How to Cut Spaghetti Squash Like a Pro in 8 Easy Steps

Chef's Knife 7'' | Gladiator Series | Dalstrong ©

Quick Overview: How to Cut Spaghetti Squash?

1. Set up your cutting station
2. Preheat the oven
3. Cut off the top and bottom ends
4. Scoop out the seeds
5. Drizzle with olive oil
6. Bake until golden
7. Fluff interiors with a fork
8. Serve as desired

1. What Is Spaghetti Squash?
2. Tools You Will Need
3. How to Cut & Cook Spaghetti Squash
4. Recipe: Spaghetti Squash with Feta and Kale
5. Top Knife Picks to Cut Spaghetti Squash
6. Frequently Asked Questions

Dalstrong Teak Cutting Board

Unique, delicious, and healthy- these three words describe a big, juicy spaghetti squash perfectly. Some might also say that it’s almost magical. In the beginning, it is just a firm, oval squash in appearance, just like any other squash you might find in the market. But once roasted, this squash takes on a completely different personality.

While this vegetable can look big, don’t be intimidated by them when you see one at the grocery store. You might not know this if you’ve never tried it but there are so many ways on how to cook spaghetti squash. You can turn spaghetti squash into hash browns, bake spaghetti squash, roasted spaghetti squash, instant pot spaghetti squash, their self-contained noodle bowl, use it as a substitute for rice or pasta, or even make pizza crust with them. 

Read on to know how you can tackle this juicy vegetable and learn how to cook spaghetti squash.

1. What Is Spaghetti Squash?

Also called vegetable spaghetti, spaghetti squash or noodle squash is an oblong variety of winter squash. This type of squash can vary in color, from ivory to yellow to orange. The orange varieties have a high content of carotene and its center may contain large seeds.

The flesh of spaghetti squash is bright yellow or orange. This raw flesh of the squash is solid. The flesh on cooked spaghetti squash falls away from the outside skin in spaghetti-like squash noodles, hence the name. Once the spaghetti-like texture of the squash is exposed, you can eat it raw by tossing it in olive oil and some spice of your choice

2. Tools You Will Need

Here’s a list of tools you must gather before cooking spaghetti squash:

• Cutting Board: This vegetable is big, round, and can be juicy. To reduce the mess and make sure your spaghetti squash doesn’t roll all over the kitchen floor, you will need a sturdy cutting board. 
• Razor-sharp Chef’s Knife: This big veggie can get difficult to slice open if you do not have a reliable knife. To ensure clean halves of the spaghetti squash, you will need a razor-sharp chef’s knife. 
• A Spoon and a Fork: A spoon will be required to scrape out the seeds in the middle of the squash. You will need a fork to scrape the flesh of the spaghetti squash to give it the “pasta-ish” texture and look.   

3. How to Cut & Cook Spaghetti Squash

Ingredients
Spaghetti Squash	1 spaghetti squash
Ingredients	2 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil  Salt and Pepper (to taste)

Method
Step 1: Set up your cutting station	Make sure to gather all the tools mentioned above and your cutting station is all set up before you get slicing.
Step 2: Preheat the oven	To prepare the spaghetti squash, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a larger, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. This will make the cleaning up process easier.
Step 3: Cut off the top and bottom ends	With the help of a razor-sharp and reliable chef’s knife, cut the tip and the bottom ends of the spaghetti squash.  After this, stand the squash upright on a stable surface like a cutting board and carefully slice the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise from the top to the bottom.
Step 4: Scoop out the seeds	With the help of a large spoon, scoop out the spaghetti squash seeds and discard them.
Step 5: Drizzle with little olive oil	Once seed-free, drizzle the inside the squash with 1 teaspoon olive oil and rub it all over the inside. Add more oil if necessary.  Sprinkle salt and pepper lightly over the interiors of the squash. Place them cut-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
Step 6: Bake until golden	Bake the squash in the oven for 40 to 60 minutes, until the cut sides start turning golden and the interiors are easily pierced through with a fork. If you do not have an oven, you can also bake the squash in a microwave or air fryer. Note: Cooking times will depend on the size of your squash. Small squash will be done sooner than large squash.
Step 7: Fluff interiors with a fork	Use a fork to scrape the interior flesh of the cooked squash and fluff it to make spaghettilike strands.
Step 8: Serve as desired	Now, your spaghetti squash is ready. You can enjoy it as is or add some veggies and other seasonings of your choice. There are also a lot spaghetti squash recipes and articles about how to cook spaghetti squash that you can find online such as roast spaghetti squash, spaghetti squash boat, instant pot spaghetti squash, etc. Or you can also follow the recipe below and cook it into a yummy meal.

