What Is Butternut Squash?
Butternut squash, a popular winter squash, has slightly sweet, bright orange flesh and an inedible, thick and tan skin. The labels “summer squash” and “winter squash” have very little bearing on their availability and usage today. Both classifications of squash are generally available in markets year round. A “summer squash” is a squash with a thin skin that will perish within a few days to a week, such as zucchini. Butternut squash is classified as a “winter squash” because it has a very thick skin and therefore, a long shelf life. If kept in a cool place, butternut squash can last as long as three months. Historically, people knew that they could generally count on having fresh butternut squash well into the winter.
