Pumpkin carving is a beloved Halloween tradition. But if you’ve ever made a jack-o’-lantern, you know it can be surprisingly hard to bring your vision to life. That’s why we tapped an expert for tips on how to carve pumpkins for Halloween. With these step-by-step instructions, you can make the process easier, avoid common mistakes, and create a festive design you’re proud to display on the front porch.
The most important thing to keep in mind when you’re carving a pumpkin: Take your time with each step, from choosing the right pumpkin to scooping out the seeds to cutting out each detail of your design. This can help you avoid many of the most common pumpkin-carving mistakes.
Once you’ve created a porch-worthy pumpkin, experts also say there are a few tricks to help you keep it fresh. After all, there’s nothing sadder than a pumpkin that starts looking saggy and shriveled before Halloween.
Ahead, learn how to carve a perfect pumpkin this Halloween, whether it’s your first time carving up a pumpkin or you’re an experienced Halloween crafter. And if you’re looking to avoid the mess of carving altogether, check out our ideas for no-carve pumpkins and painted pumpkin ideas anyone can make.
Step 1. Start with the right pumpkin.
The best ones to carve are fresh, have a sturdy stem, no bruises, and a flat bottom that won't roll around while you carve away.
Step 2. Begin cutting from the bottom, not the top.
Cutting your "lid" from the bottom of the pumpkins helps prevent the sides from caving in, according to Michael Natiello, pumpkin carving pro and creative director for The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze.
Step 3. If you do carve from the top, cut out the lid on an angle.
Prevent your lid from falling right into the pumpkin when you put it back on top by carving it at an angle. A boning knife should work well for this.
Step 4. Scoop out all the pulp (and then some).
You can buy a special "claw" for pumpkin gutting, but an ice cream scoop will do just fine. Thin the inner wall of the "face" area to be 1¼-inch thick, so it will be easier to pierce the shell.
Step 5. Sketch out the design on paper first.
If you draw your jack-o'-lantern face to size, Natiello says you can use it as a pattern: Just tape it to the front of your pumpkin and use a fork or pencil to poke holes along the lines you want to carve. Or, use a pumpkin carving kit, complete with a marker, scraper, cutting tools, and pre-made patterns.
Step 6. Hold the pumpkin in your lap.
It's easier to create features when the face is gazing up at you. Natiello suggests using a serrated kitchen knife or an X-Acto knife for carving, but to make intricate designs, you could try a small saw. Just don't cut on a slant—clean up-and-down slices look best.
Step 7. Start with simple rough cuts.
If you get the big pieces of pumpkin out of the way first, you can go back and clean up the edges of your design later.
Step 8. Use scraps creatively.
Make a tongue, pipe, or hair accessories out of a discarded piece of pumpkin shell, for example.
Step 9. Keep your pumpkin fresh.
Natiello recommends spreading petroleum jelly on the cut edges to seal in moisture, which helps make your carved pumpkin last. If your pumpkin still shrivels a few days later, you can revive it with a facedown soak in cold water for up to eight hours.
Step 10. Light it up.
Place a candle (or candles) into your pumpkin before lighting. If you don't want to use votives, try Christmas lights, especially those that blink for a spooky appearance. Or save yourself the stress and go with battery-operated votives instead.
Step 11. Create a chimney.
First, leave the lid on for a few minutes while the candle burns. Then make a small hole where the lid has blackened.
Step 12. Sprinkle cinnamon inside the lid.
That way, when you light the candle, your jack-o'-lantern will smell like a pumpkin pie. Yum.
Heather Finn is the content strategy editor at Good Housekeeping, where she heads up the brand's social media strategy and covers entertainment news on everything from ABC's 'The Good Doctor' to Netflix's latest true crime documentaries.
Laura Millar (she/her) is a freelance lifestyle journalist for Good Housekeeping. She holds a degree in Film, TV & Media from the University of Michigan, and was previously the assistant lifestyle editor for GH, where she covered home design. Her byline has appeared in NBC's TODAY.com, PEOPLE, Real Simple, and Business Insider.
