Hi group,

I was hoping that I could get an answer to a question. I tried various
Google searches and read many webpages about squash, but I haven't been
able to determine if butter squash and butternut squash are the same
thing. I know butternut squash is also called pumpkin squash...that's
the only thing I know for sure.

Thanks,
Christine

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi group,
>
> I was hoping that I could get an answer to a question. I tried various
> Google searches and read many webpages about squash, but I haven't been
> able to determine if butter squash and butternut squash are the same
> thing. I know butternut squash is also called pumpkin squash...that's
> the only thing I know for sure.
>
> Thanks,
> Christine
>

"Butter" is a word used perhaps more than any other when hybridizers choose
names for squash. The squash family cross-pollinates in bizarre ways,
producing lots of unexpected results, so you can expect to see more butter
nonsense pretty much forever. Here are some examples:

http://www.burpee.com/shopping/searc...0&S earch.y=0

wrote:
> Hi group,
>
> I was hoping that I could get an answer to a question. I tried various
> Google searches and read many webpages about squash, but I haven't been
> able to determine if butter squash and butternut squash are the same
> thing. I know butternut squash is also called pumpkin squash...that's
> the only thing I know for sure.

I don't know of any squash called simply "butter" squash. I'd tend to
think that's a recipe name, probably for summer squash(es). Butternut
squash is a specific kind of winter, hard-shelled squash, which belongs
to the same botanical family as the pumpkin and the cucumber. -aem

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi group,
>
> I was hoping that I could get an answer to a question. I tried various
> Google searches and read many webpages about squash, but I haven't been
> able to determine if butter squash and butternut squash are the same
> thing. I know butternut squash is also called pumpkin squash...that's
> the only thing I know for sure.
>
> Thanks,
> Christine
>

You are lost in the morass of international naming confusion. There is no
certain escape unless you can show a picture and get the parties involved to
all say what they call that thing. No, on second thought even that is not
certain to work

For instance here (Australia) we have hard rind curcurbits that keep well
that are called pumpkins, butternut is a variety of those which is about a
foot long and half that thick, thinner at the top possibly with a slight
bend. Pumpkins are picked when mature and the flesh is generally firm and
starchy, and some shade of yellow or orange. Elsewhere this might be called
a winter squash, despite the fact that they grow in the summer.

I also have a smaller, flat, radially symetric, soft rind curcurbit that
doesn't keep so well and it is picked immature. It's flesh is soft, moist,
not starchy and fairly translucent pale green. Here that is called a button
squash and the variety with a bright yellow skin can be called a butter
squash - much like yellow beans can be called butter beans although they
taste the same as green ones. Over the briny that might be called a summer
squash or (I think) a pattypan. It does in fact grow in summer.

Scientific names don't help much with many vegetables as most people don't
know them and there may be many cultivated varieties of the same species
that look quite different and different species that look similar.

Ain't language fun?

David

On 24 Jan 2006 11:42:05 -0800, wrote:

> Hi group,
>
> I was hoping that I could get an answer to a question. I tried various
> Google searches and read many webpages about squash, but I haven't been
> able to determine if butter squash and butternut squash are the same
> thing. I know butternut squash is also called pumpkin squash...that's
> the only thing I know for sure.
>
I've never heard it, so the only thing I could do is a google image
search which brings up pictures of butternut using "butter squash" as
the search term.
--

Practice safe eating. Always use condiments.

> "Butter" is a word used perhaps more than any other when hybridizers choose
> names for squash. The squash family cross-pollinates in bizarre ways,
> producing lots of unexpected results, so you can expect to see more butter
> nonsense pretty much forever. Here are some examples:
>
> http://www.burpee.com/shopping/searc...0&S earch.y=0

Thanks for the link Doug! It was very informative. I thought my
question was fairly simple, but I guess not :-D LOL. I think what I'm
looking for is a butternut squash, and that butter squash might have
just been a typo or local usage.

Best,
Christine

Thanks aem. I think after reading the responses here and Googling a
little more, butter squash might have just been a typo or local usage.

Best,
Christine

> wrote in message
oups.com...
>> "Butter" is a word used perhaps more than any other when hybridizers
>> choose
>> names for squash. The squash family cross-pollinates in bizarre ways,
>> producing lots of unexpected results, so you can expect to see more
>> butter
>> nonsense pretty much forever. Here are some examples:
>>
>> http://www.burpee.com/shopping/searc...0&S earch.y=0
>
> Thanks for the link Doug! It was very informative. I thought my
> question was fairly simple, but I guess not :-D LOL. I think what I'm
> looking for is a butternut squash, and that butter squash might have
> just been a typo or local usage.
>
> Best,
> Christine
>

Other winter squashes can be substituted in most recipes (Hubbard, Acorn),
in case you can't find Butternut at your store.

Hi David,

LOL, indeed language is fun! I work for an image company and often have
to identify places, plants and animals. Just trying to figure out what
some of these things are called is very confusing. Sometimes the
captions are wrong, or not there at all, and a typo can really throw a
wrench into the works. I am thinking now that what is being asked for
in a recipe is a butternut squash and that the "butter squash" usage
must be regional. Thanks for the bit of insight from your part of the
world. I had to Google "curcurbits" and came up with a wealth of photos
- one truly does learn something new every day :-)

Best,
Christine

"aem" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> wrote:
>> Hi group,
>>
>> I was hoping that I could get an answer to a question. I tried various
>> Google searches and read many webpages about squash, but I haven't been
>> able to determine if butter squash and butternut squash are the same
>> thing. I know butternut squash is also called pumpkin squash...that's
>> the only thing I know for sure.
>
> I don't know of any squash called simply "butter" squash. I'd tend to
> think that's a recipe name, probably for summer squash(es). Butternut
> squash is a specific kind of winter, hard-shelled squash, which belongs
> to the same botanical family as the pumpkin and the cucumber. -aem

Not to forget that other winter squash, the buttercup.

Gabby

Thanks for the tip Doug! I'll be buying my squash tomorrow for Sunday's
dinner. I have never glanced too much at squash before, so hopefully
they will have something.

Thanks SF, that was a good suggestion. Now I have an idea of what to
look for. Hopefully the grocer is knowledgeable :-)