keeping butternut squash

[phoebe]

I bought a rather large butternut squash a week and a half (maybe two weeks ) ago to use in a vegetarian stew. But plans changed and then we went out of town. The squash has been living in my fridge all this time and looks pretty much the same. How long can hard-skinned squash last?

[Pete]

I have seen them last months! Two weeks is nothing. It will be fine.

[MarkV]

I concur with Pete. 2 weeks is nothing. You can easily go at least a month, especially if its been in the fridge.

[phoebe]

Great! Thank you guys. Clearly I don't have a lot of experience with this type of squash.

[chrose]

Emily, I'm glad you asked that question because I wondered myself. A book I've been reading on gardening (and my father) talk about growing squash(s) and then keeping them in a cool place over the winter. It makes me think of a root cellar, but also the things I have thrown out in the past because they went bad. So basically what I'm hearing is that if I put my Acorn Squash that I'm growing into my cool basement this winter, they will basically last all winter?! Hot d#mn Now if only I could get my tomatoes to stay fresh that long

[shroomgirl]

Actually German Tomatoes were propogated for storage....you know the gorgeous yellow flesh 2-3# beauties with pink veins.
Wrap in newspaper and stick in the basement. I've been writing more about food storage....once you get used to local food it's hard making it through the winter. I freeze peaches, tomatoes, edamames, favas, tongues of fire beans.....winter squash, sweet potatoes all go in the basement. I want to pickle beets this year...we just seem to consume um.