delicata storage

[tjg911]

i normally place 6 or 7 butternut into a cardboard box from staples that held printer paper i got from work. i stand them up and don't let them touch each other for air circulation.

i have too few boxes left having used them for the butternuts and i have 19 delicata squash to store. i put 14 into 1 box. do they need to be less crowded? air circulation? i suspect they'll keep to the end of the year and i'd hate to lose them cuz i stored them incorrectly tho i suspect 14 in 1 box is fine.

how do you store your delicata squashes?

thanks,

tom

[RinTinTin]

First three rules for storing winter squash:

Do NOT wash them (until ready to cook).
Let cure in the sun (but out of the rain) until stems shrivel - about two weeks.
Do not allow them to touch each other in storage.

Any damaged squash should be eaten right away...do not store them with others.

Q: What's better than a stored winter squash?
A: Two stored winter squash.


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[Tormato]

Tom,

Rule #1 for you should probably be...eat all of the Delicatas before any of the Butternuts. I've never tried to store a Delicata long term, but it might be possible.

Gary

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Tormato

Tom,

Rule #1 for you should probably be...eat all of the Delicatas before any of the Butternuts. I've never tried to store a Delicata long term, but it might be possible.

Gary

I have tried to store Delicatas and they just don't store as well as the more hard skinned varieties so eat them first, or cut up the flesh, cook it and freeze it b'c they won't store as long as your Butternuts, Buttercups, Acorns, Hubbards, etc.

[tjg911]

yep, it's a pepo and they have a short storage duration. thing is i have 19 and if the 5 or 6 in the garden ripen.... but those may not as the plants are really dying back and day time temps are cool not to mention how short the days are and weak the sun is.

i figure these will keep to december 1 maybe 31 but i never grew pepos so not exactly sure.

[TZ-OH6]

I didn't have any trouble getting most of mine through the winter sitting piled in a box in the cool part of the basement. A couple were still intact well into the summer (8 months).

[tjg911]

i had 1 that was oddly formed and rather small so i decided to try it tonight. rather than baking it, i peeled it and cut it into small pieces and cooked it with a little water like a butternut squash.

WOW! very delicious, a rather dry texture, tastes nothing like butternut (i added some butter, cinnamon to it and tried another batch with the same plus maple syrup). i can't say it tasted like a sweet potato but similar. since it was not baked maybe that's why. also 1/2 of it unripe (i did not cook that part) and the color that was ripe was not real dark orange like a butternut. but being the 1st i ever saw i am not sure if the flesh was pale and maybe the flavor too? but it sure was good, i almost went to the basement and got another to cook.

tom