Spaghetti squash is a type of vegetable that belongs to the Cucurbita pepo genus. They come in numerous shapes and sizes including various colors. Various species have different flavors as well as contain different amounts and sizes of seeds.
The vegetable is preferred cooked and is often eaten as a main course or as a side dish sauteed, fried, or even deep-fried.
Below, we discuss whether or not spaghetti squash continue to ripen after being picked.
Do Spaghetti Squash Ripen After Being Picked?
Spaghetti squash is one of those funny veggies that will continue to ripen after being picked, but only if handled properly. For example, if you place freshly picked spaghetti squash in your basement, or even on the kitchen counter in some cases, it won’t ripen further. But, if you place it in a well-lit area like a windowsill, it’ll ripen right up in just a few days.
How Do You Ripen a Spaghetti Squash?
Ripening spaghetti squash is best done on the vine. However, if you pick yours early, whether by accident or because you want to preserve them, you have a couple of options for ripening them. You may put them in the fridge, or basement, after washing them and sitting them in the window for a couple of days, and they will take several more days to a couple of weeks to ripen fully. Or, you can stick them in the window for 4 or 5 days and have them ripened much quicker.
How to Tell if a Spaghetti Squash is Ripe?
When this particular sort of squash is fully ripe, it has golden-yellow skin (or possibly dark yellow, depending on the species). It is normally thick and firm as well. A good way to test it for ripeness is trying to scrap its skin lightly with your fingernail. If you are able to peel the skin, it isn’t ready yet. If it resists your efforts, it is ripe.
How Long Can You Leave Spaghetti Squash on the Vine?
Spaghetti squash benefits from being left on the vine for 40 to 50 days once they bloom. However, if you wait much longer, you may have nothing but overripe and spoiled squash to harvest. It is best to play things by ear (or eye rather), and leave them on until they are ripe, rather than counting days.
Is Eating Unripe Squash Safe?
Unripe squash isn’t exactly dangerous, rather it is just not very tasty. That said, some folks have been known to eat them unripe and raw. However, it isn’t highly suggested.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
