Today, it’s all about how to choose the right pumpkin for your family. How do you choose a pumpkin? This is an updated post from a few years ago. Do you love seeing the little kids at the supermarket looking at all the small, medium, and large pumpkins in those huge boxes?
A few years ago, I went to a local store to pick up a pumpkin to use for a party. The sign said $.89 on this HUGE box of pumpkins. Okay, so I threw one in the shopping cart and continued shopping. I think it has been 25 years since I purchased a pumpkin to carve for Halloween.
Well, as I am checking out, the guy behind me asked where I got my pumpkin. I said, “Over there.” he then said to me, “Well, those are SUGAR Pumpkins.” I asked him, “What’s a SUGAR pumpkin?” He then told me that SUGAR pumpkins are used to make pumpkin pie. I thought a pumpkin was a pumpkin. I learn something new every single day.
Now I realize this pumpkin is special because it cost me $6.35. I am not getting in line again to return the expensive pumpkin for a cheaper, larger one. That sign said $.89. I should have read the fine print that said $.89 a pound. In case you missed my post, Pumpkin Cookies-A Family Favorite
My favorite Pumpkin Carving Tools
The History of Pumpkin Carving
Long before pumpkins ever became part of the tradition, people in Ireland and Scotland were carving turnips, potatoes, and beets. This custom grew out of an old Celtic legend about a man named Stingy Jack, who tricked the devil and was doomed to wander the earth after death, carrying only a burning coal inside a hollowed-out turnip to light his way. People began carving their own frightening faces into vegetables and placing them near windows and doors to scare off Jack’s wandering spirit and other unwelcome ghosts.
When Irish and Scottish immigrants came to America in large numbers, especially during the 1800s, they brought this tradition with them. Once here, they discovered that pumpkins, which were native to North America and much larger and easier to carve, made a wonderful replacement for turnips. Pumpkins were also plentiful in the fall, since they were already an important harvest crop for many American farmers.
Over time, the tradition shifted from warding off spirits to becoming a festive part of harvest celebrations and eventually a beloved Halloween custom. By the late 1800s, carved pumpkins were commonly associated with autumn and Halloween festivities in American communities. Newspapers from that era even printed early references to jack-o’-lanterns as part of fall decorating.
Today pumpkin carving has grown into an art form all its own, with festivals, contests, and elaborate designs, but the heart of it remains the same simple idea passed down through generations. Families gather, scoop out the seeds, and carve a face or design that reflects their creativity, continuing a custom that stretches back centuries.
It is a wonderful reminder that so many of our modern traditions have deep roots, and that gathering as a family to create something with our hands connects us to those who came before us.
How To Choose The Right Pumpkin
Aren’t these colors beautiful? Fall leaves and pumpkins are so fun to look at!
I used to grow pumpkins, so I guess I was having sticker shock at the price of this tiny pumpkin. I guess this is usually not the right pumpkin for me, but it will be this year.
As you can see, pumpkins come in a number of colors other than orange, even though that tends to be the most popular around Halloween, particularly when it comes to making a Jack-O-Lantern. Isn’t it fun to walk around the neighborhood and see the pumpkin lanterns on the front porch of so many houses? It’s one of my favorite times of the year.
So of course, now I am doing the research on SUGAR pumpkins. I must make a disclaimer here: if I’m going to have pumpkin pie with a meal, I’ll BUY the pie at Costco. I’ll place it in the refrigerator to keep it cold and slice it when I’m ready to serve it. And of course, I’ll serve it with freshly whipped cream!
I don’t think I could buy the ingredients and make the pie for what Costco charges for their yummy ready-to-eat pies. Add some whipped cream, and I am good to go! My mother always made fresh pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving. Sorry Mom, I didn’t carry on that tradition! Now, let’s find the right pumpkin for you.
How To Choose Just The Right Pumpkin:
1. Never pick up the pumpkin by its stem; it can break off, and then bacteria can grow in the pumpkin wound.
2. Check for bruising or cuts because they can go downhill pretty fast from the tiniest scratch or nick.
3. The smaller pumpkins are sweeter, denser, and have higher sugar content, perfect for pie-making.
4. The tall ones have stringier insides.
5. White pumpkins are easier to paint than orange ones and are great pumpkins for baking.
6. Harvest a pumpkin when the vines start to dry up, and the pumpkin is the color you like.
7. Make sure the skin is hardened, so you can’t crack it with your fingernail. This is another way to tell it’s ripe.
8. Tap the pumpkin to see how dense the walls are; thick walls block the candlelight. But a hollow thumping sound means the pumpkin is ripe and ready to harvest.
