Q: My CSA offers a bulk discount on winter squash — which I love! — so I am planning on getting 15 pounds or more of butternut, festival, and kabocha squashes. I heard you could preserve them by roasting, mashing, and freezing the puree.
Besides making squash soup, what are some other methods to use the puree? Also, could I freeze diced raw winter squash?
Sent by Rose
Editor: Rose, yes, you can preserve the squash by pureeing. Here's a good post on this:
• Preserving Butternut Squash by Amy Palanjian
Also check out this post:
• Eight Things To Do With Butternut Squash
Readers, what else do you suggest?
Related: Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash Puree with Goat Cheese (pictured above)
(Image: Faith Durand)
TW Salt Mill by Wil...

If you have a relatively cool place to store them (like a basement), and they are undamaged, they should keep through the winter as is. I've even had whole butternut squashes last for months in an overheated NYC apartment.
What katepk says.
Even if you DON'T have a cool dry place, they'll last for a while - I ran out of cupboard space, but I've stashed a few squash on top of the fridge in the past few weeks, and, while they won't last long, they're good for 2-3 weeks even without the optimal storage!
I was just going to say what katepk said; I keep winter squash in the fridge, and I've had them last for months. I would do that with as many as you think you can use this winter in order to give yourself the greatest flexibility.
Add parm and its a healthy side instead of mashed potato. Add spices and make ravioli or gnocchi.
I recently froze raw butternut squash cubes and then roasted them a few weeks later. They took a little longer and didn't brown as well, but otherwise there was absolutely no difference between fresh and frozen. I have a new squash cubed and frozen now, ready to use!
Stir some into your morning oatmeal, or make pumpkin smoothies. Also delicious in baked goods, of course.
Every year I make tons of my "cheater's" method Pumpkin Risotto, often with bacon--we've had it several times already this season, and each recipe uses up a cup of puree!:
Pumpkin Bacon Risotto, or, Hey, I Know, Let's Piss Off the Purists!
Another option: My Slow Cooker/Crockpot Granola, which uses 1/2 cup of puree per recipe:
Slow Cooker Granola a Jillion Different Ways, or, I Swear I Didn't Intend for This Post to Be About Drug Paraphernalia But I Stand By it Nevertheless
Hope that helps you out!
Bad Mama Genny
You could pickle some.
http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/10/in-a-pickle-pickled-sugar-pumpkin.html
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/saras-secrets/pickled-butternut-squash-with-sage-and-cardamom-recipe/index.html
For the puree, it is great mixed with chipotle and added to tostados or quesadillas.
use some of the puree to make a winter squash lasagna! i used pumpkin to make mine, you could easily adapt it.
http://falling4food.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/heaven-on-a-plate/
You can also put the puree in macaroni and cheese!
Ooh, one more for ya:
Boo Mama Genny: Vegan Pumpkin Donuts with Maple Spice Glaze, or, I Will Scream “Eyeball” at You on the Street
Id think pretty much anything you can do with pumpkin puree, you can do with butternut squash puree. Try quick bread, cookies, and muffins. Another favorite for my family is using squash puree to make gnocchi. Super yum!
That link about pureeing butternut squash makes it ridiculously harder than it needs to be. All you need to do is cut the squash in half lengthwise, put the cut sides down in a baking dish with an inch or so of water, and roast at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes. Then scoop into an icecube tray and mash gently with the spoon as you pack it in. No need to puree specifically because the water keeps the flesh moist without watering down the taste. (Each cube is approximately an ounce so it thaws in small portions, but very quickly once moved to the fridge.)
As for interesting things - a white lasagne (try alfredo sauce, marscapone, chicken with sage and nutmeg), risotto, or mixing various spices into the puree are all good options.
I second the mac and cheese!
But this is by far my favourite way to use butternut squash or kabocha (turban).
Squash, Spinach and Feta Lasagna
If you cook the squash in cream and send it through a chinoise, you can you that cream squash puree/liquid in place of straight cream in creme brulee recipes.
Cakes, pies, quick breads, custards, cookies, muffins... anything you'd do with pumpkin or sweet potato puree, you can do with all of those squashes.
Defiitely agree you can freeze it in cubes, as I have done this. As meganmiller says, it doesn't quite brown as well for roasting, but would still make great chunks in risottos, salads etc rather than having to puree the whole lot!
I love this butternut squash lasagna (however, my boyfriend is not a fan)