Winter squash works for decorating and dinner

Nothing perks up a grocery store produce aisle like the array of winter squash on display in the fall.  The variety of shapes, sizes, and colors available make it ideal for inclusion in fall decorating schemes and dinner menus.  From acorn squash to the cute miniature pumpkins for sale by the bag, winter squash are an autumn staple.

Pumpkin is the most popular winter squash, but there are many great options at the grocery store, including butternut, acorn, hubbard, and buttercup varieties.  Winter squash is rich in vitamin A, dietary fiber, folate, and potassium.  If prepared without added fat or salt, winter squash is naturally low in calories, fat, and sodium.

Storing winter squash

Winter squash has a long shelf life and can be stored for up to three months in the right environment.  Store in a cool, dry place and you could enjoy winter squash purchased today into next year. Ideally, winter squash should be stored at temperatures between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.  There is no need to store in the refrigerator.

Choosing winter squash

When choosing winter squash, look for firm, well-shaped squash that are heavy for their size and have a hard, tough skin.  Avoid squash with cuts or punctures in the skin, and do not purchase those with sunken or moldy spots. Slight variations in color do not affect flavor. Unlike summer squash, winter squash is picked when fully ripe.  A tender rind indicates immaturity and signals poor quality in winter squash varieties, so be sure the skin is tough.

The flesh of winter squash varies from yellow to deep oranges, and most varieties have a sweet, buttery,  firm flesh.  Winter squash is drier, more fibrous, and much sweeter than summer squash.  With the exception of spaghetti squash, winter squash varieties can be substituted for one another in recipes.

 Preparing winter squash

Winter squash preparation techniques are numerous.  Most varieties of winter squash are eaten cooked.  Their hard shells and seeds are not edible.  In general, all winter squash bakes well and steaming works for cut pieces.  It can be roasted, baked, whipped, and mashed for use in a number of dishes including soups, pies, soufflés, cakes, cookies, casseroles and as fillers for stews and sauces. The squash can also be frozen, canned, dried, pickled and prepared in butters and preserves.

Try these tips for including winter squash in your diet. Preparation is easy and can add variety to your regular recipe rotation.

• Acorn squash is good for baking and goes well with sweet, nutty or spice stuffing. Cut in half, scoop out seeds, and bake cut side down at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Add a few tablespoons of water to the baking dish before baking. After baking, add brown sugar and cinnamon to taste.
• Cooked butternut squash, with its fine-grained flesh, is perfect for pureeing. Cut pieces can also be included in soups and stews.
• Hubbard squash grows so large that it is often sold as cut pieces. It mashes well after cooking. This variety of squash can be frozen or used in breads, muffins, pancakes and soups.
• True to its name, cooked spaghetti squash resembles pasta. Lift out the sweet, mild-tasting, tender-crunchy strands and top with marinara sauce.
• Cut the tops from mini-pumpkins, scoop out the seeds, and season the edible flesh with cinnamon, brown sugar and a small amount of butter or margarine.  Replace the tops and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Prevent the spread of Listeria

The bacteria called Listeria are bad news. Eating food contaminated with Listeria can make you so sick that you have to be hospitalized. For certain vulnerable people, the illness can be fatal.

Listeria has been most recently linked to fresh produce, but past cases of Listeria have been connected to a variety of ready-to-eat foods. These foods include unpasteurized milk and dairy products, Mexican-style or soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk, processed deli meats, hot dogs, smoked seafood, and store-prepared deli-salads.

Listeria can grow in the fridge

Unlike most bacteria, Listeria germs can grow and spread in the refrigerator. If you unknowingly refrigerate Listeria contaminated food, the germs could contaminate your refrigerator and spread to other foods, increasing the risk that you and your family will become sick.

Preventing the spread of Listeria

To prevent the spread of Listeria, wash all fruits and vegetables under running water just before eating, cutting, or cooking, even if you plan to peel the produce first. Scrub firm produce such as melons and cucumbers with a clean produce brush.

Check refrigerator and freezer temperature

Although Listeria can grow in the refrigerator, it grows more slowly at temperatures of 40 degrees F or less. Keep your refrigerator at 40 degrees F or lower and the freezer at 0 degrees F or lower. Place a refrigerator thermometer in the refrigerator and check the temperature periodically. If necessary, adjust the refrigerator temperature to keep foods as cold as possible without causing them to freeze. Place a second thermometer in the freezer to check the temperature there.

Keep the refrigerator clean

In addition to washing fresh produce and checking the temperature in the refrigerator, you can prevent spread of Listeria by keeping your refrigerator clean. Listeria can contaminate other foods through spills in the refrigerator. To protect refrigerated foods, wrap or cover with a sheet of plastic wrap or foil. Another option is to put foods in plastic bags or covered containers before refrigerating.

Use precooked and ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible. Longer storage times mean an extended opportunity for Listeria to grow. Check the use-by dates of processed meats like hot dogs and lunch meat.

Clean up all spills in your refrigerator right away, especially juices from hot dog and lunch meat packages, raw meat, and raw poultry. Use paper towels to avoid transferring germs from a cloth towel. Clean the inside walls and shelves of your refrigerator with warm water and liquid soap, then rinse. As an added measure of caution, you can sanitize your refrigerator monthly, just as you would kitchen surfaces.