A Guide to Finding the Best Pumpkins for Eating and Carving this Fall

Wherever you are in the USA, nothing symbolizes fall and the harvest season quite like the pumpkin! Here’s a useful guide to different pumpkins, how to pick the perfect pumpkin, and which varieties are best for eating and carving, from our cash for houses team (we can also sell your home in 24 hours!).

How to Pick the Perfect Carving Pumpkin this Fall

Halloween just isn’t Halloween without a spooky carved pumpkin! Here’s what to look for:

• Tough but not too tough – The outer shell of the pumpkin should be strong enough to be structurally sound when you carve into it, but not so tough that you’ll struggle to cut it with a knife. If the shell feels as hard as wood, look for something a little softer. This will make carving easier and help avoid dangerous knife-slips.

• A hollow sound – You’ll want the light of a candle to make your pumpkin glow from the inside, so you don’t want a pumpkin that is very dense. The easiest way to find a thinner-walled pumpkin is to tap gently on the outside of the pumpkin. The right pumpkin will sound hollow inside, while a more dense pumpkin won’t have that telltale echoing sound when you tap on it. Also, pick it up and feel the weight compared to other similar-sized pumpkins. The lighter the pumpkin is, the less dense it is and the thinner the walls.

• It’s all about the base – To make sure your pumpkin will be sturdy and stable, place it on a hard level surface to make sure the base is flat, and the finished carving won’t roll.

• Variety is the spice of life – When considering different pumpkins, remember that you don’t always have to go for large orange varieties. In fact, you can carve any gourd or squash! Check out white skinned varieties, small pumpkins and oblong ones. This will give your collection a really unique and spooky look.

Choosing and Picking the Tastiest Pumpkins for Eating

Roasted pumpkin, pumpkin soups and pumpkin pie – just three of the many reasons fall is the best season for foodies! Here are some tips for picking a pumpkin that’s perfect for cooking with.

• Favorite varieties – When buying pumpkins, check out their names as they often give you a clue as to what dish they work best in, like the New England Pie Pumpkin. Other tasty varieties include the Caspar, Cherokee Bush, Acorn Squash, Autumn Gold, Peanut Pumpkin, Jarrahdale, Lumina, Fairytale and Musquee de Provence.

• Picking – If you are picking your own pumpkin, look for one where the vine has started to dry up, and look for the ripest expected color for that particular variety (often orange, while or a hybrid stripe). That’s because pumpkins stop ripening once they are picked. Fortunately, they last a long time in a cool pantry cupboard and even freeze well once cooked, so you don’t have to worry about buying a ripe pumpkin and having to use it up quickly.

• The fingernail check – Gently press your fingernail against the skin of the pumpkin (don’t break or damage the skin). If it’s firm against your fingernail, it’s mature and ready for storage or use.

• Soft spots and bruising – Look at your pumpkin and feel for soft spots and bruising, especially on the bottom of the pumpkin. Any break in the skin can let in bacteria very quickly, and these pumpkins will rot and soften, so it’s best to go with a different fruit. If your pumpkin has been damaged while transporting it home, it is still fine to eat, but you should refrigerate it cook with it that day.

• Be careful – Careless handling of a pumpkin can destroy this fruit, so even if it looks pretty tough, be gentle. Don’t press the point of your nail into the pumpkin, don’t lift it by the stem, and don’t rap your knuckles on it too hard. Any break in the skin, including where the stem connects to the fruit can let in bacteria and start the rotting process. Always cut your pumpkin with a few inches if stem still on it. This will help it last longer and prevent bacteria entering the fruit.

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• You enter your information on our website
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At Shiny Key Properties, our trained consultants have years of experience in helping homeowners to get out of foreclosure or needing to sell quickly. To find out more about our cash for houses Dallas service or to speak to our cash house buyers directly to sell your home in 24 hours, please contact us today and speak to one of our friendly team members.