In the fall and winter months, there is no shortage of hard squash to pique your fancy and delight your tastebuds. Available in all shapes and sizes, hard squash is versatile, delicious and very nutritious. They are a good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, fiber, Magnesium, and potassium. Let’s take a look at some of the most interesting varieties available this season!

Photo: specialtyproduce.com

Acorn Squash

Taste: Sweet, mildly buttery flavor.

Color: Ridged skin can vary in color from dark green to white with patches of orange. Pale yellow/orange flesh on the inside.

Uses: Great for roasting and stuffing. Once roasted, the skin is soft and edible or can easily be separated from the flesh.

Shelf Life: 2 months

Autumn Frost Squash

Taste: Sweet flavor with earthy, nutty undertones.

Color: Round and stocky, deeply ribbed butternut-type squash. Ripens with a dark tan skin with a frosty overlay.

Uses: Great for roasting, stuffing, soups and more.

Size: 3 – 4 pounds. Small to medium sized.

Shelf Life: Can store up to 4 months.

Black Futsu Squash

Taste: Sweet and slightly nutty flavor with smooth, creamy texture.

Color: Deeply ribbed, bumpy skin that changes from deep black-green to a warm orange buff color as it grows.

Uses: Great roasted, fried in tempura, pureed in pies or soups, or pickled. The skin is edible!

Size: Small squash variety, ranging from the size of a grapefruit to about three times that size.

Shelf Life: 4 – 5 months

Photo: tasteofhome.com

Buttercup Squash

Taste: Sweet, creamy flavor with firm texture; considered one of the sweetest winter squash varieties. Seeds can be roasted like pumpkin seeds!

Color: Dark green with light-green stripes and a distinctive round ridge on the bottom. Flesh is bright orange.

Uses: Flesh tends to be drier, so steaming and baking are the best methods for cooking. Good sub for Acorn squash.

Shelf Life: 3 – 6 months

Butternut Squash

Taste: Sweet, nutty and earthy flavor with texture that is softer than a roasted sweet potato.

Color: Creamy beige skin with golden-yellow flesh.

Uses: Extremely versatile & popular; lends itself to roasting, pureeing, mashing, and soup.

Shelf Life: 1 – 3 months

Photo: Specialty Produce

Carnival Squash

Hybrid of sweet dumpling and acorn squash.

Taste: Slightly nutty, buttery, and sweet with nuances of maple syrup.

Color: Cream-colored skin with variegated spots and stripes of white, orange, yellow, and green, depending on maturity level. The flesh is firm and dense.

Uses: Wonderful substitute for butternut or acorn squash in recipes.

Shelf Life: 1 – 3 months

Casperita

Taste: Texture and sweetness is similar to Acorn squash.

Color: Bright white, miniature pumpkin (1/2 to 1 pound each!)

Uses: Great for decorating or eating.

Shelf Life: Up to 6 months

Photo: ProduceGeek.com

Delicata Squash

Taste: Reminiscent of fresh corn and pumpkin pie with rich creamy texture.

Color: Yellow in color with green stripes and spotting along ribs.

Uses: Great for roasting and stuffing. Named for its delicate, edible skin; no peeling needed!

Shelf Life: 1.5 months

Galeux d’Eysines

A French heirloom variety squash from the Bordeaux region.

Taste: Supremely sweet and flavorful; velvet smooth flesh.

Color: Salmon-peach colored skin covered with peanut shell-like warts caused by sugar in the skin.

Uses: Eaten in soups and stews or used for decoration. This variety would make for a stunning table centerpiece!

Shelf Life: Up to 6 months

Georgia Candy Roaster Squash

Taste: Sweet, pumpkin-like flavor that is slightly nutty, and deepens the longer it’s stored.

Color: Smooth, semi-thin skin, covered in shallow striations. Flesh is yellow-orange, fine-grained, and crisp. It starts off light yellow and matures to an orangey-beige color with interesting blue-green streaks at the flower end.

Uses: Highly versatile. Good in pies, soups, bisques, butters and baked goods.

Shelf Life: 5 months

Size: Typical ones grow 12 – 18 inches, but they can grow up to three feet!

Honey Boat Delicata Squash

Taste: Irresistibly sweet, nutty flavor. Considered to be the sweetest of the Delicatas!

Color: Gold-orange skin with green stripes and light colored flesh.

Uses: Great for roasting and stuffing. The skin is edible; no peeling needed!

Shelf Life: 3 months

Honeynut Squash

Hybrid of butternut and buttercup squash.

Taste: Flavorful, sweet and nutty, with a hint of caramel and malt.

Color: Zucchini-green when young, then turns orange as it ripens. The flesh is a deep orange color.

Uses: Versatile squash that can be roasted, pureed, steamed, mashed, stuffed and more. The skin is thin and edible (no peeling!) Great substitute for Delicata squash!

Shelf Life: 1 month

Hubbard Squash

Taste: Rich, sweet pumpkin flavor.

