How to cook butternut squash in air fryer is something you might ask when trying to make this dish for the first time or you haven’t cooked butternut squash in an air fryer before. Butternut squash can be cooked with different methods, such as oven-roasting, cooking with a pressure cooker or slow cooker… However, in this article Bourbon O will present to you the easiest and healthiest way of preparing butternut squash – using an air fryer.
What is butternut squash?
Butternut squash (scientific name: Cucurbita moschata) is also called gramma or butternut pumpkin in countries such as New Zealand and Australia. This winter squash is very easily recognizable with a long and pear-like shape. It usually grows on a vine and once completely ripe, butternut squash’s skin turns tan-yellow and even deep orange.
Its fleshy pulp also has an orange color and it gives off a nutty, sweet and rich taste which can be compared to that of a pumpkin. The pulp provides an abundant source of vitamins (especially vitamin A and C), fiber, potassium and magnesium.
Butternut squash is typically a fruit, though it’s often cooked as a veggie. There’s a wide variety of dishes that call for butternut squash, such as squash soup, pies, muffins, breads… You can also choose tons of cooking methods for butternut squash, among which puréeing, sautéeing, roasting or toasting.
Air Fryer Butternut Squash list of ingredients
Before jumping to the cooking instructions, let’s start off with the ingredient list for this mouth-watering dish:
- 1 Butternut squash
- Olive oil (1 tbsp)
- Garlic powder (1 tsp) or minced garlic (2 tsp)
- Salt (1/2 tsp)
- Pepper (1/4 tsp)
More recipe: 9 Blue Dolphin Drink Recipes You’ll Love
How to cook butternut squash in air fryer
Như bạn có thể thấy, bí đao chiên bơ cần ít nguyên liệu đáng ngạc nhiên. Nó siêu ngon và nó trở thành một món ăn phụ hoàn hảo mà bạn có thể kết hợp với hầu hết mọi bữa ăn, đặc biệt nếu bạn đang nấu ăn vào kỳ nghỉ lễ.
- Thời gian chuẩn bị: 5 phút
- Thời gian nấu: 16 phút
- Khóa học: Món ăn phụ
- Ẩm thực: Mỹ
- Phần ăn: 4
- Lượng calo: 119 kcal
Step 1: Peel and cut butternut squash
First you need to remove the skin of the butternut squash. Consider using a razor-sharp vegetable peeler to make the work easier. Then divide the squash in half lengthwise with a sharp chef knife. Simply use a metal spoon to eliminate the seeds. However, you might want to set aside those seeds as they’re super tasty once roasted.
Step 2: Cube the squash
Use your chef knife to cube the butternut squash. The cubes are comparable to the size of a dice (about 1 inch each side).
Step 3: Mix the ingredients
Use a medium size bowl to mix the following ingredients: butternut squash cubes, seasonings and olive oil. Combine them together until each cube of squash is fully covered in seasonings and oil.
Step 4: Air fry butternut squash cubes
Arrange the pieces of well-coated butternut squash on a baking sheet (if you’re using a rack air fryer) or in the air fryer basket. Remember that the butternut squash cubes need to be formed in a single layer so that they can be roasted thoroughly.
If you’re cooking a large squash, it’s important to divide the squash cubes into smaller batches. This way you’ll avoid overlapping the squash while optimizing the cooking time.
Finally, apply a light coat of cooking spray on the air fryer basket. Set your air fryer at 400-degrees F and cook the butternut squash for about 16 – 18 minutes. The cook time can vary according to your desired tenderness and crispness of the squash. Don’t forget to give the air fryer basket a shake halfway through the cooking process.
Moreover, each air fryer model has a different temperature setting. That’s why you should examine the doneness of the squash after 10 minutes of cooking and then continue air frying.
Step 5: Season and serve
Once the butternut squash cubes are cooked to your liking, season them with salt and pepper for a better taste. Serve on a plate and sprinkle some fresh parsley on top (optional).
Notes when choosing butternut squash ingredients
- To choose to buy delicious butternut squash, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:
- You should choose to buy butternut squash with orange-yellow skin, bright color, when pressed, it feels hard in the hand.
- Delicious butternut squash usually has a fresh butternut squash stem, a stalk length of 2-3cm, on the surface of the slice at the stem there is a little latex because it has been freshly cut.
- Look around the butternut squash skin, the skin should be healthy, not chipped, or waterlogged. It feels solid when holding it.
- If you’re buying raw butternut squash cut into pieces for sale, buy pieces with bright yellow or orange-yellow flesh and firm squash.
Read also: Step By Step Guide To Prepare Air Fry Tyson Chicken Nuggets
Is it necessary to peel the butternut squash before cooking?
Về mặt kỹ thuật, có thể chấp nhận được việc chỉ chiên bí ngô trong không khí mà không cần loại bỏ da trước. Tuy nhiên, Bourbon O cho rằng bề mặt bên ngoài của bí nướng giòn hơn khi gọt vỏ. Một lợi ích nữa của việc gọt vỏ bí là phần còn thừa cũng có thể được sử dụng trong Súp bí ngô bơ.
Is it possible to air fry frozen butternut squash? The answer is definitely yes. However don’t expect frozen butternut squash to be as crispy as the fresh ones.
We can make a sweet version of air-fried butternut squash, For a sweet version of roasted butternut squash, you’ll need these ingredients below:
- Maple syrup or brown sugar (1 tbsp)
- Butter (1 – 2 tbsp)
Add the above ingredients to your butternut squash cubes and then air fry. Add some cinnamon to bring out more sophisticated flavors.
You can completely reheat the leftovers of roasted butternut squash. Simply place them in the air fryer and reheat at 400°F for about 4 – 5 minutes. However the squash won’t be as crispy as when you serve it first made.
Hopefully, now you know how to cook butternut squash in air fryer. Cooking butternut squash in an air fryer is arguably the easiest way and it’s even more simple than the oven-roasting method. For more delicious cooking recipes, go to Bourbon O’s website and you’ll surely find perfect dishes to cook for your family.
PrintAir Fryer Butternut Squash Recipe
How to cook butternut squash in air fryer is something you might ask when trying to make this dish for the first time or you haven’t cooked butternut squash in an air fryer before. Butternut squash can be cooked with different methods, such as oven-roasting, cooking with a pressure cooker or slow cooker… However, in this article Bourbon O will present to you the easiest and healthiest way of preparing butternut squash – using an air fryer.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Total Time: 21 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 Butternut squash
- Olive oil (1 tbsp)
- Garlic powder (1 tsp) or minced garlic (2 tsp)
- Salt (1/2 tsp)
- Pepper (1/4 tsp)
Instructions
Step 1: Peel and cut butternut squash
Step 2: Cube the squash
Step 3: Mix the ingredients
Step 4: Air fry butternut squash cubes
Step 5: Season and serve
Notes
Technically, it’s acceptable just to air fry the butternut squash without removing the skin firsthand. However, Bourbon O thinks that the exterior surface of the roasted squash is more crispy when peeled. One more benefit of peeling the squash is that the leftovers can also be used in Butternut Squash Soup.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 232kcal
- Sugar: 9.5 g
- Sodium: 10mg
- Fat: 4.3 gr
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 9.8 g
Keywords: how to cook butternut squash in air fryer, Air Fryer Butternut Squash, Air Fryer Butternut Squash Recipe