Spaghetti squash is a delicious and well-loved ingredient that is commonly used in looking all around the world.
While it is botanically a fruit (it contains seeds and the flowers turn into fruit), it is primarily used in savory dishes in a number of cuisines globally.
However, this fruit can also be used in desserts to make things like cake!
Anyone who has tried spaghetti squash will know how delicious it is, and versatile, too.
However, when it comes to knowing when you should dive into or dispose of your squash, things can get a little tricky.
So, to make things easier for you, we are going to go through everything you need to know about the topic right here.
This includes how long your spaghetti squash will last in different conditions, how to store it, and how to tell when it has gone bad.
Sounds interesting? Let’s dive in.
How Long Does Spaghetti Squash Last?
The length of time that your spaghetti squash lasts will depend on a variety of things, including the temperature of your house and how it is stored.
All the numbers we give here are estimates. So, depending on different factors, the timing for your own spaghetti squash might vary – bear this in mind!
Generally, you can expect a whole (uncooked) spaghetti squash to last around 1 month in the pantry.
A cut-up squash, on the other hand, will last between 5–7 days in the refrigerator. Once you cook spaghetti squash, it will likely only last up to 5 days in the fridge.
If you would like more details on the matter, just keep reading.
How Long Can You Store Spaghetti Squash?
Spaghetti squash belongs to the winter squash family.
This means that it is known for its thick skin, which actually helps the fruit to stay fresh for much longer than expected – especially when compared to summer squash (such as zucchini) and most vegetables.
When stored in perfect conditions, most winter squash will be able to last two or more months, but this is very difficult to achieve at home.
In most at-home scenarios, the cut-off time seems to be around a month.
Ideally spaghetti squash should be stored at temperatures between 55ºF–60ºF (roughly 13ºC–6ºC).
Since this is not an easy temperature to achieve unless you have a root cellar or an unheated garage, maintaining this temperature is very unlikely.
As such, it is better to stick to the one-month recommendation – it’s better to be safe than sorry!
When Raw
The length of storage for raw spaghetti squash will depend on what form it is in. Whole squash can be stored in the pantry or a similar cool, dry place for up to a month.
However, when it gets chopped up, you should only keep it for 5–7 days in the refrigerator, in an airtight container.
Once Cooked
Once your spaghetti squash has been cooked, it will only last up to 5 days at a push.
Despite this recommendation, we would recommend you try to eat your cooked squash within 3–4 days, just to be safe.
You need to ensure that your squash is stored in an airtight container once it has been allowed to cool to room temperature.
You should only allow it up to two hours to cool down, but preferably less.
If you transfer your squash to a container to cool down and get up forgetting about it, it’s better to throw it out.
This is especially the case if you live in warmer climates, as it would be the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive.
Whatever you do, do not eat cooked spaghetti squash if you have left it out overnight, or if it has been in the fridge for longer than 5 days.
If you don’t think you will be able to finish it within 3–4 days, you can easily freeze your leftovers.
Just keep it in a freezer-safe container, and allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight before you reheat and enjoy it.
How To Properly Store Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash should be stored in a cool, dry place. There should be no heat sources around it, and no direct sunlight that can get to it.
An ideal place would be a pantry or somewhere similar, where other similar items and cans could be.
Should It Be Refrigerated?
Whole, uncooked spaghetti squash does not need to be refrigerated – the best place for it is somewhere like a pantry.
However, once you cook your spaghetti squash, it must be refrigerated once it has cooled down to room temperature. Keep it in an airtight container, and store it for 3–4 days ideally.
It is crucial for you to allow cooked squash (and any other food) to cool to room temperature before refrigerating.
Doing this will work to prevent bacteria growth in the food, and make it last longer and better.
Storing It Once Chopped Up
Once you have chopped up your spaghetti squash, your storage times will change, too.
The best thing you can do with chopped-up spaghetti squash is keep it in freezer bags or something similar.
Alternatively, keep it in an airtight container, but this may not work as well, and it will take up more space.
If you have chopped up your spaghetti squash and have halved it, make sure to store them cut side down.
This will prevent the fruit from drying out too quickly and make it last better.
You do not need to scrape the seeds out of the squash, but you can if you would like to.
Leaving the seeds in might help to prevent it from drying out, too, but you should do whatever works for you.
Sometimes, it’s nice to just have your squash ready to use and not still have an extra job to do, so go with whatever works for you.
Picking Out The Perfect Spaghetti Squash
If you want your spaghetti squash to last as long as possible, you need to make sure that you pick out the perfect one.
Unfortunately, this means that you do need to go into a store rather than order online – or else you will likely get one that is going to expire soon!
When pursuing the perfect pick, you should look out for the following traits in your spaghetti squash:
- The stem should be firm, dry, and rounded
- The squash should be heavy for its size
- The rind should be intact with a dull sheen to it
It is important to note that some minor discoloration is not important. Discoloration is completely normal, as long as it is not bruised or damaged in any way.
The only people who might care about any discoloration are the Instagram foodies, so if this is you, keep an eye out!
How To Tell When Spaghetti Squash Has Gone Bad
It can be difficult to tell when spaghetti squash has gone bad, especially in the early stages.
Since this fruit smells really nice, the small can initially work to mask its scent when it starts to go bad.
However, there are a number of things to look out for when you are asking yourself if your spaghetti squash is still okay to use.
Appearance
There are a couple of things to look out for, but these will vary depending on how far gone your squash is:
- Mold – mold is a clear indication that your spaghetti squash’s best days are long gone. This is more common when the squash has been chopped, and less common on whole squash (but it can happen). Even if you notice mold on the second day of storage, it’s time to throw it out!
- Black spots – small areas of rot can carefully be cut out if you like, but use common sense and just discard the whole thing when the black spots get too big.
- Liquid leaking from it – this indicates that there is a lot of water in the squash, which is not a good thing. At this point, it’s better to throw it away and get a new one.
Smell
The fruit will start to smell sour or fermented. When it gets far gone enough, it will be impossible to miss this smell.
It would be a good idea to take a good sniff of your spaghetti squash when you get it, just so that you know what it should smell like.
That way, you will have something to refer back to when you start to question its smell.
How Much Time Has Passed?
You can also simply consider how much time has passed! Have you kept your squash in the fridge for more than a week, but it seems fine?
It’s better to throw it out. All might appear to be fine on the surface, but you do not want to risk getting food poisoning from squash that’s been sitting in the fridge for too long.
One final thing to consider is whether the squash feels hollow or not. A hollow spaghetti squash is long past its due date, and should also be thrown away.
Final Thoughts
Spaghetti squash will last a month or more when kept whole and uncooked in a cool, dry place like a pantry.
When cooked, your squash should be used within 3–4 days, or 5 days at a push. Chopped-up spaghetti squash should be kept for up to 7 days.
In both cases, the squash should be in an airtight container and refrigerated. It can also be frozen if you don’t think you will be able to use it all in the allocated time.
