Table of Contents
Types of Winter Squash Delicata Squash. Thin and pale yellow with telltale green striping, delicata squash have a tasty yellow flesh that is typically prepared by baking, frying, braising, or steaming. Acorn Squash. Butternut Squash. Hubbard Squash. Spaghetti Squash. Turban Squash. Kabocha Squash. Sweet Dumpling Squash.
How many varieties of winter squash are there?
Learn how to tell the difference between these 12 delicious squashes—from pumpkin and butternut to acorn and spaghetti—get the best recipes for cooking with winter squash.
What is the best winter squash?
11 of the Best Winter Squash Varieties 11 Favorite Winter Squash Varieties. Angel Hair. Angel Hair. ‘Angel Hair’ is a highly productive hybrid variety of spaghetti squash that offers personal-sized fruits. Blue Hubbard. Burgess Buttercup. Cushaw Green Striped. Futsu Black. Honey Boat. Honeynut.
What are the varieties of squash?
Common Types of Winter Squash Spaghetti Squash. Maybe the trendiest of all squash varieties, spaghetti squash has a shredded flesh that resembles, you guessed it, spaghetti. Butternut Squash. Acorn Squash. Delicata Squash. Kabocha Squash. Sweet Dumpling Squash. Sugar Pumpkin. Red Kuri Squash.
Is winter squash the same as butternut squash?
Winter squash is so called because the fruit of these plants are often not ready for harvest until the end of the summer and many types will store very well so they can be eaten in the winter. Winter squashes varieties include, but are not limited to, acorn squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, and pumpkins.
How do you identify winter squash?
When selecting any variety of winter squash, the stem is the best indication of ripeness. Stems should be tan, dry, and on some varieties, look fibrous and frayed, or corky. Fresh green stems and those leaking sap signal that the squash was harvested before it was ready.
What does hubbard squash look like?
Hubbard squash is wrapped in a very hard, bumpy skin ranging anywhere from a dark bronze-green to pale bluish-green to a light golden or orange in color. Inside this winter variety’s seriously tough skin is a tender, golden yellow, fine grained, rather dry and mealy, dense flesh that offers a rich flavor.
What is the sweetest winter squash?
Butternut Squash It is the sweetest winter squash with a thick, bright orange, moist flesh that hides very few seeds. The squash is an elongated pear shape with a thin, pale tan skin that is easy to peel. They usually weigh between 2 and 3 pounds.
What is the difference between winter squash and pumpkin?
Shape. Even though both look great, the pumpkin is thicker and more robust due to its round shape. The main difference between both of them is the stem. The stem is more likely to snap and break on a squash, plus it is usually too short to work with.
What is the least sweet winter squash?
pepo is a much less sweet variety; it tends to be a little on the dry side, and a bit more savory and nutty than the sugar pumpkin.
What’s the difference between summer squash and winter squash?
The primary difference between summer and winter squash is the skin; summer squash is harvested before it fully matures, which means its skin is still tender and full of flavor. (There are a few exceptions to this rule, like delicata and acorn squash, which are winter squash varieties with flavorful, tender skins.).
What are the different types of yellow squash?
Yellow squash comes in two varieties: straightneck and crookneck. Crookneck squash (pictured above) has a bulbous bottom and slender neck that’s curved at the top. Crookneck squash has larger seeds and a thicker, waxier skin than many other squash varieties.
Can you plant different types of squash together?
Summer squash, pumpkins, gourds, and some types of winter squash belong to the same plant species Cucurbita pepo. All species members may cross with one another. However, if the seeds are saved and planted, the plants will produce fruit that will be different from either of the parents.
Is zucchini a winter squash?
Squash are technically fruit, but cooked as vegetables, and come in many different varieties, usually grouped into “summer squash” and “winter squash.” Zucchinis are summer squash. Squash in this comparison refers to all types of squash in general, including average nutritional values.
Are there different types of butternut squash?
There are several different butternut squash varieties available to the backyard vegetable gardener. Most varieties are fairly similar in appearance and taste, with slight variations.
What is the difference between acorn squash and butternut squash?
Butternut squash has a smoother, sweeter, almost nutty flavor. Acorn squash is sweet, too, but more fibrous and sometimes stringy, which is why butternut squash is usually used in soups instead of acorn.
Are all winter squash edible?
We call it delicious castilla squash. Whatever we or others call these gorgeous winter squash, they’re all edible and unique on their own with different levels of sweetness, flavor and texture.
Is Delicata squash a winter squash?
Technically a summer squash (Cucurbita pepo), delicata is generally classed with winter squash because it is hard-fleshed and harvested late in the year, but boasts summer squash skin, which is tender enough to remove easily with a vegetable peeler.
How many varieties of hubbard squash are there?
Hubbard squash comes in two major varieties: blue or golden. The blue Hubbard has a moody greyish blue skin while the golden Hubbard is bright orange. The color of their skin is where the dissimilarities end and are otherwise identical in terms of interior color, texture, and taste.
What is the difference between butternut squash and hubbard squash?
Its flavor is not as rich as the butternut, but is still quite sweet. The hubbard squash has a very sweet, dry orange flesh. They are excellent in pumpkin pies, and actually have a thicker, firmer texture than fresh pumpkin, they “set up” easier and require less sweetener than pumpkin.
Is hubbard squash sweet?
Hubbard squash is a medium to large sized winter squash with a hard, bumpy skin and rich, sweet flavor, that can be used in a variety of dishes, like soups, stews, casseroles, and curries. Different varieties have different colored skins, ranging from dark green and pale blue to light orange.
