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There’s plenty you can do with overgrown squash, and none of it has to go to waste.
If you’ve ever turned your back on the garden for a week and come back to find a zucchini the size of a baseball bat, you know the feeling.
Overgrown squash can still be eaten, cooked, baked, frozen, and even turned into beauty treatments and garden projects.
In this post, we’ll walk through what you can do with overgrown squash so nothing from your harvest ends up in the compost pile.
Let’s dig in.
What You Can Do With Overgrown Squash
Overgrown squash gets a bad rap, but there are plenty of ways to use it.
Here’s what you can do with that giant squash sitting on your counter:
1. Bake It Into Breads and Muffins
One of the best things you can do with overgrown squash is grate it and bake with it.
Large squash tends to be watery and seedy, but that actually works in your favor for baking.
Grate the flesh, squeeze out the excess liquid, and fold it into bread, muffin, or cake batter.
The result is a moist, dense bake that stays fresh for days.
You can do this with overgrown zucchini, yellow squash, or any summer variety you’ve got.
2. Turn It Into Soup or Stew
If you’re wondering what to do with overgrown squash that’s too tough to slice and saute, soup is your answer.
Big squash can be peeled, seeded, and cubed, then simmered until soft.
Blend it with broth, onions, and a splash of cream for a silky squash soup.
You can also toss chunks of overgrown squash into a hearty stew where it soaks up all the surrounding flavors.
The tougher texture of overgrown squash actually holds up well in slow-cooked dishes.
3. Stuff and Bake It
Another great option for what to do with overgrown squash is to hollow it out and stuff it.
Cut the squash in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, and fill the cavity with rice, ground meat, cheese, or a veggie mix.
Bake it until the flesh is tender and the filling is bubbling.
This works especially well with overgrown zucchini and other large summer squash because the thick walls hold their shape in the oven.
4. Make Fritters and Patties
Grated overgrown squash makes excellent fritters.
Squeeze the grated squash dry, mix it with flour, egg, and seasonings, then pan-fry until golden.
You can do the same thing with overgrown squash that you’d do with regular zucchini, just with a bit more squeezing to remove the extra water.
Serve them with yogurt sauce or a squeeze of lemon and watch them disappear.
5. Freeze It for Later
If you can’t use all your overgrown squash right away, freeze it.
Grate it, blanch it, or puree it, then pack it into freezer bags.
Frozen overgrown squash works great in soups, breads, and casseroles months down the line.
Just label the bags with the date so you know what you’re working with.
Creative Uses for Overgrown Squash Beyond the Kitchen
You don’t have to eat every overgrown squash you grow.
Here are some other things you can do with overgrown squash:
1. Feed It to Your Chickens or Compost
Chickens love overgrown squash, and it’s a healthy treat for them.
Just cut it open so they can get to the flesh inside.
If you don’t have chickens, overgrown squash breaks down beautifully in a compost pile.
Chop it up first to speed things along.
2. Make a Face Mask
Overgrown squash is full of vitamins and antioxidants that are good for your skin.
Puree the flesh and mix it with a little honey or yogurt for a soothing face mask.
Leave it on for 15 minutes, then rinse.
It’s a weird but surprisingly refreshing way to use up overgrown squash.
3. Use It as a Natural Bird Feeder
Cut an overgrown squash in half, scoop out the seeds, and hang it in your yard.
Birds will pick at the flesh and seeds, especially in late summer when other food is scarce.
It’s an easy, zero-waste way to put overgrown squash to work.
4. Turn It Into a Planter
Hollow out a large overgrown squash, fill it with soil, and plant herbs or small flowers inside.
The squash will eventually break down, but it makes a fun, biodegradable planter in the meantime.
5. Donate It
If you’ve got more overgrown squash than you know what to do with, check with local food banks or community gardens.
Many will happily take large squash off your hands, especially if it’s still firm and fresh.
Tips for Handling Overgrown Squash
Before you dive into using overgrown squash, keep a few things in mind:
1. Check for Toughness
The skin of overgrown squash can get really tough.
You’ll often need to peel it before cooking, especially if it’s larger than a football.
2. Remove the Seeds
Big squash has big seeds that can be tough and bitter.
Scoop them out before using the flesh in most recipes.
3. Taste Before You Commit
Overgrown squash can sometimes be bitter or bland.
Give it a quick taste before you build a whole meal around it.
So, What Can You Do With Overgrown Squash?
You can do a lot with overgrown squash, from baking and soups to chicken feed and face masks.
Overgrown squash doesn’t have to be a garden problem.
With a little creativity, you can turn that giant squash into bread, fritters, stuffed meals, or even a planter for your patio.
So next time you’re staring down an overgrown squash, don’t toss it.
Use it.