- Halloween
Get a clean slate for your pumpkin carving masterpiece with our mess-free method for cleaning out a pumpkin.
By
Emily VanSchmus
Emily VanSchmus
Emily VanSchmus is the assistant digital home editor at Better Homes & Gardens, where she covers home decor, entertaining ideas, and more.
Updated on September 28, 2023
Pumpkin carving isn't too tricky, but we have a few tips that make the task even easier. For example, if you cut a pumpkin from the bottom, it's the least messy and simplest way to start the cleaning-out process to begin your Halloween jack-o'-lantern. In the steps below, we'll show you everything you need to know about cleaning out a pumpkin—from making the initial cut to all the pumpkin carving tools you can use to get it done quickly.
Safety First
One thing you'll want to do before carving: Make sure you're cutting your pumpkin the safest way, especially if young children are helping you. Place your pumpkin on a solid, unmovable surface so there's no accidental slipping. Find a pumpkin that's softer vs. tough for less resistance to the carving process, and use a smaller knife for detail work for more control. To get your kids involved, have them use a melon baller to carve circular designs, like eyes, rather than a knife.
Protect your work surface. Whether carving your jack-o-lanterns indoors or outside, you'll want to put down some newspaper to keep the sticky pumpkin insides from getting everywhere. Doing the work on newspaper also makes it easier to roll the paper up with the pumpkin guts inside when you're done.
How to Carve a Pumpkin That Looks Professional This Halloween
Equipment / Tools
- Thin serrated knife
- Large metal scoop
- Small knife
Materials
Instructions
How to Clean Out a Pumpkin for Carving
With a few supplies and these how-to instructions, you'll have a pumpkin ready to carve in no time. Customize your Halloween pumpkin with one of our free printable stencils.
Cut the Pumpkin From the Bottom
If you've carved a pumpkin before, chances are you cut a circle around the pumpkin stem and reached in through the top to scoop out the pumpkin insides. We think the secret to carving the perfect pumpkin is to cut the pumpkin from the bottom rather than the top. This will also help make your pumpkin last longer.
Cut a medium-sized hole in the bottom of your pumpkin (make the hole larger than your fist but small enough that the cut portion won't be visible once you stand the pumpkin up). Use a long, thin, serrated knife for this step.
Once you've carved a complete circle, make two cuts (starting at the circle's perimeter, facing toward the center of the pumpkin) to form a small triangle-shaped notch. Poke the triangle shape out and use the notch to pull the rest of the circle away from the pumpkin.
Remove the Pumpkin Guts
Once you've cut the pumpkin from the bottom, it's time for the fun part—removing the pumpkin guts! While reaching in with your bare hands would certainly get the job done, we have a few tips for anyone who doesn't like the feel of squishing pumpkin guts between their fingers.
- Use a large scoop. You can find scoops with serrated edges in some pumpkin carving kits, or look for a large, semi-curved utensil—like an ice cream scoop—from the kitchen.
- Use a scoop made of metal. Plastic spoons or scoops may snap if used too forcefully.
- Use a small knife such as a paring knife to scrape the sides of the pumpkin, separating the rest of the guts from the inner rind—this will make the rest of the removal process quick and painless.
Editor's Tip
Don't throw out all the pumpkin insides! Save the seeds for a delicious roasted snack.
31 Easy Pumpkin Carving Ideas for the Best Jack-o'-Lanterns
Scrape the Inside of the Pumpkin Clean
Once you've scooped out all the stringy pumpkin insides, go back over the inner rind and scrape it completely clean. You can use the same scoop you used before. Scrape the pumpkin sides until it is completely clear of all strings and extra loose material—this allows for a smooth, clean cut when you start carving a design into the pumpkin.
After you've cleaned out the pumpkin, wipe the interior walls with a mixture of water and bleach. The bleach mixture will prevent rotting, enabling you to enjoy your carved designs longer. The smell of the bleach can also keep away squirrels and other animals who might want to munch on your pumpkin art.