What do green spots on the inside of a butternut squash indicate?
When I was cutting a butternut squash, I noticed a greenish discoloration near around third of the seed pocket. I scraped it off, but I was wondering
- if it would have been safe for a young toddler to eat (whose the primary consumer)?
- with the green parts scraped off, is it safe for a toddler to eat?
- was it in the process of going bad, so I'll know what to look for later?
Best Answer
I always go with my gut in these situations, so scraping it off is probably a good idea.
If the green was not really dark and moldy looking, or really soft in comparison to the rest of the flesh, it could be that it just wasn't fully ripe yet in that area.
Either way, you're planning on cooking the squash, correct? I believe that this would be perfectly safe to eat now that the questionable parts have been removed. I'd eat it with no qualms.
If the rest of the squash was firm, and not bad looking on the outside or inside, then I am guessing this is not a problem, unless said green part was much softer than the rest of the squash.
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Can butternut squash be green on the inside?
The surface of the squash should be an even tan color, with very few green lines extending from the stem. If there are a lot of green lines, it's a sign that the squash was picked before it was fully ripe, and you'll likely have to cut away a lot of green flesh to get to what's tasty and usable.Why is my winter squash green inside?
It's not that the squash are not ripe enough to eat\u2014although some are pretty green\u2014they are just not ripe enough to store over a long period. Butternut squash is the only winter squash I grow in my small urban garden, and Honeynut is by far my favorite variety.How do you know if a butternut squash is bad?
If the whole squash has started leaking liquid, feels hollow or empty inside, or is mushy, just throw it out. If the outer layer seems to be okay, it's time to cut into the squash. Given that the flesh has the usual color and texture, it's okay to use it.What does mold look like on butternut squash?
Fungal fruiting bodies (pycnidia), can often be seen as black specks in a ring pattern on infected areas. On butternut, the lesions appear as bronzed, irregular patches and raised corky areas. Another appearance is a reddish-brown ringspot pattern that becomes bleached white (a petrified look).How to Avoid Common Squash Problems
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