Save your winter squash (at least for a while)

Have you ever noticed how long winter squash keep? Have you ever wondered what’s going on inside their colorful shells during storage? The answer is a lot. Squash continue to ripen even after they’ve been picked. The trick is figuring out when each kind of squash reaches peak eating quality. Check out my story for NPR’s The Salt to learn more.

According to scientists, early season squash like acorns (green) and delicatas (striped yellow) are best to eat soon after harvest while butternuts (orange) improve with age. (Credit: Tim Sackton via Flickr)