How to Cook an Acorn Squash in The Microwave
Like all squash, the acorn squash is extremely versatile and easy to cook. It is a winter vegetable, usually with distinctive dark green vertical ridges along its acorn shape on the outside and sweet, yellow-orange flesh beneath the skin. It can keep for months in a cool, dry place and then baked, grilled, steamed or microwaved to perfection. The microwave method will give you just as good results in only a fraction of the time. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Place the whole acorn squash in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave and cook full power for 5 minutes. Turn it over and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove the squash, cut it in half with the knife and de-seed with the spoon. At this point, the squash will be soft enough to carry out cutting and seed-removing without too much difficulty. Put both halves back in the microwave for another 3 minutes or until done. When the squash is cooked, the flesh will be soft enough to easily pierce with a fork but not so soft that it falls apart.
-
2
Cook the squash in one go by halving first. It is harder to cut before the squash is cooked, so try to slice off a little of the skin first so that you can rest the squash on this flat part on a level surface. Then slice the squash between two of the ridges. Do not remove the seeds until after cooking. Cover and cook the two halves for approximately 13 minutes on high. Unlike other vegetables that are cooked in the microwave, there is no need to add water.
-
-
3
Use microwave-safe plastic wrap or wax paper to slightly speed up the time of cooking in the microwave. Begin by cutting the squash in half and scooping out the seeds. This part may take you longer as the fibers that keep the seeds in place will not be loosened by cooking. Lay the cut side down on the wrap or paper on a microwave-safe plate. Cook on high in two 5 minute intervals until completely softened and cooked through. This may take longer depending on the strength of the microwave and the size of the squash being cooked.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Add a little butter, some brown sugar, salt and pepper halfway through cooking, or a drizzle of honey at the end, to make a delicious microwave squash side.
Pricking the skin of the squash all over with a fork will help the squash cook through.
Do not attempt to peel the acorn squash as its ridged sides make it very difficult to do so.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
