How To Cook Butternut Squash In Instant Pot

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Tips For Cutting Butternut Squash

How to Cook a Whole Butternut Squash in the Instant Pot

Some people avoid butternut squash all together because it is so hard to cut. Im here to tell you that there is a way to cut butternut squash without fear of cutting off your fingers. Here are some helpful tips + trips when cutting butternut squash.

  • Flat Surface: Make sure you are cutting on a flat and secure surface. You want your cutting board to stay put as youre cutting.
  • Sharp Knife: Using a large and very sharp chefs knife will make cutting butternut squash a thousand times easier than using a dull knife. We love our Wusthof chefs knife.
  • Peel: If you want to peel your butternut squash, use a vegetable peeler! Do not try and peel the butternut squash with a knife. Butternut squash is too uneven to do it safely.
  • Make a Flat Side: Before cutting a butternut squash lengthwise, cut the top off the butternut squash and set that flush with the cutting board so you have a solid base to work with.
  • Cubed/Halved: You can cut butternut squash any way youd like but we prefer cubed or halved!

What Is Butternut Squash

Butternut squash is a winter squash with a mild naturally sweet flavor that’s in between a sweet potato and pumpkin. In fact, you can substitute it for either one in most recipes. I’ll often serve butternut squash instead of sweet potatoes because it’s lower in carbs.

Like other winter squash—from spaghetti squash to acorn squash—it has a thick hard skin that is difficult to peel. And the squash itself is hard to cut when it’s raw. It’s much easier to cook butternut squash whole and cut it after it’s cooked.

Whole butternut squash it will keep for a few weeks so you can store it in the pantry until you need it. Look for one that’s heavy and firm with smooth unblemished skin.

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How To Use Butternut Squash

The butternut squash is perfectly tender when removed from the Instant Pot. It can be scooped out of the skin and used to make many different side dishes.

The most common side dishes are mashed butternut squash and butternut squash soup. But you can also use the flesh to make a filling for homemade ravioli or soup like these recipes from our sister site A Food Lovers Kitchen. It also works as a puree to serve with pork chops, or to make a savory pie.

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How Long Does It Take To Cook Butternut Squash In The Pressure Cooker

Everyone knows pressure cooking is a time saver. But there isnt more truth to that than when it comes to cooking squash.

In the oven, cubed butternut squash typically takes about 30 minutes to cook, with halved butternut squash clocking in at nearly an hour. Roasting certainly has its place, and produces more caramelized, crisped pieces when cubed. Steaming your squash is quicker, but still takes twice as long than the pressure cooker.

Compare those times to the Instant Pots, where to it takes just 3 minutes cooking time for cubed and about 12 minutes for halved pieces. Sure, theres a few minutes to be added for the Instant Pot to come to pressure, but in my mind theres not much to compare.

see more: 31 Instant Pot and Slow Cooker Holiday Recipes

Butternut Squash In An Electric Pressure Cooker

How to Cook a Whole Butternut Squash in the Instant Pot

I have always been a big veggie eater and I thank my late grandad for that and introducing me to growing and eating raw vegetables at a young age.

But my grandad and many of that generation taught me that the way you cooked vegetables was always to boil them.

I used to always boil my butternut squash and it wasnât until I bought my first steamer and then got an instant pot, that I realised how awful boiled vegetables are.

You lose the flavour of the butternut squash and often overcook it.

However, when you steam butternut squash in instant pot, its not cooking directly in the water and instead you are keeping the delicious flavour and the butternut squash is not boiled dry.

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Instant Pot Butternut Squash Cubes

Instant Pot Butternut Squash. How to cook instant pot butternut squash cubes quickly and easily. Perfect for when you have spare butternut squash, want to make instant pot baby food, or just want a simple side dish for dinner. Steaming butternut squash in the instant pot is also a fantastic beginner method for getting started with your instant pot.

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  • Can I Freeze A Whole Butternut Squash

    You should not freeze a whole butternut squash. Actually, it is best to cut the ends, and then slice it into circles about a quarter of an inch thick.

    However, you should also blanch it first by boiling it for one minute. Then drain and put into freezer bags. Hence, blanching before freezing will kill the enzyme that preserves the veggie.

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    Instant Pot Butternut Squash Baby Food

    If you have a baby, then instant pot butternut squash baby food is ideal. I remember when we had our daughter Sofia back in late 2014.

    There was no instant pot in our kitchen then and we spent hours with pans pureeing apple and pear for her.

    But you can steam butternut squash along with many other fruit and vegetables in a 10th of the time.

    Load into the instant pot fruit and vegetables of choice, steam, and blend.

    But beyond baby food instant pot butternut squash is also fantastic as a sauce base for healthy meals. Think of it as a replacement as a pasta sauce or those cream of anything recipes.