4. Recipe: Spaghetti Squash with Feta and Kale

Spaghetti Squash with Feta and Kale
Prep Time 1 hour	Cook Time 15 mins	Total Time 1 hour 15 mins	Servings 4

Ingredients
Spaghetti Squash	1 spaghetti squash (seeded and cooking, flesh separated into spaghetti strands)
Ingredients	1 tablespoon Olive Oil 2 cloves Garlic (pressed or finely minced) 2 cups Kale Leaves (thinly sliced) ½ teaspoon Red Chili Flakes 2 teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar 1 teaspoon Honey (or Maple Syrup) Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper ½ cup goat’s-milk feta cheese (crumbled)

Cooking Instructions
Step 1: Cooking spaghetti squash	To cook the squash in an oven, cut the veggie into circles or cut in half. Place squash cut side up on a rimmed baking dish with parchment paper for 40-45 minutes.   Allow it to cool enough that it can be handled and shredded into spaghetti noodle strands.  Allow spaghetti squash strands to drain in a colander, while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Step 2: Heat Olive Oil	In a large saute pan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
Step 3: Add garlic, kale, and seasoning	Add garlic and saute for just a minute or two. Do not let it brown.  Add kale and chili flakes. Gently toss the kale until it begins to wilt.
Step 4: Add squash	Add squash to kale in the pan and gently toss until heated through and mixed well with the garlic and kale.
Step 5: Add apple cider vinegar and honey	At this point you can add the apple cider vinegar and honey. You can also use some maple syrup instead of honey.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 6: Garnish with fresh Feta	Pour the squash and kale mixture into a serving bowl.  Add about half of the feta and toss into the squash. Parmesan cheese is also a great alternative if you do not have feta cheese available. Sprinkle the remaining feta on top of the dish along with some freshly ground black pepper.

5. Top Knife Picks to Cut Spaghetti Squash

This big, round vegetable can seem scary and intimidating to handle, especially if it is your first time working with it. However, with a reliable and sharp knife by your side, slicing up this mammoth of a vegetable will be a breeze.

Here are some of my favorite chef’s knives that would help you learn how to cook spaghetti squash.

1) Chef’s Knife 7”- Shogun Series

This knife may seem more narrow and shorter than the others but it is no less menacing and effective when it comes to handling larger vegetables and fruits. With supreme control and a moderate blade length, this highly versatile kitchen knife will help you sail through any culinary challenge including cutting and cooking spaghetti squash recipe. 

Pros:

• This knife has proven to be excellent at facing kitchen challenges like slicing, dicing, mincing, and chopping. 
• The knife is designed to allow you to go further and longer effortlessly, without causing much wrist fatigue. This makes it a great tool to slice up something as big as spaghetti squash. 
• The tapered blade provides minimal slicing resistance, allowing the blade to glide through the squash with minimal flesh damage.
• These knives are also super easy to clean and maintain.

Cons:

• A 7” blade would be perfect if you are new to using a chef’s knife, however, some seasoned cooks would prefer using a slightly longer blade, like that of a 9.5” chef’s knife. 
• The price of this knife might not sit well with everyone. If you are a fairly new chef, you would like to get started with a slightly better-priced knife like this one. 

2) Chef’s Knife 8”- Gladiator Series

This workhorse is for any chef who takes cooking seriously. This beautifully designed knife is highly impervious to heat, cold, and moisture, making it a solid blade to cut through big, juicy vegetables like spaghetti squash.

Pros:

• The knife is designed for maximum comfort and maneuverability, making it very easy to slice through big and slightly tricky vegetables and fruits. 
• The precisely tempered blade makes this sharp knife durable, increasing its lifespan dramatically. 
• The smooth blade of this knife is very easy to clean and maintain.
  

