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Knowing how to cook Spaghetti squash is important because it’s quite daunting if you’ve never done it. You won’t believe how easy it is with this step-by-step guide, and you’ll be using it in all sorts of recipes.Put away your Spiralizer, my friends!  This variety of winter squash is naturally spiralized — when it’s cooked, the flesh loosens and  has a texture and appearance like that of spaghetti.

Before we learn how to cook spaghetti squash, let me answer a few questions you might have . . .

What is spaghetti squash?

• Sometimes called Vegetable Spaghetti, you can certainly serve Spaghetti Squash as a gluten-free spaghetti substitute — but, please do not think it’s at all the same thing. It’s simply squash that’s shaped like spaghetti.
• Spaghetti squash is winter variety that’s in the same family with pumpkins, zucchini, and gourds.

What does it taste like?

• While nothing like a glutenous noodle, its texture is quite lovely — soft with a slight crunch. Though it has a slight nut-like flavor, the squash is fairly bland.

What goes well with Spaghetti Squash?

Since its flavor is mild, spaghetti squash can take on a lot of other flavors. It think it’s great with dark leafy greens and meaty and cheesy sauces. It’s typically served warm, but could also offer a lovey, unique crunch to a salad.

Here are a couple of my favorite recipes:

• Spinach-Sausage Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
• Tomato-Spinach Pesto Spaghetti Squash Recipe

Spaghetti squash is one of those foods, like a pear cactus or a cherimoya, that’s very daunting to deal with if you haven’t ever eaten one, or cooked one before. Which is of course why I put together this easy-to-follow photographic guide. 

Off we go . . .

How to Cook Spaghetti Squash

Yield: 1 (3-pound) Spaghetti Squash

How to Cook Spaghetti Squash

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Knowing how to cook Spaghetti squash is important because it’s quite daunting if you’ve never done it. You won’t believe how easy it is with this step-by-step guide, and you’ll be using it in all sorts of recipes.

Prep Time 50 minutes

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Difficulty easy

Materials

• 1 (3-pound) spaghetti squash

Tools

• sheet pan
• large metal spoon
• fork

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F, and adjust a rack to the center.
2. Cut about an inch off of the stem end of the squash.
3. Place the squash on the base you’ve just made and use a large Chef’s knife to slice down the center, vertically.
4. Use a large metal spoon to gently scrape out the seeds from both halves. Do not worry about the stringy insides left from the seeds.
5. Drizzle a bit of olive oil on a baking sheet and place both halves of the squash on top, round side up.
6. Roast in the preheated 400°F oven until they’re very soft, about 40 minutes.  Use kitchen tongs to carefully turn the squash over to let them cool for a few minutes.
7. Use a fork to very gently pull the flesh away from the skin.  It will naturally come off in strings. So there you have it!  Now you know how to cook Spaghetti squash, and it’s ready to eat or to use in recipes.

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