Can you cook and eat Halloween pumpkins?
Chef's answer
Although typical large carving pumpkins can taste awful, they are edible. It is always best to use "cooking pumpkins" when selecting a pumpkin which you intend to eat. ... If possible, carve it on Halloween and bring it in that night. Leave it in a cool, dark place until you cook it..
Frequently asked Questions 🎓
✔
You may use all sorts of pumpkins and squashes (a Cucurbita moschata or Cucurbita pepo may be called either, depending on variety) to make a pie. The Halloween types may not be the best choice: they tend to be stringy, not very sweet, and sometimes over treated with pesticides..
✔
When shopping for pumpkins, look for the ones usually generically labeled "sugar pumpkins" or "pie pumpkins." Some specific names are Baby Pam, Autumn Gold, Ghost Rider, New England Pie Pumpkin, Lumina (which are white), Cinderella, and Fairy Tale.
✔
Pie pumpkins are smaller and sweeter than regular old pumpkins which makes them perfect for whipping into a pie. You just need to turn them into pumpkin puree.
✔
To squirrels, pumpkins are an irresistible treat that they'll do almost anything to eat. ... Covering pumpkins with a scent they hate is one of the best ways to ward them off..
✔
Jack-O-Lantern pumpkins tend to be tougher and less sweet than the smaller ones sold for making pies, but you can make pies with them. You just have to work a little harder to get the smooth texture and maybe add a bit more sugar and spice..
✔
Carving pumpkins aren't as high in sugar as pie pumpkins, so they aren't ideal for all the sweet treats you'll want to make. The thicker amount of pumpkin meat inside a sugar pumpkin is just what you'll want and need. As far as carving a sugar pumpkin goes, we wouldn't recommend that either.
✔
Pumpkin is a very tender vegetable. The seeds do not germinate in cold soil, and the seedlings are injured by frost. Do not plant until all danger of frost has passed, and the soil has thoroughly warmed. Plant pumpkins for Halloween from late May in northern locations to early July in extremely southern sites..
A few more cooking questions 📍