How To Cook Spaghetti Squash in the Oven, Microwave, or Instant Pot

Last week I got a call from my mother, who wanted to tell me that she just bought a spaghetti squash for the first time. “Now what?” she asked. “How do I cook this thing?”

While most winter squashes like butternut, kabocha, and pumpkin are wonderful cut into cubes and roasted, spaghetti squash is a different beast, thanks to the long strands swirled around under the skin. When it comes to the basics of cooking spaghetti squash, there are three easy methods to choose from.

Your oven is the most traditional way to cook spaghetti squash. The trickiest part is cutting this firm squash in half, but it’s nothing a sharp chef’s knife can’t handle. Depending on the size, a spaghetti squash typically takes 30 to 45 minutes of cook time in the oven.

For tender, mild-flavored strands of squash, steam it by placing the squash halves face down in a baking dish with a little water in the bottom. Or for a flavorful, caramelized surface, brush the cut sides with oil and roast it, face up on a baking sheet. The choice is yours, and both options yield a delicious, versatile result that can be used in so many ways.

Try it: How To Cook Spaghetti Squash in the Oven

This is the fastest and easiest method for cooking spaghetti squash, coming together from start to finish in no more than 15 minutes. You’ll also love it if you struggle with cutting a roly-poly spaghetti squash in half.

Yes, the squash does get halved in this method, but only after it’s been pierced and cooked for a few minutes in the microwave. It’s just enough time to soften the skin and firm flesh, to making it a breeze to cut open. This method steams the squash in minutes, leaving you with tender strands with no added flavor.

Try it: How To Cook Spaghetti Squash in the Microwave

Once you cook spaghetti squash in an Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker, you just may never go back to the oven again. From start to finish (including time to come to pressure and naturally release afterwards, you can expect a whole two-pound squash to steam in 35 minutes (only 15 of which is the actual cook time). Spaghetti squash in the electric pressure cooker requires zero prep and comes out tender so that it’s easy to cut open and remove the seeds, then use in any of your favorite recipes.

Try it: How To Cook Spaghetti Squash in an Instant Pot

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