Butternut squash

Butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata), known in Australia and New Zealand as butternut pumpkin or gramma, is a type of winter squash that grows on a vine. It has a sweet, nutty taste similar to that of a pumpkin. It has tan-yellow skin and orange fleshy pulp with a compartment of seeds in the blossom end. When ripening, the flesh turns increasingly deep orange due to its rich content of beta-carotene, a provitamin A compound.

Cucurbita moschata 'Butternut'
Ripe butternut squash
SpeciesCucurbita moschata
Hybrid parentage'Gooseneck squash' × 'Hubbard squash'
BreederCharles Leggett
Origin1940s in Stow, Massachusetts, United States

Although botanically a fruit (specifically, a berry), butternut squash is used culinarily as a vegetable that can be roasted, sautéed, puréed for soups such as squash soup, or mashed to be used in casseroles, breads, muffins, and pies. It is part of the same squash family as ponca, waltham, pumpkin, and calabaza.

Butternut squash, baked
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy167 kJ (40 kcal)
10.5 g
Dietary fiber3.2 g
0.1 g
Protein
0.9 g
VitaminsQuantity
%DV
Vitamin A equiv.
beta-Carotene
62%
558 μg
42%
4570 μg
Thiamine (B1)
6%
0.07 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
1%
0.017 mg
Niacin (B3)
6%
0.98 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
7%
0.36 mg
Vitamin B6
7%
0.124 mg
Folate (B9)
5%
19 μg
Vitamin C
17%
15 mg
Vitamin E
9%
1.29 mg
MineralsQuantity
%DV
Calcium
3%
41 mg
Iron
3%
0.6 mg
Magnesium
7%
29 mg
Manganese
7%
0.17 mg
Phosphorus
2%
27 mg
Potassium
9%
284 mg
Zinc
1%
0.13 mg
Other constituentsQuantity
Water87.8 g

Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults, except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.
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