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SMART SHOPPING: Butternut Squash

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It certainly saves prep time to buy precut, peeled butternut squash, but how do the flavor and texture of this timesaver squash stand up to a whole squash you cut up yourself? The test kitchen has found that whole squash that you peel and cube yourself can’t be beat in terms of flavor or texture, but when you are trying to make the most of every minute, already peeled, halved squash is perfectly acceptable. Avoid the precut chunks; test kitchen tasters agree they are dry and stringy, with barely any squash flavor.