Cons:

• An 8” blade can get pretty narrow if you also want to use the blade of your knife to scoop and transfer food from the cutting board to the pan or baking tray. In this case, you would want to go for a knife with a broader blade like the 8.5” chef’s knife. 
• If you are a seasoned or professional chef, you might find a 10” chef’s knife to be a more comfortable tool for this task.
  

3) Chef’s Knife 9.5”- Quantum 1 Series

This is a knife that is meticulously crafted and engineered for exceptional performance to withstand the harsh environment of a modern kitchen. The long blade of this knife makes it possible for you to slice up big fruits and vegetables smoothly, with minimal but long cuts, keeping the flesh of the vegetable intact and damage-free. This is a perfect knife to help you learn how to cook spaghetti squash recipes.

Pros:

• The unique “liquid pattern” on the blade of the knife reduces food drag and increases slicing efficiency. 
• The added chromium provides stain resistance, making the blade of the knife super durable. 
• The tall blade height provides room for knuckle clearance which helps assist with food prep and chopping activities. 

Cons:

• If you are a new chef, a 9.5” blade can get slightly intimidating. In that case, you can go for a slightly shorter, 8” chef’s knife. 
• The price tag on this knife can be too steep for some. In that case, you can also check out this knife. 

4) Chef’s Knife 10”- Delta Wolf Series

This series of razor-sharp knives takes traditional chef’s knives to a whole new level. The unique thing about this series is that the onyx-black, titanium nitride coating reduces friction and preserves the steel against corrosion, making it more durable. 

Pros: 

• The carefully designed knife comes with a groove near the spine of the knife that lightens the blade and enhances agility. This helps when you need to crave or chop up challenging vegetables with speed. 
• The full tang of the knife provides incredible robustness, making the blade very comfortable to handle. 
• These knives are super easy to maintain and clean. 

Cons:

• The handle of this knife might not be the preferred choice for everyone. Some would prefer a less slippery handle for better control. 
• For those just starting in the kitchen, this knife can get slightly intimidating. If that is the case you can also pick a slightly shorter blade length like this 8” inch chef’s knife.
  

5) Chef’s Knife 12”- Shogun Series

This master slicer is a powerhouse blade that is necessary for any professional or home chef who works with large quantities of food. This all-purpose tool is great for chopping, slicing, dicing, and even mincing. Another great knife for cutting and learning how to cook spaghetti squash.

Pros:

• The extra blade length is ideal for heavy-duty food prep of large fruits like watermelon, squash, and pumpkin. 
• With a bit more heft than the other knives, this knife can effortlessly break down large cuts of meat or vegetable with a single slice. 
• The blade is designed to help you prep twice as much, in half the time. 
• The meticulously designed handle is crafted for superior hand control and comfort. 

Cons:

• A 12” knife can be intimidating even for someone who has been cooking for a while. I would suggest this blade only if you have prior experience in handling big blades. 
• The precision of this knife comes at a price that might be a little too much for some, especially if they are not involved with cooking on a professional level. In that case, you can go for one of the knives listed above.

6. Frequently Asked Questions About Spaghetti Squash 

How do you cut spaghetti squash before cooking?
Peel the top half using a peeler. Cut off the stem from the top half. Then slice the top half into ½ inch or 1-inch rounds and then dice the rounds into large chunks. Once diced, the squash is ready to be roasted and added to your favorite soups and stews.

How do you tell when baked spaghetti squash is done?
To check the doneness of the spaghetti squash, flip one half of the spaghetti squash over and run a fork down the top edge of the squash. The squash is done cooking when the fork easily forms spaghetti-like strands with an al-dente texture. Do not overcook it or the squash will become mushy and ruin the dish.

What makes a good spaghetti squash?
Ripe spaghetti squash will be firm, have a golden yellow or dark yellow color, and won’t feel as heavy as it looks. You must pick a spaghetti squash that’s free of soft spots and does not have any cracks in the skin on the outside. To pick a good spaghetti squash, you must also look for a stem that is firm and dry.

How do you soften spaghetti squash to cut it?

To soften spaghetti squash for cutting, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Pierce the squash several times with a fork, then microwave it for about 4-5 minutes to soften the skin. Alternatively, place the whole squash in the oven for 10-15 minutes. This makes cutting easier. Once softened, cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds, and bake with a sprinkle of brown sugar. Enjoy the benefits of spaghetti squash noodles, like in bean soup recipes.