Tips for Carving and Keeping Pumpkins
Carving pumpkins is a Halloween tradition in many families. What’s more fun for little ones than getting to stick your hands inside a pumpkin and pull out its gooey sticky insides? It’s typically then the parent’s job to slice and dice the big orange ball into something that remotely resembles a spooky or goofy looking face. If you’re looking for the easiest way to carve and keep a great pumpkin try some of the recommendations below.
1. Purchase a pumpkin carving kit. Most stores carry them and they are often pretty inexpensive. Many kits come with not only all of the carving tools but also a scooper and even patterns for more intricate carvings. The patterns are usually taped on the pumpkin and cut through to create the design although it may be more fun to let the kids draw their own design in pen or marker for you to cut out.
2. When gutting out the pumpkin remove all of the loose flesh and seeds, but don’t take too much of the hard flesh off the sides. If the pumpkin is too thin it will rot more quickly.
3. Do not cut shapes to close together. If there is little room between your Jack-O-Lantern’s mouth and nose it will rot more quickly.
4. After your pumpkin is carved, rub a thin layer of Vaseline on the parts that have been carved like the inside of the eyes, nose and mouth. The Vaseline helps the pumpkin retain its moisture and helps it to keep longer.
5. If your pumpkin starts to shrivel, place it in a sink or bucket full of water for a few hours. This will help it regain some moisture. Be sure to dry the inside with a paper towel after soaking so that it won’t get moldy more quickly.
6. The safest way of lighting your pumpkin is to use artificial candles that are battery operated. This allows no chance of anyone getting burned or anything catching on fire. If you really want to use a candle be sure to cut a small hole in the back, top section, of the pumpkin to allow the smoke to escape.
by Nicole E. Nappi
