Category: Fruits

While a serrated knife from your kitchen will work, the best tool for carving is one with serrations on both sides (like the ones you can find in pumpkin-carving kits) or you could try a laminate cutting tool. What should you not carve a pumpkin with? Don’t cut the top off the pumpkin. Cut the […]

By cutting your hole in the bottom, you don’t risk having a bad lid, and you don’t have to start all over if you goof up. Creating a lid uses up a lot of precious pumpkin real estate! This carver would’ve had room for eyebrows and other flourishes if they had cut from the bottom […]

Pumpkins tend to have very thick walls, and for the light to shine through, especially if you are etching a design, you will want to thin it to about 1/2 to 1-inch thick. How do you make a pumpkin translucent? Don’t cut all the way through. They carve and shave off layers of the outer […]

Why does this work? The vinegar kills fungus, making it hard for the pumpkin to rot. That’s why vinegar-soaked pumpkins look so new; they’re unblemished by the grossness that inevitably befalls their untreated peers. Can I spray vinegar on my pumpkins? Applying vinegar seems to be an even less-popular solution to preserving your pumpkin. Although […]

I found the I had the best results when I was decorating the pumpkins with Sharpie markers. Permanent markers really adhere to the pumpkin skin. I love this variety pack of Sharpies – so you have every width of marker to work with in the designs. The next thing you will need is an unwaxed […]

Start cutting from the bottom, not the top. Michael Natiello, pumpkin carving pro and creative director for The Great Jack-o’-Lantern Blaze, says cutting your “lid” from the bottom of the pumpkin helps prevent the sides from caving in later. Do you cut a hole in top of pumpkin? Top – It’s standard practice to cut […]

1. An X-ACTO Knife. The best way to take your carving skills up a notch is to invest in an X-ACTO knife (you can buy them at any art-supply store) for detail work. McMahon says he uses these artist’s knives when he wants to cut into — but not all the way through — the […]

“Carving pumpkins tend to have thinner walls that are more stringy, grainy and woody in texture ― which unfortunately doesn’t taste very good,” said Nordgren. “They are edible, but they would need a lot of help from other ingredients because of the texture, so proceed with lowered expectations if using for dishes.” Can you eat […]

Brush a medium layer of Mod Podge down onto the pumpkin. Lay down the map strips and allow to dry for a few minutes. Brush a thick layer of Mod Podge on top of the strips. Continue to overlap the map strips and secure with Mod Podge. How do you make a Mod Podge pumpkin? […]

Don’t be surprised when your jack-o’-lanterns break down faster than their intact counterparts. Realistically, you’ll only get a few days out of your carved pumpkin before it begins to rot. Plant Care Today says that carved pumpkins generally last between three and five days, though some can stretch it to two weeks. How do you […]

Step 1: Cut a Hole in the Bottom of the Pumpkin Cut a medium-size hole in the bottom of your pumpkin; the hole should be larger than your fist but small enough the cut portion won’t be visible once you stand the pumpkin up. Use a long, thin serrated knife for this step. Do you […]

You can do this one of two ways. You can scrape your design into the surface of the pumpkin so that the light shines directly through it. You can use several tools to do this, including: A wood gouge. A linoleum cutter. A Dremel tool or similar handheld device. A router. How do you make […]

To carve a design in relief, first clean your pumpkin and cut out a lid. Remove the pulp from the pumpkin and scrape the inside. Then, draw your design on your pumpkin using avgrease pencil or dry-erase marker. You may also want to cut along your design using a utility or craft knife. What can […]

How to make a classic pumpkin face: Use a sharp pencil or skewer to punch small holes into the pumpkin all around the outline of the template / Follow the dotted line you have created with a sharp knife, cutting all the way through the pumpkin / Push the shapes out from the inside out […]

Use a scoop made of metal. Plastic spoons or scoops may snap if used too forcefully. Use a small knife such as a paring knife to scrape the sides of the pumpkin, separating the rest of the guts from the inner rind—this will make the rest of the removal process quick and painless. How do […]

Carving pumpkins (or jack-o-lantern pumpkins) tend to have pale orange flesh, and not very much of it. That makes it easy to carve through the flesh and make your fancy designs. Pie pumpkins have darker orange flesh. The flesh of a pie pumpkin is also quite thick. Why is my pumpkin not orange inside? Keep […]

However, if the can is leaking, swelling, or rusting, you should discard it no matter the expiration date. Like all canned food, “expired” canned pumpkin is, in almost all cases (excluding some weird accidents), perfectly safe to eat for at least a couple of years. Can you get sick from eating old pumpkin? Symptoms of […]

The best way to store cut pumpkin is to wrap it tightly in cling wrap and place it in the fridge. Leaving the seeds in or scooping them out makes no difference to how long the pumpkin will last. Can pumpkin be stored at room temperature? Moisture causes rapid deterioration. If stored properly, a whole, […]

Ripe pumpkins have a light sweet scent, but you may not smell anything (which is fine). Overripe pumpkins emit a faint foul odor that gradually intensifies as the pumpkin continues to ripen. Check the pumpkin to make sure it has no signs of powdery mildew anywhere on the exterior. How do you know if pumpkin […]

Place the pumpkins in a shallow baking dish and place in the oven. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, until tender. How do you soften a pumpkin? Bake or microwave it For all large, difficult-to-cut squash and pumpkins (or a recipe where you’re keeping the squash mostly whole, like this one), giving the whole thing a […]