How to Cook Spaghetti Squash Whole

Spaghetti Squash is a nutritious and low carb pasta alternative. Learn how to easily cook spaghetti squash whole in your oven, microwave or slow cooker!

Spaghetti squash is available locally in the early autumn to winter seasons. But thanks to transportation and farmers from other areas, you can find it in the grocery store year round.

The best techniques for cooking spaghetti squash are to bake, boil or steam it, then saute to remove extra moisture.

WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO COOK A SPAGHETTI SQUASH?

Have you ever tried cutting a whole, uncooked squash? It is NOT an easy task.

Every time I cut a whole, raw squash, I feel compelled to say a prayer of thanksgiving afterwards. All fingers intact - whew!

But no worries, friends! I have several solutions to cook the squash whole and THEN cut it.

You can cook whole spaghetti squash in the oven, in the microwave or in the slow cooker!

Note: You can also make spaghetti squash in the air fryer.

HOW DO YOU COOK WHOLE SPAGHETTI SQUASH IN THE MICROWAVE

In a hurry? No worry! Hey that rhymes....

Here's how to quickly cook spaghetti squash in your microwave.

Pierce the spaghetti squash in several places with a sharp knife. I'm gonna declare 6-8 pokes the perfect number.

Do not skip this step or your spaghetti squash may explode and when it does, it will NOT be pretty. Trust me on this!

Put the whole squash in a microwave safe dish. A 9x9 glass Pyrex dish is what I usually use.

Microwave on high for 10-12 minutes. Some of this depends on the strength of your microwave.

When you can easily pierce the squash with a knife, it's done. Carefully remove it using pot holders and transfer to a cutting board.

Let the squash cool for 20 minutes or so. You can carefully cut it in half to let some steam escape, just watch your hands - it will be hot!

When the spaghetti squash is cool enough to handle you can remove the seeds and pulp with a spoon. Discard the seeds and remove the spaghetti squash strands with a fork.

HOW TO COOK WHOLE SPAGHETTI SQUASH IN THE SLOW COOKER

Pierce the spaghetti squash in several places with a sharp knife. Place the squash into the slow cooker and add ¼ cup water.

Put the slow cooker lid on and allow to cook for 6-7 hours. Test for doneness by inserting a sharp knife. If it easily pierces the flesh, the squash is ready.

Allow to sit for 20 minutes to cool slightly. When cool enough to handle, or while wearing an oven mitt to hold the squash, cut the squash in half.

Steam will escape and allow the spaghetti squash to cool further.

Using a spoon, remove the seeds from the cooked center and discard.

Use a fork to remove the spaghetti squash "pasta" strands and put into a bowl. Run a spoon or fork around the inside squash to get all the squash flesh out.

HOW TO ROAST A WHOLE SPAGHETTI SQUASH IN YOUR OVEN

It's easy to cook a spaghetti squash in the oven, too!

Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees. Pierce the squash several times with a sharp knife. This is a great opportunity to safely get out your aggression!

Place the whole squash on a rimmed baking sheet.

Cook for 45-60 minutes, flipping the squash halfway through the cooking time.

Note: the actual cooking time will depend on the size and density of your spaghetti squash, but this is a good guideline.

Allow to sit for 20 minutes to cool slightly. When cool enough to handle, or while wearing an oven mitt to hold the squash, cut the squash in half.

Steam will escape and allow the spaghetti squash to cool further.

Using a spoon, remove the seeds from the cooked center and discard.

Use a fork to remove the spaghetti squash "pasta" strands and put into a bowl. Run a spoon or fork around the inside squash to get all the squash flesh out.

Spaghetti squash tastes amazing with flavors like:

Spaghetti squash tastes amazing with flavors like:

• bacon (isn't everything better with bacon??)
• herbs like basil, chives, oregano, parsley and fresh ground pepper
• cheeses (Parmesan, blue cheese, feta & mozzarella are great)
• chicken (make a chicken enchilada squash casserole with diced tomatoes, black olives, and cheese - mmmmmm!)
• Italian sausage or meatballs plus, of course...cheese. I LOVE cheese.

I love my tried & true Flavor Bible for learning which foods pair together best!

HOW TO MAKE SPAGHETTI WITH SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Spaghetti squash a great way to add extra vegetables to your diet, or sneak veggies onto the plates of picky eaters.

For our younger kids, I will blend a mixture of regular spaghetti and spaghetti squash.

As for me, I like the veggie pasta straight up! Did I mention spaghetti squash is low carb, too??

I love to utilize cooked spaghetti squash as a pasta substitute in spaghetti and meatballs. It's also yummy with cooked Italian sausage, pasta sauce, and made into a sausage squash bake. One of days I'll get the recipe on here - we eat it at least once a month!

Can I cook spaghetti squash ahead of time?

Yes, you can cook spaghetti squash ahead of time! It will keep up to three days in the refrigerator. Some liquid may pool as it sits. Simply drain the liquid before using.

How do you know when spaghetti squash goes bad?

I happen to know the answer to this first hand. It will get mushy on the outside and the skin will start to rot. Try not to let this happen!

How do I store uncooked, whole spaghetti squash?

Store uncooked whole spaghetti squash in a cool, dry place for up to three months. I try to use ours up before then.

I hope this answered all of your spaghetti squash questions! If there's something I missed (or that you love), leave me a comment below!

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• Mexican Spaghetti Squash Boats
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