Well, another Halloween has come and gone, and as a frugal person, I hate to see pumpkins being thrown away. Frugal people like to find a use for things instead of throwing them away. Pumpkins are really not that cheap to just use as a decoration and then throw it away. Last year at this time, people were having a hard time finding pure pumpkin puree in the store. So, why not make your own pumpkin puree with leftover pumpkins. I had a neighbor who was going to throw pumpkins away and she did not even cut them, so she gave them to me. Some people do puree pumpkins that have been cut out as jack-o-lanterns but it is not recommended because molds can build up on the cut pumpkin and the pumpkin will also start to lose its nutrients. So, if you plan to use the pumpkin, you might just want to use markers to decorate it. Many people do use their cut pumpkins though, so you will have to make your own decision on that one. Here are some ideas for reusing pumpkins.

Making Pumpkin Puree

Baked Pumpkin– First, you will need to cut your pumpkin in half from stem to bottom and then clean out the seeds and the stringy stuff. You then take one cup of water and place in the bottom of a roasting pan and place the pumpkins in the pan cut side down. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 1 hour. You will need to check the tenderness of it after an hour and decide on if you need to heat it longer. It should feel like a baked potato when it is ready, but don’t burn yourself when you are trying to check it, use a utensil. When ready, remove from oven and let cool for about 15 minutes. Scoop out the fleshy part of the pumpkin and discard the skin. Next puree the pumpkin in a blender or food processor until it is smooth.

Microwaving Pumpkin– To microwave pumpkin, you need to cut pumpkin in half and pull out seeds and strings. Next, cube the pumpkin with the rind on. Placed the cubed pumpkin in a microwave safe bowl and loosely place on some plastic wrap. Place microwave on medium and check every 5 minutes. Different microwaves will take different times. Let the pumpkin cool slightly and pull off the rind. Puree in the blender or food processor until smooth.

Boiling Pumpkin– Cut the pumpkin in half and remove the seeds and stringy parts. Peel and cut the fleshy pumpkin parts into chunks. Put the pumpkin chunks into a large cooker pan and cover it with water. Bring to a boil and cook until tender. Puree the boiled pumpkin in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Fixing Watery Pumpkin Puree

Fresh pumpkin puree can be watery, but there are ways to fix that problem. First you can line a strainer with cheesecloth or coffee filters and let the extra liquid drain off; you can place this in the refrigerator overnight to thoroughly drain. You can also put your pumpkin puree in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until you reach the desired consistency.

Preserving Pumpkin Puree

Freezing is the only recommended way to preserve pumpkin puree. For safety reasons it is no longer recommended to can. Measure out your pumpkin puree in amounts needed in recipes you plan to make. Most recipes use 2 cups, so if you are not sure just use 2 cup portions. Place in zip lock baggies and freeze. Don’t forget to label and date your package. You could also freeze the pumpkin puree in jars just allow headspace because it will expand in the freezer.

Using Pumpkin Seeds

Don’t forget about reusing the seeds. You can wash off all the stringy pulp and then dry them off. I like to keep several in an envelope to use as my pumpkin seeds for the next gardening season. Just place in an envelope and label and date it. You can also make some tasty pumpkin seeds with your leftover seeds instead of throwing them away.

Using Pumpkin Puree in Recipes

If you use a large pumpkin used for cutting out a Jack-O-Lantern, you may need to add extra spices and sugar in some of your recipes. The smaller pumpkins tend to be sweeter. Here are some of my favorite things to do with pumpkin puree.

Spiced Pumpkin Waffles

Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Leather

Pumpkin Milkshake

Sugared Pumpkin Donuts