Can you Eat Halloween Pumpkins?

Pumpkins that are bred for carving were made to be stronger and tougher than other varieties.
Halloween pumpkins are fibrous, watery and bland inside. If you’re looking for a pumpkin that you can use to roast or make pies, soups and other baked goods then steer clear of large, flat bottomed Halloween pumpkins.

Besides the un-appealingness of Halloween pumpkins, there are safety issues with jack-o-lanterns.
Once a Halloween pumpkin is carved, the flesh is exposed to bacteria. If heat is added with a candle, bacteria begins to multiply even more rapidly.

So, leave that jack-o-lantern on the doorstep!
Instead, choose smaller, round sugar pumpkins or flatter, lighter colored cheese pumpkins for all recipes and eating pleasures. They contain less moisture, more flavor and no fibrous strands. Therefore, they can be whipped nicely into a creamy texture.

The exception to this rule are the seeds.
In a few days we will discuss making roasted pumpkin seeds which you can make from the seeds scooped out when cutting open a jack-o-lantern. Seeds are tasty and nutritious when scooped from any type of pumpkin, including a halloween pumpkin.

Can you Eat Halloween Pumpkins?

Additional Info

To find out how long pumpkins last, see our pumpkin page.