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spaghetti squash in microwave whole

spaghetti squash in microwave whole

spaghetti squash in microwave whole

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Cucurbita

Cucurbita (Latin for gourd)[3][4] is a genus of herbaceous vegetables in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae (also known as cucurbits or cucurbi) native to the Andes and Mesoamerica. Five species are grown worldwide for their edible vegetable, variously known as squash, pumpkin, or gourd, depending on species, variety, and local parlance,[a] and for their seeds. Other kinds of gourd, also called bottle-gourds, are native to Africa and belong to the genus Lagenaria, which is in the same family and subfamily as Cucurbita, but in a different tribe. These other gourds are used as utensils or vessels, and their young fruits are eaten much like those of the Cucurbita species.

Most Cucurbita species are herbaceous vines that grow several meters in length and have tendrils, but non-vining “bush” cultivars of C. pepo and C. maxima have also been developed. The yellow or orange flowers on a Cucurbita plant are of two types: female and male. The female flowers produce the fruit and the male flowers produce pollen. Many North and Central American species are visited by specialist bee pollinators, but other insects with more general feeding habits, such as honey bees, also visit.

There is debate about the taxonomy of the genus, as the number of accepted species varies from 13 to 30. The five domesticated species are Cucurbita argyrosperma, C. ficifolia, C. maxima, C. moschata, and C. pepo. All of these can be treated as winter squash because the full-grown fruits can be stored for months; however, C. pepo includes some cultivars that are better used only as summer squash.

The fruits of the genus Cucurbita are good sources of nutrients, such as vitamin A and vitamin C, among other nutrients according to species. The fruits have many culinary uses including pumpkin pie, biscuits, bread, desserts, puddings, beverages, and soups.

How To Cook Spaghetti Squash in the Microwave

A few weeks ago on Facebook and Instagram, I felt so darn proud of myself because I figured out how to cook a whole spaghetti squash in the oven.

spaghetti squash in microwave whole

Based on responses, I wasn’t the only one that’s made their life easier [and kept a few fingers] by cooking the spaghetti squash whole; saving the cutting and seeding for when the squash is soft enough to handle after cooking. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people that also shared that they cook their spaghetti squash whole in the microwave— and then go on to the cutting and seeding part.

Same results, in a fraction of the time. You know I had to try it

Since I’m writing a post on how to cook a spaghetti squash in the microwave, I’m sure you’ve realized the method works. And yes, I’m not going back to my old oven ways!

Once you have the finished product [spaghetti squash strands], there are countless ways to eat it!

I sometimes keep it very simple and serve as-is for an easy side dish. If I’m feeling extra fancy and want the boys the eat their portion, I’ll add some butter and Parmesan cheese OR top it with classic marinara sauce.

If the boys are in bed before I eat dinner, I might go spicy and even top it with spicy peanut sauce and shredded carrots for a Thai-version! Essentially everything you add to spaghetti noodles you can add to spaghetti squash. Just remember that spaghetti squash strands have more of a “bite” to them than noodles do. Hence why I need to “mask” it for the toddler and baby crew in this house… whatever it takes folks, whatever it takes!

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Make cuts all around the spaghetti squash with a knife. Place in microwave and microwave on medium-high in 5 minute increments.
  2. Rotate spaghetti squash every 5 minutes until soft [total time should be anywhere from 10-15 minutes depending on the size of the spaghetti squash].
  3. Remove from microwave. Let rest for 10 minutes. Cut in half and scoop out seeds, and then separate the strands.
  4. Serve immediately [with a drizzle of olive oil, butter, and/or salt and pepper]. OR store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Why This Microwave Steamed Spaghetti Squash Recipe Works

