Eating spaghetti squash is a great way to lose or maintain weight. Learn how you can cook spaghetti squash in the oven today.
If you are like me and don’t particularly like winter squash, there is still a very good chance you will like spaghetti squash. It has a plain neutral taste and fits well with many types of dishes.
It’s easy to mix it with chicken, beef, fish or veggies. Changing the spices gives you great flexibility to go from a Mexican dish to an Italian dish to an American dish without being bored.
Learn how to cook spaghetti squash in the oven using my favorite method. Since I typically use the cooked spaghetti squash in dishes such as pizza casserole, the squash must be neutral in flavor. Therefor, my preferred method of cooking is by steaming in the oven.
CUTTING THE SPAGHETTI SQUASH
Before baking, the spaghetti squash must be prepared. To do this, cut both ends of the squash off. Due to its extremely hard skin, this will make the next cut easier.
Second, cut the squash in half lengthwise. Use an ice cream scoop to remove the seeds. I find this way much easier than using a spoon.
BAKING THE SPAGHETTI SQUASH
Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Place the squash face down in a 9×13 inch glass baking dish. Add approximately one inch of water to the dish. Bake uncovered 30-35 minutes for a medium
size squash.
TEST FOR DONENESS
With a sharp fork, pierce the skin. The fork should go in easily with some resistance.
REMOVE FROM OVEN
When squash is done, remove from oven and drain water. Using a pot holder or oven mitt, hold the squash half upright with one hand. In the other hand, use a fork to scrape the strands of squash from top to bottom into the dish.
COOKING TIP
You will want the cooked spaghetti squash to have a slight crunch to it. I call this al-dente, a common term in the pasta world. This is especially important if the dish you are making will be further baked or reheated. Overcooking creates a mushy and awful tasting mess.
MAKING SPAGHETTI SQUASH AHEAD FOR RECIPES
This squash can be cooked ahead of time to make preparing recipes quicker and easier in your busy life. Keep spaghetti squash strands tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To use your cooked spaghetti squash today try my spaghetti squash spaghetti with meat sauce.