Post Punk Kitchen Forum

I tried every knife I own and ended up wanting to throw it across the kitchen, but resisted. I am trying to make this squash dip, but dude seriously. Should I just give up? Any tips?

Sharpen your knife. Use a big heavy one. Push down hard, or just whack it with a cleaver (although that's not very accurate).

But yeah, sharpen it.

How do I open an acorn squash? With much difficulty.
Sorry, I'm not a help, but I commiserate!

Okay will sharpen. I wasn't sure it was an issue of it not being ripe enough. One of my knives, is right out of the box sharp, but possibly too small. I felt I would have had an easier time cutting into a medicine ball. Thanks though!

i usually have to jab the knife in tip first and then lever the blade down through the rind; sometimes i have to pull the knife out and do this again on the other side in order to cut all the way around (mentioned in case you're trying to just press the knife down into it the way you might with a potato).

very carefully!

Stab the outside with a fork a few times. Microwave it for 1 minute. Then try cutting it. If it's still too hard, try another 30-60 seconds.

The microwave will start the cooking process enough to soften the skin and the flesh a bit.

A LOT safer than cutting it raw. Works with kabocha, spaghetti squash, etc. also.

But you still need to be careful, as the skin gives off a very slippery liquid which will make the squash slide all over your cutting board. So keep your fingers way out of the way, in case it slips around while you are making cuts.

Pfft, safety! Just get a cleaver and have at it!

Yeah, I pretty much do what acr does because there's no way that I could just slice down into it like I would with say, an onion.

It's still freaking difficult though and I'm always afraid that I'm going to accidentally lop off a finger or something.

me too. Now spaghetti squash is another story.

Yeah I bought a cleaver to open up coconuts but I use it a lot more often for squash.

Throw it up in the air and swing at it with your samurai sword.

Oh, great idea! Now I can stop throwing them on my patio to crack them open!

I get a big sharp knife stuck in the squash (long ways) and then I lift both up, and drop both down on the cutting board. I try never to do this during naptime since the kitchen is right under my youngest's bedroom. Sometimes I enlist the help of my husband. He is the official coconut opener, but he always ends up outside with a hammer and pick, and sometimes a sledge hammer. Maybe he is on to something.

Also, don't try to cut through the stem end. Cut around on both sides to meet the stem until you can pry it open and apart. The stem will stay on one side.

I usually stick the tip in and then rock it back and forth to make a slit a bit larger than the knife blade. That makes it a bit easier.

*snicker*

I actually open coconuts (at least young ones) with a big knife too. You set it on end and basically chop down hard 4 times, to make a sort of square opening in the top. Then you pry out the square, pour out some coconut water and pour in some rum and bitters, stick in a straw, and sit on the porch:



And if you're lucky, young ladies will come along to share:

Me too! Sometimes the stem is really tough and you end up having to saw around it to remove it from the rest of the flesh.

^^Oh, that looks good, solips!

I usually refer to C&S as "she," but thanks.

Oh, you meant the drink. Yeah, that was good too. 8)