How to Cut Butternut Squash
Learn how to cut butternut squash (safely!) with this step-by-step tutorial and video.
Prep 10 min · Makes about 2 cups cubed squash

Ingredients
- Butter
- Half
- Butternut squash
Directions
- Lay the butternut squash on its side on a large sturdy cutting board. Use a sharp chef’s knife to carefully slice off the top 1/2-inch (including the stem) of the squash, and discard.
- Repeat by slicing off the bottom 1/2-inch of the squash, and discard.
- Use a sharp vegetable peeler to peel all of the skin off of the squash, while carefully holding the squash with your other hand.
- Discard the peel.
- Once the entire squash has been peeled, lay the squash on its curvy side and slice it in half down the center (see photo example above).
- Then slice each piece in half down the center vertically, so that you now have 4 pieces of squash.
- Use a spoon to scoop out and discard the seeds and pulp.
- And now — your squash is ready to cut/dice however you’d like!
- To dice the butternut squash, place the flat sides of the squash against your cutting board, and then carefully cut it into your desired size/shape of pieces.
- Keep in mind that the smaller the pieces, the faster your squash will typically cook (especially if you are roasting or sautéing the squash).
- I typically cut mine into 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch cubes for roasting, but the size/shape of the cut is totally up to you.
- Once your butternut squash is cut, you can either cook the squash immediately.
- Or you can refrigerate it in a sealed container for up to 3 days, or freeze it in a sealed container for up to 3 months.