John M

You do not have to dry squash seeds before planting them.   In fact, you can plant squash seeds straight from a fresh squash, and many gardeners do exactly that every season.   But while drying squash seeds before planting is not mandatory, it does come with real benefits that can affect how well those … Read more

You do not have to cure spaghetti squash, and there is absolutely no rule in the kitchen that says you must.   If you’ve been asking yourself “do you have to cure spaghetti squash,” the short answer is no, but there are some pretty good reasons why you might want to anyway.   Curing is … Read more

No, you don’t have to cook yellow squash, and plenty of people enjoy it raw in salads or with dips.   But while you don’t have to cook yellow squash, cooking it does make it more tender, sweeter, and easier to digest for most people.   If you’ve been asking yourself “do you have to … Read more

No, you don’t have to cook spaghetti squash before eating it, but cooking it is definitely the best way to enjoy this unique and versatile winter squash.   Unlike some foods that are perfectly fine raw, spaghetti squash really shines when it’s cooked, transforming its firm interior into those famous noodle-like strands that give it … Read more

You do not have to cook butternut squash before freezing it, and in fact, many people freeze it raw with great results.   If you’ve been wondering whether you have to cook butternut squash before freezing, the short answer is no.   You can freeze butternut squash raw, roasted, steamed, or pureed, depending on how … Read more

No, you don’t have to cook butternut squash.   While butternut squash is delicious when roasted, mashed, or puréed, you can absolutely enjoy it raw, steamed lightly, or even grilled without a full-blown cooking session.   If you’ve been asking yourself “do you have to cook butternut squash?” the short answer is no, and this … Read more