermatitis.
Wash your hands then rub some cortisone cream on them and it should help.

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