Acorn Squash

[Float On]

My acorn squash are so hard this year. I even broke a knife yesterday trying to split one in two. I ended up putting it in the microwave on top of a little cereal bowl with some water in it and after a few 30 second tries was able to cut it to bake it. The flesh was a little lighter color inside than normal. Tasted normal when baked.
This was after it had been setting on the counter for a month. I've never had them grow this hard before. Do you think the seeds crossed with something? I have two more to try and use.

[Rosemary]

I can't comment on what makes them grow a harder shell - I would suspect drought, though. But I always cook winter squash by roasting them whole in the oven before I attempt to cut them open. No need to even puncture the shell - just put in the oven at 400 and bake a while.

[dado potato]

Well, it's a hard squash!

for advice on cutting a hard one:
http://www.chow.com/food-news/54731/how-to-cut-hard-squash

[Gregg]

Maybe something to do with the drought? I always split them with a meat cleaver on a big butcher block. Works pretty good and I get to skip kickboxing class, too.

[puglogic]

I did have the pleasure of cutting open a large squash with a machete this year. I highly recommend it. With sound effects.

[Merski]

The very hard shell is nature's way of sealing the outside from moisture loss for long term storage. This is actually a good thing, except when you're trying to cut it open;)