9. The small cooking pumpkins weigh from 3-7 pounds-perfect for pies.
10. You can roast and eat the seeds of any pumpkin.
How To Cook/Bake Pumpkin Seeds
Ingredients
- 6 cups raw pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 cup Agave or 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper or your favorite ones
- Dash of Real Salt
Instructions
Clean the Pumpkin Seeds
- Scrub the pumpkin if you see any debris. Let it dry. Cut the top off so you can remove the seeds.
- Scrape the seeds out of the pumpkin.
- Wash the seeds and let them dry overnight, or at least several hours.
- Get a cookie sheet, cover it with foil, and grease it with vegetable oil (so the pumpkin seeds can be removed more easily after baking)
How To Cook/Bake Pumpkin Seeds
- Preheat oven to 350°F = (176°C).
- Combine the pumpkin seeds in a medium-sized bowl. Combine the Agave or olive oil, Cayenne Pepper, and Real Salt in a small bowl.
- Stir the liquid until blended and pour over the pumpkin seeds. Stir the pumpkin seeds with the liquid until covered.
- Place the mixture on a foil-covered, greased cookie sheet. Place in the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes.
- Stir the pumpkin seeds halfway through the cooking period. Let cool and enjoy! These are great for salads or snacks.
Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds:
1. Heart-healthy: 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds contains half of the recommended daily amount of magnesium. They may help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure.
2. Zinc: a great immune system booster that helps with sleep, depression, and mood swings.
3. Promotes a healthy prostate because of the zinc.
4. Helps with diabetes regulation-always check with your doctor before starting any new regimen.
5. Postmenopausal: helps with hot flashes, headaches, and blood pressure.
6. Anti-inflammatory: great for those of us with arthritis issues.
Please Do NOT Can Pumpkin Puree:
If you’re thinking about canning pumpkin, please remember it is not safe to can pumpkin puree. I have a link below with critical information on preserving pumpkins. Please be safe when canning any food. Always check with your local state extension service if you have more questions.
National Center for Food Preservation
How Many Varieties of Pumpkins Are There?
There are at least 40 or more varieties of pumpkins. They all come from the scientific Genus Cucurbita and include not only pumpkins but also squashes and gourds. There are five main pumpkin species: ficifolia, maxima, mixta, moschata, and pepo.
Some of the pumpkin names are delightful, and others are funny. Here are a few you may want to get better acquainted with:
- Jack-Be- Little
- Rouge Vif D’Étampes
- Jarrahdale
- Baby Boo
- Fairytale
- Long Island Cheese
- Black Futsu
- Cotton Candy
- Those in the F1 Hybrid family, like Field Trip, Tandy, Warty Goblin, and One Too Many
What Are Some of the Common Edible Pumpkin Varieties?
If you are thinking of buying or growing your own edible pumpkins, consider trying some of these varieties:
- Blue Doll
- Cherokee Bush
- Cinderella
- Dill’s Atlantic
- Fairytale
- Flat White Boer Ford
- Hybrid Pam
- Long Island Cheese
- Lumina White
- New England Cheddar
- Porcelain Doll
- Sugar Pie
Sugar pumpkins are considered to provide the sweetest flavor. Ask your nursery or local grocer which ones they would suggest.
Are There Varieties That Are Only for Decoration and Not Edible?
Yes, some pumpkins look great when you decorate your home, but shouldn’t be eaten. Keep this list handy:
- Angel Wing
- Apple Gourd
- Baby Bear
- Gooseneck
- Jack Be Quick
Be Aware That Pumpkins Are Subject to Infestation of Insects
Some insects you may have to deal with are:
- Aphids
- Cucumber Beetles
- Pickle Worms
- Spider Mites
- Squash Bugs
- Squash Vine Borers
- Whiteflies
Check with your local nursery or extension service to see what safe insect treatments you should consider.
Why do we often see pumpkins growing in a “pumpkin patch”?
When you grow pumpkins, particularly the larger varieties, they are prone to take up a lot of space. A wide variety also grows on vines that tend to spread out. A pumpkin patch with ample open space is the ideal place to grow and harvest this delicious, fun food.
Final Word
Let me know your stories about choosing just the right pumpkin; I would love to share them on this post. Plus, how many pumpkins do you usually grow or buy? Please make memories with your families and friends as you carve pumpkins, make pumpkin bread or cookies, and roast pumpkin seeds. Enjoy life as you keep prepping. May God bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Toasted Pumpkin Seeds Depositphotos_39331555_S
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