How to Freeze Squash (and Other Preservation Methods)

Wondering how to freeze squash? Winter squash (especially butternut squash) is one of my favorite things to grow, eat, and preserve. This might be because it’s so easy to do all three!

Winter squash is a nourishing staple in my house during the winter when fresh produce is scarce. It’s a great source of complex carbohydrates as well as vitamins and minerals including magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin A, and folate.

I love squash soup and pureed squash, and I find myself craving it as the days get shorter and cooler.

How to Freeze Squash: Winter Squash Vs. Summer Squash

Learning how to freeze squash (and other preservation methods) means that you first need to know what kind of squash you’re working with.

Zucchini, acorn, and butternut squash are all types of squash. These (and others) are either considered winter squash or summer squash. The main difference is the length of time it takes for their fruits to grow and mature.

Summer Squash

Summer squash varieties produce fruits within 40-60 days of planting. Their fruits are tender and won’t store for more than 3 or 4 weeks before going bad. Summer squash is delicious when sliced and added to salads or spread on a pizza.

Examples of summer squash include:

• Zucchini
• Pattypan
• Crookneck
• Cousa

Summer and winter squash need similar growing conditions. But, they do differ in how they grow. Summer squash tends to grow in bush forms while winter squash grows on a vine.

Winter Squash

As I mentioned above, winter squash grows at a much slower rate than summer squash. It takes 80 to 120 days for winter squash to be ready for harvest.

The benefit of growing winter squash is that you can store it for several months without going bad. Winter squash is often used in baked dishes, stuffing recipes, and hearty winter soups and stews.

Examples of winter squash include:

• Butternut
• Spaghetti
• Acorn
• Pumpkin

Squash is such a versatile fruit to incorporate in family dishes. I love finding new recipes to use my winter squash. From here on out, we will focus on storing and preserving winter squash.

How to Store Winter Squash

While freezing squash is great, sometimes all you need to do is store it.

If you prefer cooking with fresh ingredients, then learning to cure winter squash is for you. The curing process is simple and increases the length of time you can store fresh winter squash.

I love being able to reach for fresh produce in the dead of winter!

Curing Winter Squash

Curing is a simple process in which you place fruits in a warm space (inside or out) for a set period of time. During the curing process, excess water in the fruit evaporates, which increases shelf-life.

This process takes between 10-15 days to complete. And, it is worth the effort to have fresh food on hand. Some varieties of winter squash can last up to 9 months using this method!

The only squash you shouldn’t cure is acorn squash. This process will actually shorten the shelf-life and quality of the fruits.

Benefits of Curing

Curing benefits both the flavor and preservation of winter squash in a variety of ways.

• The curing process makes the fruits’ skin harder. This forms a protective layer around the fruit that prevents mold and rot.
• Less air can pass through this hard exterior which preserves the fruit’s fresh flavors.
• The fruit is sweeter. As excess water leaves the fruit, the natural sugars become more concentrated.

It’s amazing that such a simple method can be so helpful at preserving these easy to grow, nutritious fruits!

How to Cure Winter Squash

You can cure winter squash as soon as they have reached maturity. Only choose unblemished fruits to store over the winter. Any openings in the fruit will allow bacteria in and increase the rate of decay. If the fruit has a cut or soft spot, you will have to use it immediately or preserve it by freezing or canning.

Follow these steps, and you will have plenty of winter squash with a long shelf-life!

1. Cut healthy winter squash from the vines leaving 2-3 inches of stem attached to the fruit. (The only exception is hubbard squash. It actually cures best when you remove the stem.) Handle the fruit carefully to prevent scraping or bruising the fruit.
2. Wipe the fruits with a dry towel to remove any loose dirt.
3. Place the squash outside, in a greenhouse, attic, shed, or sunroom. They need 10-15 days of 80-85 degree temperatures and about 80-85% relative humidity. If curing inside, place a small fan on the fruits to increase air circulation. Avoid pilling them on top of one another as this can prevent air flow.

That’s it! At the end of the two weeks you should have cured winter squash ready for storage.

How to Store Winter Squash After Curing

Once your winter squash has been through the curing process it’s ready for storage.

Keep the winter squash in a cool, dark place with only about 50-70% humidity. The temperature needs to remain between 50-55 degrees. A basement or root cellar is perfect. Place the cured squash on a shelf to get better airflow than on the floor or in bins.

Also, don’t place produce such as apples, avocados, bananas, or pears near your squash. They emit a gas as they ripen that will make the squash turn yellow and rot.

It’s important to check for signs of rot or disease weekly. Quickly removing one or two fruits that have gone bad could save the whole harvest from rotting.

I love this method because it’s easy and allows me to cook fresh squash through the winter.

How to Freeze Squash

Besides curing, you can also freeze squash. I love having home-grown, frozen vegetables on hand. When I’m short on time, I can throw together a tasty acorn squash soup for dinner in no time.

Freezing Raw Squash

Winter squash makes delicious casseroles, soups, stuffing, and baked goods. This method of freezing squash works great for preserving butternut and acorn squash. Spaghetti squash and pumpkin should be cooked before freezing.

Directions:

1. Wash and dry the winter squash.
2. Peel the skin off using a knife or vegetable peeler.
3. Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Chop the squash into cubes.
4. Lay the cubes on a baking sheet without piling them on top of one another. This will allow you to freeze squash in pieces instead of in a big chunk.
5. Leave the tray in the freezer for about an hour.
6. Take the tray out of the freezer and place the squash in a plastic bag or airtight container. If using a bag, be sure to press all the air out of it.
7. Label and date the winter squash and place it in the freezer until you are ready to use it.

Reach in and grab a bag of frozen squash to thaw out when you are ready to cook or bake a delicious squash recipe!

