Carving Pumpkins has got to be one of my favorite of the many fall activities! It is something that I do every year…with or without my kids’ involvement! (Sometimes my patterns get a little intricate and tedious and my kids lose their patience with me) We usually do about 6-8 pumpkins every year, with some traditional free hand carving and some using the templates you can find online. Now, I don’t claim to be any sort of an artist, but I am good at copying the templates and certainly enjoying the exactness and attention to detail that is required to get a good outcome when carving some of the complicated patterns! I just wanted to include a few tips this year on pumpkin carving that I like to follow!
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Don’t carve it too early! Ideally you should carve just a day or two ahead of your party or Halloween. I know it’s hard to wait sometimes!
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Instead of carving your entry hole out of the top or bottom, try cutting a hole in the back of your pumpkin instead. Not only will it be easier to get your lights in and out, but it will help maintain moisture in your carved pumpkin and some of it’s structural integrity.
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Get creative with your carving tools! Use your lemon zester, a grater or other kitchen utensils…just be careful not to break them! I do love the little tools you can buy now and they work great if you are careful with them. I have to admit that last year I bought myself a really nice carving set. It worked great. I also bought the pumpkin gutter attachment for my drill and I also am in love with it a little bit!. It makes gutting your pumpkins soooo much easier!
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Find a pumpkin with a good thick stem. A little green wouldn’t hurt either as that way you know it is a fresh picked pumpkin! DON’T pick your pumpkin up by the stem. Pumpkins grow sitting on the ground, so that stem was never intended to hold up the weight of your pumpkin.
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Clean it out really well. If you leave too much stuff inside it will get ooey gooey to early!
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Keep it cool once it is carved and even a little moist. I know this is a hard one here in Wisconsin as this time of year it can be 30 degrees one day and 70 the next in the fall, so just do your best! It will last longer if kept cool.
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Have a plan before you start carving…even a little! Practice your plan on a piece of paper.
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Dry off your pumpkin a little before you start carving…this is a safety precaution! Your pumpkin, once carved, will appreciate a little misting moisture later to keep it fresh!
Have fun! And remember, they all look great once they are lit up on your front porch!
