This easy Microwave Acorn Squash cooking method yields perfectly tender acorn squash in no time at all! Load up your favorite fillings like the comfort food classic combination of butter and brown sugar for a super quick vegetable side that everyone loves!
Prepare your acorn squash by cutting it in half and coring out the seeds. Leave as much flesh as possible in each half of the acorn squash. Rinse after coring.
Place the acorn squash halves facing downward in a microwave-safe bowl or dish with 2 tablespoons of water. Heat on high for 5 minutes.
Transfer the heated acorn squash halves to individual bowls then add 1 tablespoon each of light brown sugar and butter. Heat on high for an additional 5 minutes in the microwave. Use a fork to check for tenderness after heating, if needed heat in additional 1-minute increments until the squash reaches your desired level of tenderness.
Remove from the microwave and allow to cool for about 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Prior to cooking or cutting your garden acorn squash keep it in a cool, dry, and dark area for up to a month possibly even two months. However, store-bought acorn squash is best used within two weeks of purchase (because we don't know how old the squash is already).Once cooked, wrap the fully cooled acorn squash tightly with plastic cling film. Transfer the wrapped squash to an airtight container or plastic storage bag.Your cooked acorn squash will last in the refrigerator for 3 - 4 days. If the squash is not packaged within the first 1 - 2 hours after cooking, discard the cooked squash. *Bacteria will grow quickly at room temperature!Acorn squash should be cooked before freezing anyway, so now is a great time to freeze your microwave acorn squash! Cut the cooked acorn squash into chunks and transfer them to an airtight freezer container or heavy-duty plastic freezer storage bag.Once frozen, the cooked acorn squash retains great quality for up to a year. Properly frozen acorn squash that is maintained at 0ºF ( -18ºC ) can last much longer.