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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be ashamed that I cannot peel butternut squash?

66 replies

Zippyzoppy · 30/10/2019 17:38

What is it with the squash? It is called for in many a recipe, and quite delicious too, but getting under that crinkly, tough skin is impossible without nearly losing a finger or an eye.

Any stories of how you overcame your own peeling deficiencies greatly received.

OP posts:
AJPTaylor · 30/10/2019 18:09

I just buy it frozen and ready prepared now.

supercatlady · 30/10/2019 18:17

I roast it and eat it in the skin, but if I need it peeled, I slice the bottom of the round end so it has a stable base then peel it vertically downwards if that makes sense?
Even easier if you don't need a whole one is to chop off the "tubular" bit then stand that and cut it vertically.
Then cut and roast the bottom with peel on another time.
H the

cornflakegirl · 30/10/2019 18:19

Y-shaped Oxo peeler does the trick.

DarlingNikita · 30/10/2019 18:19

I roast it and eat it in the skin, but if I need it peeled, I slice the bottom of the round end so it has a stable base then peel it vertically downwards if that makes sense?
Even easier if you don't need a whole one is to chop off the "tubular" bit then stand that and cut it vertically.

Yes, agreed!

BarbedBloom · 30/10/2019 18:20

I buy it ready chopped and frozen now as my rheumatoidy fingers can't manage, but before that I roasted skin on and then peeled

Chloemol · 30/10/2019 18:21

Very sharp large knife, cut of the bottom. Stand on chopping board and slice of outer skin. Then cut into cubes

VanyaHargreeves · 30/10/2019 18:30

I get the lazy version of this and pretty much everything else Blush

RuLu · 30/10/2019 18:38

I buy it ready chopped & frozen in a bag. Aldi sell it, I think iceland do too. I can't cut them either & if I remember correctly, a bag is less than £1.
65p maybe?

SueDoeName · 30/10/2019 18:42

OMG have I been doing squash wrong?

I EAT the skin! Jamie Oliver didn't tell me to peel it?

NearlyGranny · 30/10/2019 18:45

I get my biggest knife and lever the squash in half lengthwise, then quarter it, scoop out the seeds, brush with a little olive oil, season with freshly ground salt and black pepper and roast it in a tin until it's soft.

Then just scoop the flesh from the skin.

Easy.

Windygate · 30/10/2019 18:49

@mbosnz snap! apparently it's an allergy connected to the Nightshade family of fruit and veg. Heaven help if I touch my face.

I have an Oxo peeler which helps but like most above I roast it with the skin on and either take flesh out then or if making soup I just blitz the chunks.

Oblomov19 · 30/10/2019 18:51

Potato peeler. Dead easy.

Babysharkisanearworm · 30/10/2019 18:51

Sweet potatoes... lordy they are tough to peel. Swede are ninjas for peeling too.
BN squash is the same although some good tips here.

SnuggyBuggy · 30/10/2019 18:51

You can also put the whole thing in a slow cooker for 6 hours, slice in half and scoop out

Oblomov19 · 30/10/2019 18:53

I'm with Nikita here:

"Are you sure it's butternut? I don't recognise the 'crinkly, tough skin' description at all. IME butternut skin is smooth and quite thin. A bog-standard vegetable peeler does the job."

Likethebattle · 30/10/2019 18:54

Put it i the microwave in high for 3 minutes. Makes it much easier. If it’s a soup don’t peel just blend as it’s extra fibre.

Singlebutmarried · 30/10/2019 18:55

I do mine in my pressure cooker for 10 mins first and then the skin just sort of slides off.

Before I had the pressure cooker I used a santuko (no idea if that’s how you spell it) knife to top, tail and then used a potato peeler.

FrankiesKnuckle · 30/10/2019 19:07

Roast whole. Easy peasy.

DarlingNikita · 30/10/2019 19:07

Oblomov19, THANK YOU! I'm really puzzled.

LonelyBones · 30/10/2019 19:08

Slice it into chunky discs, then chop the skin off. Itll looks hexagonal-ish once youve taken the skin off. Then chop into chunks and cook.

Ive taken the skin off my fingers too many times trying to peel it with a peeler.

MitziK · 30/10/2019 19:08

Stab it with a big, pointy knife several times, then shove in the microwave for five minutes.

Then you can cut it up without risking amputation - and it peels easily.

If you stab it and shove it in the oven, it's even easier, as there's no need to cut it up - but it needs to be stabbed to avoid butternut blitzkrieg on the oven lining.

24hourshomeedderandcarer · 30/10/2019 19:10

i cant even peel a potato

BarbourellaTheCoatzilla · 30/10/2019 19:21

Potato peeler. It's a shit one from Ikea but it's never difficult.

mbosnz · 30/10/2019 19:27

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one!

Oh Gods, I just deseeded and chopped red chilis for the first time.

I think I just stopped biting my nails, after 44 years - my tongue is BURNING!

Butternut is the one shaped like an overlarge peanut, isn't it? The skin can be eaten if you wish to. I use a potato peeler too.

SeigneurLapindeGrantham · 30/10/2019 19:27

Another vote here for stabbing and microwaving, makes life much easier.

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