How Do You Store a Squash or Pumpkin So It Doesn't Rot Before You Cook It?
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Pumpkin and butternut squash are both on the October list of UK seasonal vegetables, so many of us are bringing one home right now. A whole squash can last for weeks if you store it well, and it can go soft or mouldy surprisingly fast if you don't.
Step 1: Keep it whole, cool and dry
For a whole winter squash or pumpkin, find a cool, dry spot with some airflow. One university guide gives a range of 50–60°F, with moderate humidity. That is roughly 10–15°C, so think of a cool spare room or the bottom of a cupboard away from the oven and radiators.
Step 2: Don't put a whole one in the fridge
The same guide says temperatures below 50°F can cause chilling injury. A fridge is colder than that, so keep whole squash out of it.
Step 3: Be gentle with it
Marks, bruises or punctures in the skin will shorten storage time. Don't lift or carry a pumpkin by its stalk, because the stalk can snap off. Use both hands.
Step 4: Check it often
Regular inspection is key. If a spot appears on the rind, cut it out and cook the rest. Don't wait for the whole thing to go soft.
Step 5: Expect different squashes to last different lengths of time
Storage time varies by variety: acorn squash is shorter and Hubbard is longer. If you don't plan to cook it soon, cook it first.
Got too much? Freeze it cooked
One extension guide's method is to bake the squash, mash or purée the flesh, portion it into freezer bags or containers, then label it with the amount and date. When you need it, thaw it in the fridge. The guide also says there are no research-based recipes for home-canning pumpkin purée, so freezing is the safer route.
Carving pumpkin vs cooking pumpkin
- A carved pumpkin won't keep. Carved jack-o'-lanterns get mouldy and collapse in warm weather, so carve closer to Halloween.
- If you plan to eat it, choose pumpkins grown for eating rather than carving.
This week I'll look at what to make with a pumpkin besides soup, so the one you've stored well gets eaten.
Sources
- https://extension.psu.edu/pumpkins-and-winter-squash-in-the-garden-and-the-kitchen
- https://extension.umn.edu/about/our-stories/news/autumn-is-pumpkin-and-winter-squash-time
- https://www.thekitchn.com/the-11-varieties-of-winter-squash-you-need-to-know-ingredient-intelligence-157857
- https://www.shropshiretelfordandwrekin.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/Seasonal-Foods.pdf