Poke holes all over squash skin with a sharp paring knife. However, baking spaghetti squash whole causes the strands to steam cook, so they develop a more mild flavor. This method takes no prep whatsoever, so there’s no struggling with trying to cut through the hard skin. Plus, a higher temp reduces the steaming effect, which means better taste. My best trick with baked spaghetti squash recipes is a higher temperature to cut back on time. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below. This section shows how to bake spaghetti squash (2 different ways), with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. Advantage of cutting crosswise: You get longer strands you can twirl around a fork more easily.It will be harder to serve recipes with spaghetti squash noodles in the shells if you cut the short way, because the side with the stem doesn’t always balance upright.

Advantage of cutting lengthwise: You get nice, stable spaghetti squash boats that way.

If you want longer spaghetti squash strands, the key is to cut it in half crosswise (as shown above), not lengthwise! You’d be cutting the strands shorter when slicing the long way. The long strands in a spaghetti squash actually run perpendicular to the length of the squash. TIP: The length of your strands will depend on the direction you cut the squash. Use a large, sharp chef’s knife to cut along the scored line. Place the squash on a cutting board and use a paring knife to poke holes all the way around the squash, where you’ll be cutting (see visual below). The tough skin can make this difficult, so here is the best way to make it easier: You can add black pepper as well.įor a deeper, roasted flavor and shorter cook time, slicing the squash before baking is the way to go.

Sea Salt – Like any other baked veggie, cooking a spaghetti squash with salt brings out the flavor.I used extra virgin olive oil, but use any neutral cooking oil you like, such as avocado oil. Olive Oil – You only need this ingredient if you roast spaghetti squash cut in half.A larger squash or smaller squash will need adjustments up or down in cooking time, but you can use the doneness indicators below to ensure it’s done right. The stringy texture of this vegetable makes it the perfect swap for pasta in your favorite comfort food dishes! Find a firm, medium sized squash (about 4-6 pounds, with no cracks or soft spots. Whole Spaghetti Squash – Spaghetti squash is a winter squash (in the same family as acorn squash, butternut squash, and pumpkin) known for spaghetti-like strands in its flesh.For measurements, see the recipe card below. This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for roasting spaghetti squash in the oven, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options.

Microwave acorn squash before baking