Do not throw away your Halloween pumpkin


Turn a Halloween pumpkin into food

Your Halloween pumpkin is more than a temporary porch decoration. Pumpkin flesh and seeds are edible, and gardeners can also use the plant’s flowers and young leaves.

The incredible edible pumpkin

Pumpkins are winter squash native to the Americas. Different varieties vary widely in flavor and texture, but many can become soups, breads, pancakes, chili, desserts, and other fall foods.

Learn the history and food potential of pumpkins

Fresh pumpkin being processed for cooking

Process the flesh

Cut the pumpkin into manageable pieces and bake them skin side up until the flesh is soft enough to pierce easily with a fork. Let the pieces cool, scoop out the flesh, and blend it into smooth puree.

Use the puree immediately or freeze it in recipe-sized portions.

Turn a pumpkin into puree

Save the seeds

Any pumpkin seed can be eaten. Toss cleaned seeds with olive oil and salt, spread them in one layer, and roast until golden, stirring frequently.

Roast pumpkin seeds

A bowl of pumpkin chili

Two ways to use the puree

A batch of puree can become pumpkin chili for dinner or whole wheat spiced pancakes for breakfast.

Make pumpkin chili

Whole wheat spiced pumpkin pancakesMake pumpkin pancakes

Here’s to eating the decorations, Aaron & Susan

Recommended pantry staple

Bake with whole wheat flour

The pumpkin pancake recipe uses whole wheat flour for a hearty texture and warm fall flavor.

See organic whole wheat flour

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