Freezing Cooked Squash

Cooking winter squash before freezing isn’t required. However, adding this step prevents natural bacteria and enzymes from breaking down the fruits (i.e. they last longer).

Blanching winter squash is the perfect way to cook the fruit before freezing. Use this method when working with butternut, acorn squash, and pumpkin.

Directions:

1. Wash and dry the winter squash.
2. Peel or cut the outer skin off.
3. Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Chop the squash into cubes.
4. Place the cubes in a pot of boiling water for 3-5 minutes.
5. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cubed squash from the boiling water and place it in a bowl of ice water for another 3-5 minutes. Immediately cooling it down will help to preserve its texture.
6. Scoop the squash from the ice water and place it in an airtight container or plastic bag.
7. Label and date the winter squash and place it in the freezer until you are ready to use it.

Blanched, frozen squash will keep for about a year in the freezer.

You can also puree and freeze squash using these directions.

Cooking and Freezing Spaghetti Squash

Learning how to freeze squash is different when we’re talking about spaghetti squash. Freezing it in cubes like the other varieties won’t work. Use this method to enjoy the unique texture of spaghetti squash long after harvest.

Directions:

1. Wash and dry the squash.
2. Heat your oven to 375 degrees before cutting the squash in half and scooping out the seeds.
3. Place the squash on a baking sheet with the cut side facing up and bake for 30 to 40 minutes.
4. Allow the squash to cool before taking a fork and gently scraping the strands from the squash shell.
5. Place the strings in a colander with a bowl or measuring cup underneath to catch the excess liquid. Cover the colander with foil or plastic wrap and place it in the fridge overnight. This will allow any excess water to drain before freezing.
6. In the morning, gently squeeze out any excess water before placing the squash in a plastic bag. Be sure to force any air out of the bag before placing it in the freezer.

Having cooked spaghetti squash on hand is a lifesaver for a quick weekday meal. Follow these steps, and your spaghetti squash will keep for 10-12 months in the freezer.

Cooking with Frozen Squash

Now that your freezer is full of delicious, colorful frozen squash, let’s talk about how to cook with it. I guarantee you won’t run out of ways to incorporate it in tasty winter dishes!

Pull your winter squash out of the freezer in the morning before getting the kids to school or heading to work. Once it’s thawed you can use it in countless recipes.

The best part is, you can skip the steps of peeling, chopping, and cooking the squash!

Here are some tasty examples to get your inspiration flowing:

• Roasted Butternut Squash with Ground Lamb from Dani at Desolate Homestead
• Pumpkin Bread from Kathi at Oak Hill Homestead
• Creamy Garlic Spaghetti Squash Casserole from Justin and Erica at Real Simple Good

A Pinterest search for winter squash recipes will lead you to more ideas. Making up your own recipes can be a lot of fun, too!

Canning Squash

Canning winter squash is another way to preserve your harvest for later use. It takes a little more work up front. But once complete, you will have an abundance of winter squash to cook with for at least a year.

Begin the canning process much like the freezing methods above. Wash, peel, and chop the squash into cubes. Place the cubes in boiling water for 2 minutes. Sift them from the hot water and place them in mason jars to be pressure canned.

This video provides a step-by-step guide to canning butternut squash. I also found this article from Mother Earth News helpful with canning measurements.

Preserve or Freeze Squash: Start with One or Go for All

Winter squash is a wonderful fruit to grow, preserve, and eat on the homestead! My family enjoys adding healthy carbohydrates to our meals with home-grown and home-preserved winter squash.

Learning these methods of preserving winter squash should be fun, and not stressful. You don’t have to try all the methods if you are a beginner. Start with learning to cure and freeze squash. Then move on to canning.

Or, if you have the time and energy, give all three methods a try! You never know what new passion you might uncover along the way.

Learning to freeze fresh fruits and vegetables is one of my most useful skills these days!

This Post is Part of the Blogger Roundup ‘Preserving the Harvest’

Do you love preserving the harvest as much as we do? Click the links below and get detailed instructions for preserving 23 of the most popular fruits and vegetables.

Preserving Vegetables (in alphabetical order)

How to Preserve Carrots by Freezing, Canning, and More from Oak Hill Homestead

4 Easy Ways to Preserve Cauliflower from Dehydrating Made Easy

Cucumber Fresh Pack Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe from The Self Sufficient HomeAcre

Make Your Own Garlic Powder and Other Ways to Preserve Garlic from Learning & Yearning

How to Freeze Your Green Bean Harvest from The Reid Homestead

How to Preserve Leafy Greens from Homespun Seasonal Living

Preserving Okra by Freezing, Canning, Fermenting, and Dehydrating from Schneider Peeps

5 Ways to Preserve Onions for Storage from Rockin W Homestead

How to Dehydrate Parsnips & Make Parsnip Chips from The Purposeful Pantry

3 Ways to Preserve Peppers from Grow a Good Life

5 Ways to Store Potatoes from A Modern Homestead

Ways to Preserve Radishes from The Purposeful Pantry

How to Freeze Squash (and Other Preservation Methods) from Our Inspired Roots

Freezing Tomatoes for Preserving Later in the Year from Stone Family Farmstead

3 Easy Ways to Preserve Zucchini from Grow a Good Life

Preserving Fruit (in alphabetical order)

Guide to Preserving Apples from Oak Hill Homestead

3 Ways To Preserve Fresh Summer Berries from Better Hens & Gardens

How to Make Cherry Jam from Scratch from The Self Sufficient HomeAcre

3 Quick Ways to Preserve Grapes from Homestead Lady

3 Best Ways To Preserve Mulberries from My Homestead Life

How To Preserve Oranges On The Homestead from 15 Acre Homestead

How to Freeze Peaches from A Modern Homestead

How To Preserve Strawberries On The Homestead from 15 Acre Homestead