    How Long Do You Pressure Cook Butternut Squash Mash

    HOW TO – Cook Butternut Squash EASIEST WAY with Instant Pot

    This is going to depend entirely on the size of butternut chunks.

    Bigger chunks that are about 2 inch cubes will take about 12-14 minutes. Whilst smaller one will take about 10 minutes.

    My suggestion is to start with 2 inch cubes and cook for 12 minutes. You can then increase or decrease the cook time depending on your preference.

    It is very important that you do a quick pressure release after cooking the butternut squash. If you do a natural pressure release you will end up will some very overcooked squash.

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    How To Flavor Butternut Squash

    • Classic: Butter + salt and pepper
    • Fancy: Brown Butter + salt and pepper
    • Sweet: Butter + cinnamon + sugar, honey, or maple syrup
    • Thanksgiving Style: Butter + sage, thyme, and rosemary

    Whew! That was a lot of butternut squash info there! I hope my research and experiments have been helpful to you.

    If you have any favorite recipes for butternut squash, let me know! I’ve got a wheelbarrow full of it and I don’t want a drop of it to go to waste.

    Oh, hey there, cute little photo bomber

    Can I Make This Butternut Squash Into A Mash

    Yes, once it is all cooked you can then transfer into a bowl. Then use a masher and press and give it that mashed potato texture. This is so easy to do and will give you a fun texture to serve up. If you find the squash is too thick, add a small splash of milk or even butter to help smooth up the squash to resemble a mashed potato.

    Have you ever made squash in the Instant Pot before?

    Pair this with a delicious brown sugar pineapple ham for the perfect holiday meal.

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    Tips And Tricks For Cooking Butternut Squash In The Instant Pot:

    • When buying butternut squash, be sure to get squash that are firm and blemish-free . Theyll store a few weeks so feel free to stock up when they go on sale and are in season .
    • All you need to do is wash off the outside of the squash and poke it a few times . No messing with a knife, no need to cut in half, no scraping out the insides. So easy!
    • If your squash is too big to fit in your pot, feel free to cut in in half and place it as is in your Instant Pot. Reduce the cook time to 20 minutes.

    How Long To Cook Butternut Squash In The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

    Instant Pot Butternut Squash

    Here is a quick reference, we’ll dive into more detail below:

    • Whole Butternut Squash: High Pressure 25 minutes + 10 minute natural pressure release
    • Halved Butternut Squash: High Pressure 8 minutes + 10 minute natural pressure release
    • Cubed Butternut Squash: High Pressure 8 minutes + quick pressure release
    • Partially Cooked, Whole Butternut Squash: High Pressure 8 minutes + quick pressure release

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    Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup

    It’s the perfect make-ahead lunch!

    If youre an Instant Pot pro, you know that its especially amazing for homemade soups. This velvety, rich butternut squash recipe takes just 10 minutes to prep and is just as perfect for a fancy dinner party as it is for a make-ahead work lunch. Bonus: It just so happens to be vegetarian and vegan.

    What is the easiest way to peel butternut squash?

    Our favorite trick: Pierce the squash several times with a fork, cut off both ends, then microwave it for 3 minutes. Let it cool until it doesnt burn your hand, then peel away. Itll be much easier. If you want to save even more time, use 6 cups of store-bought pre-peeled and chopped butternut squash.

    What flavors go well with butternut squash?

    The winter gourd’s subtle sweetness pairs well with warm spices. Here, we use curry powder, but you could also sub in 1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste. If youre not a fan of curry, simply omit the addition of either.

    Though butternut squash is already pretty creamy in texture on its own, coconut milk adds extra body as well as a slightly fruity undertone. The fat in coconut milk tends to separate from the milk, so this recipe calls for blending it first. Alternatively, you can shake the can of coconut milk before opening, which is a good move if you plan to use your immersion blender to puree the soup right in the pot! If you already have some heavy cream in the fridge, feel free to swap it in.

    What is the best way to reheat the soup?

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    Instant Pot Butternut Squash the quickest way to cook your butternut squash!

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    Do I Have To Peel The Squash First

    You might be used to carefully peeling a butternut squash before cooking it, as many recipes require this step. It can be tricky and time consuming and you might just give up and make roasted delicata squash instead since you can eat the skin! However, thats why I wanted to create a recipe to skip that step altogether! For this butternut squash in instant pot, NO peeling is required! Simply slice the squash in half, scoop out the seeds, and pop it in the instant pot to cook!

    Steamer Basket For Instant Pot Butternut Squash

    How to pressure cook a whole butternut squash in an Instant Pot

    You are probably wondering about the steamer basket that you need for cooking instant pot butternut squash.

    A while back I wrote a great post of the best instant pot steamer baskets and I recommend you read through it.

    It includes the steamer basket we used in this instant pot recipe and one that I use almost every day with my instant pot.

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    Cooking A Quartered Or Halved Butternut Squash In An Instant Pot:

    This is the next easiest way if the entire squash doesnt fit inside your pressure cooker and theres a lot less cooking time.

