The Key To Roasting Frozen Butternut Squash For Maximum Flavor
Butternut squash is sweet and savory gourd with a texture similar to a sweet potato, making it the perfect addition to roasted vegetable medleys, soups, grain bowls, hashes, and so much more. Perhaps the biggest deterrent for incorporating butternut squash into your next meal is the time and effort it takes to prepare it. Frozen butternut squash saves you all the work of peeling, seeding, and slicing, and you can roast them from frozen. The key to roasting frozen butternut squash for maximum flavor is to use plenty of oil and seasonings.
Butternut squash is frozen in its raw form, which often leads to a mushier, softer texture and a more muted flavor the than fresh variety. When butternut squash freezes, its water content crystallizes, which damages the cell walls of the squash leading to the mushy texture. A thorough coating of oil and seasonings paired with a high roasting temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit will ensure that caramelized crispy exterior and a flavor-infused tender interior. A simple salt and pepper seasoning is crucial to enhance and complement frozen butternut squash's natural sweetness, while the oil encourages caramelization and keeps the squash from scorching in a high-heat oven. Of course, you can also choose a flavorful oil for even more depth to the final profile of your roasted butternut squash.
More tips for roasting frozen butternut squash
While frozen butternut squash may need slightly higher temperatures and a good amount of oil and seasonings to optimize any flavor lost during the freezing process, many of the same roasting tips applied to raw butternut squash also apply to frozen. For example, you'll want to spread each seasoned and oiled chunk evenly over a baking sheet so as not to overcrowd them. Overcrowding will sabotage the crisp exterior that makes roasted butternut squash so delectable. Another effective way to kickstart the browning process for frozen butternut squash is by preheating the baking sheet. Simply place the baking sheet in the oven as it preheats so it's nice and hot when you pour the seasoned and oiled frozen butternut squash over it. A crucial roasting tip to caramelized butternut squash from frozen is to place the baking sheet in the bottom rack of the oven.
The type of oil you choose can also benefit the flavor of the butternut squash. Olive oil is a classic choice that'll bring a rich and earthy complement. If you want a neutral oil, canola, peanut, and avocado oil have high smoke points, allowing for maximum crisp in a hot oven and minimum influence on the flavor of the butternut squash. Once you realize that oil and seasonings are all you need to ensure tasty roasted butternut squash, cubed butternut squash will become a staple in your freezer.