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Login Here Signup Here Signup using FacebookMy squash is too hard to cut. I've had the same problem with jicama and I wondered if there was a way to soften them without nuking. Perhaps soaking for a long time? I have an acorn that may well have been cooked from sitting in my car this summer. Anyone know how hot car interiors get when it's about 104 outside? Probably in the 130s so I ought to just toss it. Anyway, the question still stands, How do you soften a squash without nuking or similar high temp treatment?
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I have had success with cutting jicama into the tiniest pieces - but if that does not work how about grating it on a carrot grater? I have yet to try raw winter squash, loved acorn squash cooked, must try it soon...
If you find a squash is too hard to cut, try using a strong knife that was recently sharpened. Even a cheap knife sharpener can do a great job on a non-serrated knife.
You could try peeling the squash and then putting it in salted water or a dehydrator to soften, but I don't know how well that would work.
To soften an already-cut squash, try cutting up the squash in question and toss the pieces with oil and salt and put them in the dehydrator (or sun) for a while--they will soften up. Naturally, shreds or otherwise very small pieces will get the softest.
Alternatively, you could try soaking for a while in water with salt or lemon juice. Or just try dehydrating the pieces of squash for a while.
As for car interiors, they can get hot, but how hot depends on whether the car was in the sun, how long, the color of the car's interior, etc. I would say if the squash were "cooked," it would probably start to go rotten after a day or two.
Well thanks that was quite informative! I think I'll go the soaking route because there's no way a squash is fitting in my dehydrator.