    • Place trivet/steamer basket in the bottom of Instant Pot. Add 1 cup of water.
    • Scrub squash and cut into quarters. Remove seeds. Seal the lid of your pressure cooker. Set for high pressure for 10 minutes. Let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.
    • Carefully remove squash sections and scoop out flesh.

    Tools For Instant Pot Acorn Squash

    First, rinse and pat dry the acorn squash.

    Then, with a very sharp knife cut the acorn squash in half.

    *Pro Tip: Acorn squashs skin is a bit hard to cut in at first, so be careful! If necessary, you can stabilize the acorn squash by forming a ring with a kitchen towel at the bottom.

    Finally, with a spoon, scrape out seeds and stringy bits in the acorn squash.

    *Pro Tip: You can save the acorn squash seeds for later if you want to roast them in the oven.

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    How To Make Instant Pot Mashed Butternut Squash

  • Wash, peel, deseed and cube the butternut squash.
  • Add 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot and the butternut squash, making sure it does not pass the fill line).
  • Cover your Instant Pot and set the valve to the SEALING position.
  • Select the Pressure Cook or Manual button , select high pressure and set the timer to 12 minutes.
  • Cook till done, then perform a complete quick pressure release.
  • Carefully open the lid and remove the butternut squash from the Instant Pot and let it drain thoroughly.
  • Place squash into a bowl and add salt before mashing.
  • Serve Instant Pot Mashed Butternut Squash warm and topped with herbs of your choice.
  • Butternut Squash In The Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Butternut Squash

    There are many ways to cook a whole butternut squash, but our favorite way is in the Instant Pot!

    You just cant beat how easy it is to prepare butternut squash in the Instant Pot pressure cooker. Butternut squash can be ready to eat or ready to incorporate into any of your favorite butternut squash recipes in under 10 minutes. Can you believe it?

    First things, first. You can cut your butternut squash two ways before placing it in the Instant Pot and it all depends on what you are using your butternut squash for.

    Cubed

    If you are planning to use the butternut squash as a side dish or in a meal prep recipe then cubbing the butternut squash is the way to go.

    To cube butternut squash, start by cutting both ends of the butternut squash off. Then, use a vegetable peeler to peel the rind off of the butternut squash.

    Next, cut the butternut squash lengthwise and dig out the seeds and cut the butternut squash into cubes.

    Option 1:If you want the butternut squash golden brown, use the sauté function to fry up the cubed butternut squash , remove, and then place the cubes into a microwave and oven safe bowl and place the bowl onto the trivet in the bottom of the instant pot.

    Pour water into the bottom of the Instant Pot. Set pressure to high and cook for 1 minute.

    Remove from the Instant Pot and use in your favorite dishes!

    Halved

    Set pressure to high and cook for 8 minutes.

    Remove from the Instant Pot and enjoy!

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    How To Cook Butternut Squash In An Instant Pot

    Instant Pot butternut squash is among the quickest recipes that you can do with this delectable winter squash. The cookers high pressure can soften up the squashs tough flesh in as little as 20 minutes.

    You can make Instant Pot butternut squash as a simple side dish for your salads. But you can also seamlessly incorporate it into grander recipes such as butternut squash enchilada or butternut squash casserole.

    Heres everything you need to know.

    Instant Pot butternut squash is a quick, easy recipe to try at home.

    Uses For Butternut Squash Puree

    I love to use this butternut squash puree in a variety of ways. It has such a mellow, slightly sweet flavor that it blends into chilis, soups, sauces, and even quesadillas with little detection–making it a great way to add some veggies into your diet!

    • Add ¼-1/2 cup to Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce. The sweetness of the squash will also help to balance out the acidity from the tomatoes.
    • Spread a thin layer of the puree on a tortilla and top with cheese for a cheesy quesadilla that everyone will love.
    • Add ¼-1/2 cup to Instant Pot Chili to add a sweet flavor and balance out the acidity of the tomatoes.
    • Use the butternut squash puree in place of pumpkin puree in Pumpkin Muffins or Pumpkin Bread.
    • Stir into oatmeal and sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar.
    • Mix ½ cup of puree with 1 to 2 cups of refried beans and use in Bean Burritos.

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    Cooking A Whole Butternut Squash In An Instant Pot:

    This requires a squash that will fit completely inside your pressure cooker, which isnt always possible to find. However, this is the easiest and quickest method, as it doesnt require any cutting or peeling. It can be a little tricky, because cooking time will vary based on the size and thickness of the squash.

    • Place trivet/steamer basket in the bottom of Instant Pot. Add 1 cup of water.
    • Put squash into the pot and seal the lid. Set for high pressure for 30 minutes. Let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.
    • Carefully remove squash, cut it in half, scoop out seeds, and then scoop out flesh.

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