  • Cutting an uncooked spaghetti squash is difficult! The skin is hard and thick. Plus, the squash is round, making it wobbly on a cutting board. Microwaving the squash whole eliminates the need for a hacksaw.
  • To cook spaghetti squash in the microwaving only takes 15 minutes. Oven baked spaghetti squash typically takes upwards of 1 hour depending on the size.
  • Cooking the squash in the microwave saves energy, and leaves your oven free for other dishes.
  • Our recipe testers say,
    • “Delicious and Easy! This is basically a 15 minute recipe, plus prep. We decided to omit the balsamic vinegar for a less acidic flavor. The tomatoes’ acid was sufficient for our taste buds.
      The cooking instructions were A+ perfect!”
    • “So simple!  I love that I don’t have to cut the Spaghetti Squash before putting it in the microwave (like most other microwave recipes suggest).  I just microwave it, scrape out the squash, and serve with butter alongside tomato sauce, sausage, and pasta spaghetti.  Everyone at the table is happy.  Thank you for sharing!”
    • “I just made this. So quick and incredibly delicious! I’ll never prepare spaghetti squash any other way, ever again. Thank you.”
spaghetti squash in microwave whole

Ingredients For Steaming Spaghetti Squash

  • 1 spaghetti squash
  • Olive Oil
  • Garlic Cloves
  • Tomatoes
  • Basil
  • Balsamic
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Using a sharp paring knife, carefully pierce (I really mean stab) the spaghetti squash in a few places (about 6 slashes is good). Place squash on plate. Microwave on high for 10-15 minutes, turning/rotating the squash halfway during cooking.

    I had a 3 1/4 pound spaghetti squash. 12 minutes total was perfect.

    The squash is done with a fork very easily pierces through the squash, if there is resistance – microwave for an additional 1-2 minutes.

  • Carefully (the squash will be steaming hot!), use a chef’s knife to cut the squash in half, lengthwise. The squash should be soft and easy to cut. Remove and discard the seeds. Use two forks to scrape apart the strands of the squash. For this recipe, we’ll only use half of the spaghetti squash, about 4 cups.
  • Heat a large saute pan over medium heat with the olive oil. Add in the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add in the tomatoes and basil and cook for another minute. Turn heat to medium-high and add in the spaghetti squash and toss. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle in the balsamic vinegar. Taste the squash – adjust seasoning. If the squash still needs a bit more time to cook through, cover and cook for 2 minutes. If the squash texture is perfect, toss in the grated cheese and serve immediately.

Microwave Spaghetti Squash

There are two options for cooking spaghetti squash in the microwave.

  1. Cook the spaghetti squash after slicing it and removing the seeds and pulp
  2. Or cook the whole spaghetti squash and remove the pulp and seeds afterward.

How To Cook A WHOLE Spaghetti Squash In The Microwave

The advantage of cooking the whole spaghetti squash is that there is less time spend upfront. The disadvantage is that it is harder to separate the pulp and seeds from the spaghetti squash strands.

Step One: Pierce Spaghetti Squash

Start by piercing the spaghetti squash in several places with a sharp knife.

Step Two: Microwave

Cook the spaghetti squash in the microwave on high for 12 minutes.

Step Three: Slice

Use oven mitts or a kitchen towel to transfer the spaghetti squash to a cutting board.

Cut the spaghetti squash in half with a sharp, heavy-duty knife.

You can see that pulp and seeds are still inside. It is harder to separate and remove the pulp and seeds from the strands of spaghetti squash using this method.

Once the spaghetti squash has cooled enough to touch, remove the pulp and seeds from the middle of each half.

Step Four: Spaghetti Squash Strands

Once the pulp and seeds have been removed, use a fork to scrape out the strands of spaghetti squash.

The spaghetti squash is ready to eat! I love spaghetti squash topped with brown butter sage sauce, alfredo sauce, spaghetti sauce or with butter and parmesan. You can store leftover spaghetti squash, in an airtight container, in the fridge for a few days.

spaghetti squash in microwave whole

How Not to Bake Spaghetti Squash

In her experiments, Anna found that roasting a whole squash to the point it had an al dente texture took far too long. Roasting with the cut sides facing up resulted in squash she found too dry, and roasting it in a shallow bed of water produced strands that were too wet. If you’re wondering how to bake spaghetti squash, refer to the methods above.

How long do you microwave a spaghetti squash to cut it?

Microwave a spaghetti squash for about ten minutes before you cut it.  If your spaghetti squash is larger than average, then add two more minutes to the cook time.

Thank you for staying with this post “spaghetti squash in microwave whole” until the end.

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fateme hasani

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fateme hasani
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