Color: Large, thick, bumpy skin that ranges in color from bright orange to deep green. Yellow-orange flesh.

Uses: Best for puree or pie filling.

Shelf Life: 5 – 6 months

Photo: rareseeds.com

Jarahdale Squash

Hybrid of the Cinderella pumpkin and the Blue Hubbard squash.

Taste: Sweet flavor; flesh is thick, fine-textured.

Color: Attractive blue-gray colored skin with beautiful golden-orange flesh.

Uses: Stands out in savory dishes, roasted, or in a stew, due to the not stringy flesh that holds its shape when cooked. Also great for sweet applications like pies or purely for decoration!

Shelf Life: 3 months

Photo: Mountain Harvest Organics

Jester Squash

Taste: Similar to Acorn squash, firm and nutty.

Color: Oval in shape with green and orange ribs.

Uses: Thin skinned, best for stuffing and roasting.

Shelf Life: 1-2 months

Jill-Be-Little Squash

Taste: Intended for decorative applications

Color: Miniature pumpkin, deep orange color

Uses: Ornamental–wonderful for fall decorations!

Shelf Life: Up to 2 months

Kabocha Squash

Taste: Sweet, nutty flavor, like sweet potato mixed with pumpkin. Fluffy texture similar to roasted chestnut.

Color: Can be dark green or bright orange; bright yellow-orange flesh inside.

Uses: Roasted, steamed, fried in tempura, soups or used as a substitute for pumpkin in pie. The thick skin is edible and easy to remove when cooked.

Shelf Life: 1 – 2 months

Photo: Seeds Gallery Shop

Marina di Chioggia

Italian winter squash named for the fishing port near Venice.

Taste: Known for its excellent sweet flavor and texture

Color: Bumpy with dusty green skin. The bumps are from sugar build-up!

Uses: A favorite for making gnocchi pasta, pumpkin pies, soups, and stews.

Shelf Life: Up to 6 months

Photo: Specialtyproduce.com

Porcelain Doll Squash

Taste: Tender with smooth texture and sweet flavor

Color: Pale yellow to pink skin, thick orange flesh

Uses: Great for roasting, baking, or boiling. The seeds are edible!

Shelf Life: Up to 3 months

Red Kuri Squash

Taste: Full flavored; has sweet nuttiness reminiscent of chestnuts.

Color: Teardrop shaped with distinctive orange skin and golden flesh.

Uses: Roasting, baking, steamed, stir-fried and stuffed, endless possibilities!

Shelf Life: 3 months

Robin’s Koginut Squash

Hybrid between Butternut and Kabocha squash.

Taste: Buttery, mildly sweet, nutty flavor with notes of citrus and vanilla. Silky, creamy, sensationally tender consistency when cooked (think creamsicle!)

Color: ripens from dark green to tan when mature. Flesh is bright orange.

Uses: Can be prepared any number of ways but roasting brings out this squash’s deliciously creamy flavor. The skin is edible and can be left on.

Shelf Life: 3 months

Spaghetti Squash

Taste: Very mild, almost neutral flavor.

Color: Brilliant yellow skin and pale yellow pasta-like strands inside.

Uses: Roasting softens the flesh; use a fork to separate the strands and pair with your favorite sauce.

Shelf Life: 3 months

Speckled Hound Squash

Taste: Dense flesh with sweet nutty flavor.

Color: Light orange skin with splashes of blue-green. No two are the same! Flesh is light orange.

Uses: Unique appearance makes for interesting decoration. Also great for roasting, stuffing, making soup or baking. Freezes well.

Shelf Life: Up to 3 months

Starry Night Squash

Taste: Buttery, nutty, just the right amount of sweetness; notes of caramel. Smoother consistency than traditional acorn squash.

Color: Dark green skin with unique speckled color pattern.

Uses: Great for roasting and stuffing; skin is edible.

Shelf Life: 3 months

Photo: SpecialtyProduce.com

Sweet Dumpling

Taste: Sweet, mild flavor. The flesh is light and tender and the skin is edible.

Color: The thin skin has a cream-colored base, with vertical lines that are green, yellow, or orange – depending on maturity. Light orange to gold flesh.

Uses: Perfect for stuffing and roasting!

Shelf Life: 1 – 2 months

Tetsukabuto Squash

Taste: Earthy flavor has rich notes of hazelnut and browned butter.

Color: Dark green skin appearing almost black. Flesh is golden yellow.

Uses: Roasting, fried in tempura, baked in bread, soup and more!

Shelf Life: 3 months

Photo: Melissa’s Produce

Turban Squash

Taste: Sweet, nutty flavor

Color: Bumpy mottled and multicolored skin, unusual shape

Uses: Decorative or used in recipes that include steaming, roasting, baking and pureeing. The shell of the squash can be used as a serving vessel for soup made of the pureed flesh!

Shelf Life: Up to 3 months