Pick the Perfect Pumpkin
If you’re headed to the pumpkin patch this month, here are a few tips to help you select the perfect one to carve or to decorate your home.
When looking for a Jack-O-Lantern, select a large, round pumpkin. Avoid any that have dents, dings or blemishes. Check for soft spots. Any type of damage will shorten the life of your pumpkin. You want a sturdy stem. Pick the pumpkin up by the stem. If it doesn’t break off or feel soft, you have a healthy pumpkin. Also, try to purchase a locally grown pumpkin. It won’t have any damage from shipping, and might be fresher than one sent across the country.
There are a few things you can do to help your pumpkin last longer when you carve it. First, be sure to scrape out all the seeds on the inside, getting it as clean as possible. When you’re all finished carving, add a teaspoon of bleach to a gallon of water and soak your pumpkin over night. The bleach will kill the bacteria and slow the rotting process. To make it last extra long, spray your pumpkin once a day with the solution. Finally, display your pumpkin outside where it’s cool, rather than keeping it in the house.
If you have pumpkin pie made with fresh pumpkin on your mind, you want to make sure you use the right pumpkin. Pie pumpkins are small pumpkins that are sweeter and more flavorful than carving pumpkins. To use the pie pumpkin, cut it in half and clean out the seeds. Place the pumpkin halves upside down in a casserole dish, cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 90 minutes, checking frequently for softness. When it is soft enough to scrape out of the skin, it is ready. Puree the cooked pumpkin. If it seems watery, let it drain in a cheese cloth for 30 minutes. Then follow your normal pumpkin pie recipe.
Finally, don’t forget about all the other varieties of pumpkins and fancy gourds you can use to decorate and bring fall to your home. Turban squash and Cinderella pumpkins add variety with their usual shapes and colors. Small gourds and miniature pumpkins make great table decorations and can last until Thanksgiving. You can find all those varieties and more at farmer’s markets and farm stands.
