As Halloween creeps closer, you can’t miss those huge piles of bright, plump pumpkins as you walk into the supermarkets. They’re ready to take home, carve and adorn your doorstep throughout the spooky festivities. But the sad fact is, an estimated 22.2 million pumpkins go to waste each year, which leads to the question: can you eat a carved Halloween pumpkin? Is it safe, or should you throw it away?
Can you eat a carving pumpkin – the short answer
The answer is yes, but it depends on how the pumpkin is prepared and stored, and what recipe you intend to use it in. If you save the flesh while preparing and carving the pumpkin, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge, it should keep for 3–5 days. It’s important not to eat flesh from a pumpkin that has been carved and left out as a lantern, as it can quickly harbour bacteria and become mouldy. Once you’ve enjoyed your pumpkin, we recommend putting it in your food-waste bin or adding it to your compost heap, if possible.
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Why carving pumpkins aren’t the best for cooking – and which varieties to look for
Carving pumpkins are grown to have large, hollow centres and thin walls, this makes life easy when it comes to scooping, cutting and carving your design. Their flesh can be watery, bland, fibrous and stringy, making for a less enjoyable eating experience. That being said, they're definitely not tasteless and it's still worth saving that flesh from landfill. You just have to be savvy with what recipe you put it into.
The flesh works best in dishes where its mild flavour and softer texture won’t be the main event, and where it can soak up other flavours, such as soups, curries, stews and pasta dishes. You can also roast it to concentrate its flavour and cook off excess moisture. Don’t forget to save the seeds. Simply clean, dry and roast them for a tasty snack or salad topping.
Check out our ultimate guide on how to prepare pumpkin, here you'll find how to choose, roast, puree and prepare the pumpkin.
Why not try a different variety?
For a pumpkin that’s both good to eat and lovely to look at, why not try a smaller eating variety. These are grown for flavour rather than size and can still make a stunning autumn decoration. Onion squash is a great choice, while Crown Prince is another flavourful option. Both have dense flesh that's naturally sweet, nutty and earthy. You can roast them with the skin on, so there’s no need to get your peeler out.
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If your family still wants the desired spooky effect, painting faces on them is just as fun as carving and much less messy. If you plan to cook with the pumpkin, make sure you use paint labelled as food-safe.
Now you know which pumpkins are best for cooking, it’s time to put them to good use. We’ve rounded up some of our favourite ways to cook this versatile squash. If you choose to go down the mini-pumpkin route, why not try our stuffed pumpkins with spelt and blue cheese? The pumpkins are left whole and packed with gooey blue cheese, spelt and chestnuts, making for a delicious autumnal dinner.
Alternatively, our spiced pumpkin soup is on the table in just 20 minutes. Warming cumin gives it real hug-in-a-mug vibes, making it perfect if you’re after maximum ease in the kitchen. For an Italian classic, try our potato gnocchi with pumpkin sauce. It’s a great way to use up leftover pumpkin, transforming it into a rich, velvety sauce if you fancy a change from tomato. The sauce also works wonderfully tossed through pasta.
Best pumpkin recipes
Chloe is our Food Content Producer at Good Housekeeping, where she develops, tests and creates recipes that are as reliable as they are delicious. After studying Culinary Arts, she began her career as a cookery teacher before moving into recipe development. Over the past decade, she’s worked with some of the UK’s leading food brands and previously created food content for Red, Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Country Living, where you may have spotted her on their social channels. Raised in a family of chefs, Chloe’s love of food was inevitable. She’s the person friends and family turn to for recipe ideas, cooking advice and help rescuing kitchen mishaps. She believes food is so much more than fuel – it’s an experience, a way to bring people together and the maker of life’s best memories.
