Pick a pumpkin that is heavy for its size—this means lots of sweet flesh inside. Treat your pie pumpkin just like a butternut squash: the best flavor will be from roasting in the oven. Get it ready for baking any way you’d like. The simplest is to split it in half, remove the seeds, and lay it face down on a sheet pan.
How do you pick a good pie pumpkin?
When selecting the perfect pumpkin, choose one with no soft spots. It should also be uniform in color, with no signs of mold or unusual discoloration. Also, pick a pumpkin that has its “handle,” or stem, intact.
How do you tell if a pumpkin is a pie pumpkin?
Pie pumpkins have darker orange flesh. The flesh of a pie pumpkin is also quite thick. When you pick up a pie pumpkin, it should feel heavy for the size, but a carving pumpkin should “look” about as heavy as it “feels”.
What kind of pumpkin should I use for pie?
The best pumpkins for pie are heirloom culinary varieties with dense, sweet flesh that’s not watery or stringy. Some of the best pumpkin for making pumpkin pie include Fairytale Pumpkins, Jarrahdale Pumpkins, Dickinson Pumpkins, Long Pie Pumpkins, and Red Kuri Squash.
How do you pick a pumpkin from a supermarket?
How to choose a good pumpkin and how to store it
- Pick a pumpkin with firm, hard skin all over. Bruised, soft skin my lead to rotting.
- The stem should still be attached and feel firm and dry.
- Choose a pumpkin that is heavy for its size, this indicates plenty of good quality flesh.
How can you tell if a pumpkin is good?
Look for damage to the pumpkin skin and soft or discolored spots. The pumpkin should feel firm and possess a hard skin. Smell the pumpkin, especially the stem and blossom ends. You’ll notice an unpleasant odor at the ends first if the pumpkin is overripe.
How can you tell a good pumpkin?
A fresh pumpkin should be solid to the touch. Avoid ones that have soft spots or sunken areas, as decay has already set in. Selecting good quality produce will ensure that your autumn display will be long lasting. High quality pumpkins have a firm, hard rind and are generally rich orange in color.
Can you use any type of pumpkin for pie?
In general any pumpkin that’s meant for eating can be made into pie. Some may be more dry and some more liquidey. Some may be sweeter than others.
Can you use a carving pumpkin for pumpkin pie?
The whole family will love it! Carving pumpkins tend to have a higher water content, which makes them perfect for pureeing. This pumpkin pie recipe needs 450g pumpkin flesh, which is steamed and pureed to make the spiced pie filling.
Are pie pumpkins supposed to be hard?
After about 45 minutes, the pumpkins will be soft enough to cut open easily. (Just beware of escaping steam.) Cut them open, scrape out the seeds and strings, and return the cleaned halves to the oven on a baking sheet. Bake for another 30 minutes, or until the flesh can be easily scraped from the shell.
How do you know if a pumpkin is tender?
You will know it is done when it is tender when pierced with a fork. Peel the pumpkin wedges leaving the soft pulp then mash. Keep out only what you will use within three to four days.
What keeps pumpkins from rotting?
Pumpkins shrivel up because they run out of moisture. Spraying it every day with water mixed with a few drops of bleach will keep it moist and ward off bacteria. As an even easier solution, spray it with a DIY pumpkin preserve spray daily to fight off mold.
What is the difference between a cooking pumpkin and a carving pumpkin?
Carving pumpkins typically have a thinner skin, making them easier to carve. They also have less guts inside, which are usually stringier, making them easier to clean. Baking pumpkins — sometimes called sugar pumpkins — are usually smaller and more round in shape.
How long do pie pumpkins last?
Once opened, a can of pumpkin lasts five to seven days in the fridge. It is best to move the leftover purée from the can to an airtight container with a date and label.
Does pumpkin need to be refrigerated?
The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions – keep opened pumpkin refrigerated and tightly covered. To maximize the shelf life of canned or packaged pumpkin after opening, refrigerate in a covered glass or plastic container.
How long will an uncut pumpkin last outside?
Uncarved pumpkins can last two to three months if kept out of the hot sun or freezing temperatures. Carved pumpkins may last only a few days, so time your carving accordingly if you want to display them on Halloween.
Are there poisonous pumpkins?
Pumpkins, and other members of the squash family (marrows, courgettes, cucumbers, squashes etc.) can, if cross-fertilised with wild members of the family or with ornamental gourds, produce seeds which will grow into poisonous plants, giving rise to “toxic squash syndrome” if eaten.
How long does a pumpkin last once picked?
Pumpkins last eight to 12 weeks after they are picked, so it’ll stay fresh once you pick it up. It’s only after you carve it that the clock starts ticking.
When should I buy a pumpkin?
When should you buy your pumpkin? Anytime in the month of October in the run-up to Halloween is a perfectly appropriate time to purchase your jack-o-lantern. Pumpkins last 8 to 12 weeks after they are picked, it’s after you carve it that the clock starts ticking.
What is the best pumpkin for baking?
For cooking, you’ll want to use sugar pumpkins (also called pie or sweet pumpkins), which are small and round. Long Island Cheese pumpkins, which are more oblong and can look like a wheel of cheese, are also good to eat. Field types are larger; have watery, stringy flesh; and are best used for decorating.
What to do with the inside of a pumpkin after carving?
What to Do With Pumpkin Guts
- Stockpile it for Broth. Food52’s Food Editor, Emma Laperruque, suggests adding a bag of pulp to a stock pile in the fridge or freezer with other vegetable scraps like onion peels and celery butts.
- Purée the Pulp.
- Turn it Into Chutney.
- Make a Creamy Pumpkin Hummus.
Gerardo Gonzalez loves cooking. He became interested in it at a young age, and has been honing his skills ever since. He enjoys experimenting with new recipes, and is always looking for ways to improve his technique.
Gerardo’s friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of his delicious cooking. They always enjoy trying out his latest creations, and often give him feedback on how he can make them even better. Gerardo takes their input to heart, and uses it to continue refining his culinary skills.