How to Cook Acorn Squash in Air Fryer

Acorn Squash is a fall vegetable and it is something like pumpkins. Although not that popular, it is filled with a variety of ingredients and is good for your health. There are several ways to prepare the Acorn Squash for eating. Amongst them, the air fryer method is one of the best as it assures you superfast and even cooking. Don’t know how to use the air fryer? Don’t worry, check out how to cook Acorn Squash in air fryer.

You can cook the Acorn Squash in the oven or regular stovetop. But if you want a hassle-free cleaning process, the air fryer will be the best option. Below, we will discuss how to utilize your air fryer to cook the Acorn Squash. We will also let you know the required time, temperature, and other information about the recipe.

Is Acorn Squash Healthy?

The Acorn Squash is basically a food but. You can also consider it as a starchy vegetable and prepare it like the other high-carb vegetables. Although it is low in calories, it is high in other nutrients like calories and antioxidants. There are 115 calories, 30g carbohydrates, 9g fiber, 2g protein, and 0g fat in the food.

Moreover, it includes 18% of your daily intake of vitamin A along with 26% potassium, 37% of vitamin C, 11% iron, and some other health values. Because of the high fiber, it is also helpful for your digestive health. As per some sources, it also helps to prevent heart disease by combating bad cholesterols (LDL).

That means the Acorn Squash is a very healthy food and helps you to assure the required intake of your daily nutrient requirement.

How to Cut Acorn Squash

The Acorn Squash is a bit hard when compared to the other variation of squashes. So, you will require a quality and sharp knife to cut it. Make sure to properly clean the squash before cutting and also dry them before cutting. You can cut the squash in the middle into half to make two pieces. Then clean the things from the inside.

Some users also prepare to cut them into smaller pieces. Based on your preference, you can cut them in your preferred way.

How to Cook Acorn Squash in Air Fryer

One of the fun facts about the air fryer is the cooking process is the same for all the items out there. All you require to do is add the food to the machine and cook for a specific amount of time at a specific temperature. Although you will require adjusting the process a bit depending on the ingredients, most of the steps are still the same. Check out the steps on how you can cook Acorn Squash in an air fryer.

Step 1: Food Preparation

If you have cut the Acorn Squash into pieces, you will require passing a bit of the time mixing the ingredients. Begin with adding the Acorn Squash to a bowl and spray around a tablespoon of the oil. This should lightly coat the squash. You can then add savory or sweet seasoning or as you want.

Some of the seasonings that you can use include butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, garlic, onion, oregano, or anything else. After adding the seasoning, use a spoon to mix the pieces properly. If you have cut the Acorn Squash in half, you can sprinkle the seasoning on the top.

Step 2: Preheat the Air Fryer

The first thing you need to do is to put the air fryer on a flat and open surface. Then connect it to a nearby power source which needs to be compatible. Turn on the air fryer and select the “preheat” from the presets. If there is no preset, don’t worry. You can always put the temperature and time manually.

Use the temperature knob to set the preheating temperature to 375F and set the preheating duration around 2 minutes.

Step 3: Add the Ingredients in the Basket

Now take out your air fryer basket by holding it from the handle carefully. Then add the Acorn Squash pieces in a single layer. Don’t add multiple layers of the Acorn Squash as this will cause uneven cooking. You can cook them in multiple batches to assure proper and even cooking. You may also use air fryer racks to cook multiple batches at once without blocking the air circulation.

If you have cut the Acorn Squash into two pieces, simply put them in the air fryer. If the device cannot fit both of the slices, you should cook one at a time.

Step 4: Adjust Cooking Time and Temp

The next thing you need to do is to pick the right time and temperature for cooking. The suitable air fryer temperature for cooking is around 325 F while the time should be something around 15 to 20 minutes. The time will vary based on the air fryer unit you are using as well as some other factors. It would be better if you set the time to 15 minutes and adjust it later as needed.

Step 5: Complete the Cooking

Once you have set the time and temp, let the Acorn Squash cook and wait. You can consider rotating or flipping them halfway to get even cooking from all sides. Once you reach near the cooking duration, you can begin checking them. Check how much they have cooked and adjusted the time if required. They should become lightly brown once they are ready.

Take out the Acorn Squash from the air fryer when they are done. Don’t touch the food nor the basket while taking them out as they will be very hot. Wait a while to let them cool down and then move to the serving plate.

Conclusion

If you are searching for a unique and healthy recipe to try, you should consider the air fryer Acorn Squash. This is unbelievably simple and easy to prepare and you will not regret it. We hope that you will find the above information and steps easy and effective.