Traveling Knife Gal
The knife you want for squash
Cutco Hardy Slicer #3738
Cutco built the Hardy Slicer with a thicker, weightier blade for tough produce like squash; the sharp point pierces the hard skin and the Double-D® edge keeps cutting where thin knives stall.
- Edge
- Double-D®, three recessed cutting edges
- Steel
- 440A high-carbon stainless
- Build
- Full tang, 3 nickel-silver rivets
- Made in
- Olean, New York
- Guarantee
- Forever Guarantee with free sharpening
Trim both ends, then cut the squash where the neck meets the round bulb so you have two stable pieces. Stand each on its flat end and peel down with a vegetable peeler or knife. Halve the bulb, scoop the seeds, then slice into planks and cubes. Use a thick, sturdy blade so it doesn't wedge.
Cutting, step by step
- Trim the ends so you have flat surfaces.
- Separate neck and bulb where the shape changes. Two smaller pieces are far safer than one long round one.
- Peel. Stand each piece on a flat end and peel down with a vegetable peeler or carefully slice the skin away.
- Seed the bulb. Halve it and scoop the seeds and strings with a spoon.
- Plank, stick, cube. Slice into planks, then sticks, then cubes about 3/4 inch for roasting.
Safety tips
- Always put a flat side down before cutting.
- If the blade sticks, don't rock it free with your hand on the spine. Pull it out and cut from the other side.
- Too hard? Microwave the whole squash 2 to 3 minutes to soften the skin slightly (pierce it first).
Sharp is safe. A dull knife slips off skins and crushes food. Cutco sharpens its knives free for life; bring yours to one of Faith's service events.
Questions
What knife is best for butternut squash?
A thick, sturdy blade. Cutco recommends its Hardy Slicer and Gourmet Prep Knife for tough produce like squash.
Do you peel butternut squash before cutting?
Cut it into stable pieces first, then peel each piece standing on a flat end.
How do you soften squash to cut it?
Pierce it and microwave for 2 to 3 minutes to soften the skin.
Keep reading
Sources: Cutco: Hardy Slicer · Cutco: Types of Knives