SparklyUnicorn Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Does it ever soften? Made some last night (had some for lunch) with my pasta sauce. The flavor was fine, but it was a bit crunchier than I'd like. Not super super crunchy, but I want it softer. I've cooked it in the past and every time I do I remember what I don't like about it. Seems like no matter how long I cook it, it never really softens. Or it goes from crunchier to mush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 How did you cook it? I found that the microwave was actually best because as the water evaporated it steamed the squash. But it always takes longer than I think it should Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 I did it in the oven. I have done it in the micro before. Leftovers I cooked in the microwave for quite awhile and it still didn't soften! So I'm wondering if it ever actually does. I did a small one for an hour in the oven. I'm stumped. I dunno. I don't cook it very often so maybe I need to keep trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocolatechip Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 If you cut it in half the long way and put it in a pan (cut sides up) with about an inch of water in the bottom, it steams the squash a bit as it bakes, which helps it soften quite nicely from my experience. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Am I the only person who doesn't love spaghetti squash? People always rave about how you can use it as a substitute for pasta, but we just don't particularly care for it. It's definitely not going to pass for pasta at our house! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimm Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Am I the only person who doesn't love spaghetti squash? People always rave about how you can use it as a substitute for pasta, but we just don't particularly care for it. It's definitely not going to pass for pasta at our house! Me. It's too bad, I wanted to like it. But no. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MysteryJen Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Not a fan of spaghetti squash. And I have wondered how foggy someone must be from hunger to even think of it as a decent substitute for pasta. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 Am I the only person who doesn't love spaghetti squash? People always rave about how you can use it as a substitute for pasta, but we just don't particularly care for it. It's definitely not going to pass for pasta at our house! I don't love it at all. LOL It worked ok as a sub for my pasta sauce. But no way would I say I love it. I guess the best I could say is I don't hate it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 If you cut it in half the long way and put it in a pan (cut sides up) with about an inch of water in the bottom, it steams the squash a bit as it bakes, which helps it soften quite nicely from my experience. I'll do this next time. That sounds promising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Not a fan of spaghetti squash. And I have wondered how foggy someone must be from hunger to even think of it as a decent substitute for pasta. :lol: :lol: :lol: I have heard that eating too many vegetables can do that to you. ;) 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 :lol: :lol: :lol: I have heard that eating too many vegetables can do that to you. ;) I believe it! :laugh: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelAR05 Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 (edited) I'll do this next time. That sounds promising. That is how I cook it too. Edited March 30, 2017 by MelAR05 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbecueMom Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 It makes a better substitute for hash browns than pasta, IMO. Tastes great seasoned with salt and pepper and fried in bacon grease in a patty shape. Or baked in a casserole with ham, cheese, and sour cream. At that point, however, healthy eating has flown out the window. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 It makes a better substitute for hash browns than pasta, IMO. Tastes great seasoned with salt and pepper and fried in bacon grease in a patty shape. Or baked in a casserole with ham, cheese, and sour cream. At that point, however, healthy eating has flown out the window. And once again, bacon saves the day! :hurray: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
City Mouse Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 I like sp squash and do use it in place of pasta, but it is not exactly like pasta and never gets as soft as pasta. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 It makes a better substitute for hash browns than pasta, IMO. Tastes great seasoned with salt and pepper and fried in bacon grease in a patty shape. Or baked in a casserole with ham, cheese, and sour cream. At that point, however, healthy eating has flown out the window. ohhh see now this sounds good and low carb 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 I like sp squash and do use it in place of pasta, but it is not exactly like pasta and never gets as soft as pasta. Yeah this is what I suspect. I don't mind a bit of a bite, but it's a bit too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 I cut mine in half, remove the seeds, drizzle with a little olive oil then bake for nearly an hour. I don't feel like mine is crunchy. In fact, a couple times it has come out a little softer than I'd like it to be. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Thanks for the reminder - I just used my Instant Pot to steam (two minutes, quick release) half of the last squash from our garden (harvested last early October). Lovely. I do note that spaghetti squash goes from perfect to mush in an instant :-( so once it is done I do NOT cover it to keep warm (or it will just keep steaming into mush). I use the meat tenderizer as a "kitchen hammer" to pound a butcher knife through the raw squash to get it into sections. I scrap the seeds out with a serrated grapefruit spoon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoundAbout Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 I use my Instant Pot. Cut in half, place on trivet with a cup of water, and then 8 minutes high pressure. Always perfect! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine State Sue Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 If you cut it in half the long way and put it in a pan (cut sides up) with about an inch of water in the bottom, it steams the squash a bit as it bakes, which helps it soften quite nicely from my experience. I cut it in half the long way, scoop out the seeds, put it in a pan (cut sides down) with about an inch of water at the bottom, and bake for 45min at 350 degrees. If the strands don't separate easily after 45min, I turn it right side up and cook another 15min maybe. I like spaghetti squash and eat it with marinara sauce regularly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 I love spaghetti squash! I just bake it whole for about an hour. I give it a few knife pricks so it doesn't explode. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 31, 2017 Author Share Posted March 31, 2017 I love spaghetti squash! I just bake it whole for about an hour. I give it a few knife pricks so it doesn't explode. This is what I did. So now I'm wondering if it really is just crunchier than I like. Which leads me to think..maybe I just don't like spaghetti squash. LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 This is what I did. So now I'm wondering if it really is just crunchier than I like. Which leads me to think..maybe I just don't like spaghetti squash. LOL It is a bit crunchy. Yeah, I like it but I sure don't think of it as a substitute for pasta. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellifera33 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 I find that spaghetti squash is so variable that you can't tell if it will get soft until you cook it and see if it gets soft. My completely unscientific theory is that, although gardening catalogs claim spaghetti squash doesn't need curing, cured squash has a better texture. The best squash that I have eaten is the squash I grew in the garden, then forgot about, until after the first frost when the squash had completely slipped the vines and sat for a while. It had a nice soft texture without cooking it to death. Or maybe it was just starting to rot from sitting out so long? I don't think so, because it stored for a few months without molding. Regardless, it was good squash. :lol: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Kate Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 I don't care for it either. I do like zoodles (zucchini noodles) though. Certainly not pasta, but IMO a better substitute that spaghetti squash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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