Ready to create the perfect jack-o'-lantern this Halloween? Pumpkin carving is a great way to bring some Halloween atmosphere to your home, and display your creativity for trick-or-treaters to admire. Let's explore how to carve a pumpkin to impress.
Choosing Your Pumpkin
Use our top and bottom rule when choosing a pumpkin. On the top, you want a sturdy green stem to ensure the pumpkin is fresh. Underneath, you're after a flat bottom that sits steadily on surfaces. And only pumpkins with firm skin and no soft spots or blemishes need apply. Anything else risks early rotting.
Sugar pumpkins are good for beginners learning how to carve a pumpkin, because their medium size and smooth surfaces make cutting easier. Jack-o'-lantern varieties offer thicker walls that hold intricate designs well for those who want to go beyond the staple toothy grin. If you want to stretch your skills a little, a Cinderella pumpkin's flatter shape offers a challenge for creative carvers.
Preparing Your Workspace
A little prep goes a long way when pumpkin carving. Before you do anything else, play some spooky music in the background. This is mandatory.
You don't want your paper towel just out of reach when you're elbow deep in pumpkin goop, so set up your carving station with everything close at hand. Cover tables with newspaper or plastic sheets, and place a large bowl nearby for pumpkin guts.
How to Cut Pumpkin
Safety comes first, second, and third during carving sessions, especially when working with kids. Wear cut-resistant gloves to protect your hands. Keep tools sharp since dull blades require more force and slip easily. Work slowly and cut away from your body.
Proper tools transform pumpkin carving from frustrating to fun. Start with a serrated knife for cutting the lid. A large spoon or ice cream scoop removes seeds and pulp. Small paring knives will give you precise cuts for detailed work.
Don't be afraid to use regular kitchen tools, especially when dealing with basic designs. Use cookie cutters to trace shapes. Melon ballers create perfect circles, while citrus zesters add texture and fine details to your masterpiece.
Begin by cutting a lid in the top at an angle, so that it won't fall through later. Make the opening large enough for your hand and tools. Then you can start hollowing.
Scrape the inside walls of your pumpkin until they're about one inch thick. Thinner walls allow more light through but break easier. Clean all stringy bits for a smooth interior surface. And don't forget to save the pumpkin flesh, because you can use it in a lot of recipes. How about Pumpkin Hummus?
How to Clean Pumpkin Seeds
Save the pumpkin seeds. Clean and dry them so you can transform them into delicious Pumpkin Pie Spice Pumpkin Seeds later. Separate them from the pulp while rinsing them using a sieve or colander. Then air-dry them overnight on kitchen towel so they're ready to roast.
How to Carve a Pumpkin
When your pumpkin is ready, you can move on to your pattern. If you drew it on paper or printed it out, you can transfer it to the surface by taping the paper to the pumpkin and poking holes along the lines with a toothpick. Then, connect the dots with careful cuts. Or you can just draw directly on the pumpkin with a washable marker.
Cut the large sections first, then add details. Push cut pieces out from inside the pumpkin. And if you make a mistake, don't worry; you can likely save it using toothpicks to reattach pieces.
Baking with Leftover Pumpkin
Baked pumpkin goodies are the perfect spiced treat for the fall, and you can make them by putting your leftover pumpkin to good use. Steam or roast it until it's soft, and then puree it with a blender. That makes it perfect for this Pumpkin Spice Bread recipe.
These Pumpkin Muffins also make the perfect treat for a Halloween party, complementing your carved pumpkin decorations.
For something a little chewier, check out these Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles. They're perfect with the obligatory pumpkin spiced-lattes that we'll all be drinking this fall.
After Halloween, compost your pumpkin or donate it to a farm. Wildlife centres often accept pumpkin donations for animal feed. That ensures that even after the trick-or-treating is done and the candles go out, your pumpkin shell won't go to waste.
More pumpkin recipes
Need more recipes for your leftover pumpkin? Check these out.
