The term “spaghetti squash” comes from the fact that when cooked, the squash’s flesh resembles pasta. So, it can be used as a gluten-free substitute for pasta. However, how long can it stay good?
Spaghetti squash has a long shelf life. However, it can rot if not appropriately handled. Find out how long a spaghetti squash lasts, how to store it, and how to tell if it’s spoiled.
The uncut spaghetti squash has a shelf life of three months, which isn’t as long as that of uncooked wheat pasta. If stored in the refrigerator, cut squash will keep for five to seven days; cooked squash will stay safe in the fridge for four to five days. For up to eight months, squash can be stored in freezer-friendly bags with the air pressed out.
Because it contains seeds, spaghetti squash qualifies as a fruit. Even while it will ultimately decompose and become rotten, there are techniques to prolong its life.
Squash has a long shelf life, although it can rot if not handled properly. Knowing how long spaghetti squash may last, how to keep it fresh, and how to recognize when it is beyond its best is essential.
Spaghetti Squash Storage: How Long Does It Last?
How long you may keep spaghetti squash in each location will be discussed in the next paragraphs.
Spaghetti Squash: How Long Will It Last Outside?
If you haven’t cut into it yet, spaghetti squash can last up to three months. In order to preserve it for as long as possible, keep it between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
No matter where you keep it, squash will keep well on the counter for a month at room temperature (68 degrees Fahrenheit).
In well-ventilated settings, your squash will last the longest. Avoid exposing the squash to high humidity levels or direct sunshine if feasible. To avoid direct heat sources, keep it away from the oven, for example.
Spaghetti Squash: How Long Will It Last in the Refrigerator?
Once you’ve chopped the squash, it’s best to keep it in the refrigerator. Whole squash may also be stored there, although it will spoil more quickly than if left outside. Uncut squash may be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Uncooked, cut squash stays good in the refrigerator for five to seven days. Squash, after cooked, may be stored in the refrigerator for up to four or five days.
Cooked squash should be kept in an airtight container, while raw squash should be wrapped in plastic. Within two hours of cooking squash, you must refrigerate any leftovers.
Spaghetti Squash: How Long Will It Last in the Freezer
As long as you put it in a freezer-safe bag with the air pushed out before closing, you may keep it for up to eight months in the freezer.
Because raw spaghetti squash loses taste when frozen, it does not freeze as well as cooked spaghetti squash. Just-cooked squash retains a lot of moisture as steam, which gets trapped in the bag and affects the squash within the bag when it’s frozen.
To further reduce the amount of water in the squash, drain or press the squash in a colander or strainer before freezing. It’s ready to freeze if you can’t see any more water pouring out of it. The colander can be transferred into a bigger bowl and kept in the fridge overnight.
Finally, no matter how you keep your squash, be careful to examine it for symptoms of deterioration, especially before using any.
The maximum amount of time Spaghetti Squash can Last
The thick skin of winter squash, which includes spaghetti squash, is a characteristic of this particular type of squash. Because of this, it has a longer shelf life than most other vegetables, allowing it to remain fresh for extended periods.
If you’re preserving spaghetti squash at home, you may not be able to get the whole two months out of it.
Stored at 55º F to 60º F, or roughly 13º C to 16º C, spaghetti squash will stay the longest. A root cellar, an unheated garage, or any other climate-controlled room is what you need to extend the time your squash last.
Selection
Choose the best squashes to ensure the longest potential storage duration.
Follow these rules to be able to choose a long-lasting squash:
- Choose a small squash that weighs a lot
- A stem that is rounded, dry and sturdy.
- When in good condition, the outer layer has a matte finish and is intact
Do To Know When Spaghetti Squash Is Bad Or Is Still Fresh?
After a long time, you’ve decided to use or eat your squash, but you’re not sure if it’s still safe to consume.
Look out for the following:
- The rind of the squash: look for soft places on the rind, fractures, brownish stains, and other discolorations, as well as a black, shriveled, or damp stem. The exterior should be brilliant yellow, not dingy. Sniff the squash’s skin near the stem. Is the odor very strong? A strong stench is another indicator that something is decomposing on the inside.
- The “meat” of the squash: If it is green, it isn’t bad, but it isn’t ripe yet. When you cut rotting squash, it has stains or is rotten on the inside. It’s time to dump it if it’s moldy, the flesh inside feels mushy, or it’s very dry.
- After cooking: You’ll know your squash has gone bad when it starts to mildew, smells awful, feels slimy, and has white-ish liquid stuff on it. Whether cooked or raw, rotten spaghetti squash tastes harsh and is unfit to consume.
What Is The Best Way To Keep Spaghetti Squash Fresh?
Spaghetti squash is meant to be eaten when it’s ripe, which is around the time of winter. So it can be stored the same way as any winter squash may be kept.
Choosing a decent spaghetti squash is the first step in storing it properly. Squash should be fully ripe when it’s a bright yellow and too hard to scratch with a fingernail. Test the stem to see if it is light gray and dry.
Use antibacterial soap or vinegar solution to clean the squash twice, first to remove any dirt or dust, and then to store it at a humidity level between 50 and 70%. This prevents it from drying out and growing mold.
Squash doesn’t require as much humidity as other vegetables, so storing it in a refrigerator drawer with humidity control is the best option.
Avoid storing squash next to bananas, apples, pears, and other fruits, which emit a gas that accelerates the ripening process of squash.
What is the best way to Freeze Spaghetti Squash?
Spaghetti squash keeps longer in the freezer, but it’s possible that your squash may end up a whole disaster if you don’t take the appropriate measures. Keeping it frozen is easy with these suggestions.
Unlike other types of squash, spaghetti squash can’t be chopped into cubes since its flesh is lengthy strands. As a result, it’s better to freeze cooked squash.
Spaghetti squash that has been allowed to dry up before freezing is best for later use. Squash processing is aided by sprinkling or rubbing the squash with salt.
The cooked squash may be placed in a freezer-friendly resealable bag once the water has been drained off and allowed to cool. As much air as possible should be ejected from it.
Freeze the squash at the back of the freezer, far from the door, to maintain a steady temperature during the storage. Label the bag with the contents and the date, so you know when it’s no longer good for use.
When Should Spaghetti Squash Be Thawed?
It’s possible to thaw out frozen spaghetti squash in various methods.
Moving the squash from the freezer to the refrigerator is the simplest, although not the fastest, way to defrost it. This is something that can be completed in a single night.
In a pinch, you may cook your frozen squash in a pot of mildly salted water or spaghetti sauce for five to seven minutes.
You can also thaw frozen spaghetti squash by heating it in the microwave for 45 seconds on medium power. Remember that cooking the squash for an excessive amount of time can result in mushy and unappetizing results.
FAQs
Is there a difference in the shelf life of spaghetti squash after it has been cured?
Food preservation techniques such as curing are employed. To extend the shelf life of spaghetti squash, it is necessary to let it dry out in the sun for a few days. If you’re growing your own squash, there are plenty of resources online that may assist you in learning how to cure it.
Is the shelf life of hybrid spaghetti squash any different from that of a normal variety?
Squash hybrids result from crossing at least two varieties of squash. Regular spaghetti squash and hybrid spaghetti squash appear to be identical. Because they’re so similar, they’re likely to hybridize and endure the same length of time.
Final Thoughts
Spaghetti squash is a great pasta substitute since it’s easy to cultivate in your own backyard.
As a bonus, it is a gluten-free substitute for regular pasta, so you may enjoy it without the gluten consequences.