Knife Skills: How to Prepare, Peel, and Cut Butternut Squash

The first step is making sure you have the right tools. As with most cooking tasks, the main thing that makes cutting up butternut squash difficult is not having a good knife available. Because of the squash's firmness and thick skin, I've always found that smaller, lighter-weight knives make the job more difficult. Instead, I reach for a knife that's not just sharp, but also has some weight to it—that heft will do some of the work for me. A (roughly) 10-inch chef's knife, like the one here, will do the trick.

[akasheshe]

Thank you for just doing what the video said you were going to do and not giving me 10 minutes on the history of butternaut squash. 😂

[Yoitsseb]

this is all how to cooking videos should be done, no nonsense, clear picture, straight to the point Thanks!

[dirah]

Great not having distracting music or unwanted voices. Straight to the point of task. Many blessings

[mscaribqueen]

This was excellent!! Straight to the point, no silly commentary. Thank you!!!

[ep]

I appreciate that there is not excessive editing here too, so that you see the actual work that goes into the job, including the harder parts.

[preacher]

There's an adage that says, "You learn something new every day." This video epitomizes that! Straight forward! To the point! Easy to follow!

[StirlingCookie]

Instant like and sub for just simple visual instructions, no Wadsworth constant. Extremely refreshing, informative. Thank you.

[WeFrost]

This was the perfect, no-nonsense video. I actually dropped my jaw, as well as laughed at some points in the video. I'm a pretty versatile cook and have had tons of acorn squash in my day, but tonight—TONIGHT! is my first try at butternut. Many thanks. 💛

[itsdeeday]

Thank you for the slow and steady pace; everyone else goes too fast and then doesn’t even explain what they’re doing. This needs no explanation. 👍🏼

[jackiec]

love that there is no annoying talking and commentary. so refreshing! thank you!!

[lynnford]

I have to agree with everyone here...love the no nonsense straight to the point video. Thank you.

[Angelrider]

so glad i found a how to video that gets right to the point..i like entertaining recipe videos but something like this i just want to see the process...thanks..this was a big help.

[James-ebph]

Thank you for not talking crap all over the video, I had to go through 5 videos before I could find one that I could tolerate.

[moochogusto]

I am back for my yearly view right around Thanksgiving as I prepare diced butternut squash for my chili. Thanks for a great video!

[Babsie]

Thanks!! it took me 15 minutes to peel and cut one up. Don't know if I am weak or had a bad knife? It was a royal pain in the A--!!

[jefff]

Perfect YouTube content. Just the facts, NO fluff. 👍🇺🇸

[dtape]

Butternut squash is such a pain to peel and cut. You can definitely see even Kenji struggles with it (assuming that's the person in the video). I'm way happier just roasting it with the skin on then peeling off the skin after the squash is nice and soft.

[icecreamladydriver]

You may find it much easier to peel by leaving the whole thing intact. Place at the edge of the counter so when peeling you don't thump your knuckles with each stroke, make one long pass, with a peeler like yours, from top to bottom. I can't get the peels to hit the trash can but they are easy to pick up. Very easy to peel this way. Thanks for the video on best way to cut it up.

[TheFabian]

I was hoping there would be an easier faster way, but happy to say that there is no other way but the hard way thanks for your work

[danasteinhoff]

Something about this video is incredibly soothing...