How To Cut a Hard Squash

The hard shell of some types of winter squash can prove challenging to cut: Use a heavy chef's knife and rather than attacking the squash with the full breadth of the blade, just insert the tip of the knife into the side of the squash and make a shallow cut. Place the blade in the cut and tap the knife near the handle with a mallet or rolling pin, cut downward until the squash is cut through.