Banana squash facts for kids
A banana squash is a type of edible squash, also known as a gourd. It belongs to the Cucurbita plant family. This squash gets its name because it often looks like a giant banana, with a long, curved shape and a yellow or pinkish color. It is a popular kind of winter squash.
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What is Banana Squash?
Banana squash is a delicious type of winter squash. It was developed from the butternut squash, which is another well-known winter squash. These squashes are known for their hard outer skin and long storage life, making them great to eat during the colder months.
Appearance and Texture
Banana squash can grow quite large, sometimes up to two or three feet long! Its skin can be yellow, orange, or even pink. Inside, the flesh is usually orange or yellow. It has a texture similar to a baked potato, which means it's soft and a bit starchy when cooked. In the middle, you'll find seeds, just like in other squashes.
Is it a Fruit or a Vegetable?
Even though we often cook banana squash like a vegetable, it is actually classified as a fruit. This is because it contains seeds. Botanists (scientists who study plants) define a fruit as the part of a flowering plant that contains seeds. So, like tomatoes and cucumbers, banana squash is botanically a fruit!
How to Use Banana Squash
The mild flesh of banana squash can be used in many different ways. It can be sweet or savory, depending on how you prepare it. Many people roast it, bake it, or steam it. It's great in soups, stews, or even mashed as a side dish. You can also use it in sweet recipes like pies or muffins. It's a healthy food, full of vitamins and nutrients.
Gallery
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Sliced banana squash
Images for kids
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Typical "Zapallito" summer squash fruit.
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A Pink Banana squash, cut, with seeds removed, with a U.S. quarter for size comparison.
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A buttercup squash.
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An edible squash
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A cut open blue hubbard squash.
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A golden hubbard squash.
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Different fruit types of C. maxima ssp. andreana from Argentina
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A vining cultivar growing up to a roof.
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Plant
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Plant
See also
In Spanish: Cucurbita maxima para niños
