Choosing the Perfect Pumpkin
October is here, and while fall has already ushered in pumpkin spiced lattes, cookies, and everything else imaginable, it’s time to pick out an actual pumpkin for your fall display.
Below are some tips on how to pick out the perfect pumpkin courtesy of Estabrook’s
Whether you’re looking to carve the ultimate Jack-O-Lantern or simply dress up your front steps, you’ll want to select the very best. Here are a few tips to help you choose your pumpkin and keep it fresh until Halloween:
- Select pumpkins that are fresh and firm. Avoid choosing a pumpkin that has bruised or soft areas, cuts or other visible blemishes.
- Store both cut or uncut pumpkins in a cool, dry place to keep them fresh longer. A cool basement will work well.
- Remember that warm weather and hot sunlight can speed decay in a pumpkin. Don’t leave your pumpkins out on your door step during unseasonably warm weather.
- Once a pumpkin is carved, cover it with plastic for a day or two to help keep moisture in it.
- Smaller cut pumpkins can be wrapped in plastic and stored inside the refrigerator for a few days before Halloween. This is especially helpful if you are having a party and need to carve them ahead of time.
- If your cut pumpkin begins to shrivel, it can sometimes be revived temporarily by soaking it in a bucket of cool water for several hours, and then draining thoroughly.
- Cover all cut edges of a pumpkin, as well as the entire interior, with petroleum jelly. This is the best way to reduce moisture loss and keep a pumpkin looking fresh longer.
- Heat from electric light bulbs and candles can also contribute to the early demise of a pumpkin. Try cutting a hole in the top of the pumpkin to allow heat to escape.
