How to Pick the Best Carving Pumpkin - Adams Fairacre Farms (2024)

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How to Pick the Best Carving Pumpkin - Adams Fairacre Farms? ›

A fresh pumpkin should be solid to the touch. Avoid ones that have soft spots or sunken areas, as decay has already set in. Selecting good quality produce will ensure that your autumn display will be long lasting. High quality pumpkins have a firm, hard rind and are generally rich orange in color.

A fresh pumpkin should be solid to the touch. Avoid ones that have soft spots or sunken areas, as decay has already set in. Selecting good quality produce will ensure that your autumn display will be long lasting. High quality pumpkins have a firm, hard rind and are generally rich orange in color.

For carving, opt for pumpkins with smooth, even skin and consistent coloring for a clean canvas. Prioritize pumpkins free of soft spots and deep scratches by thoroughly examining their skin. Ensure a longer-lasting pick by choosing pumpkins with firm, non-mushy bottoms and sturdy stems.

Pumpkin Varieties That Are Good for Carving

Hobbits are 10- to 12-pound pumpkins, and are considered a medium-sized variety. Autumn Golds are a very manageable variety, weighing between seven and 10 pounds. They turn a beautiful golden-orange color before fully ripe and are easy to carve, compared to other varieties.

A pie pumpkin will often feel heavier for its size than a carving pumpkin will. You can eat either one of them, but the pie pumpkin is likely to taste a lot better and have better texture. The carving pumpkin will probably be tougher, stringier, less sweet and just generally less flavorful.

When to Buy Your Pumpkin. According to Evan, the best time to pick a pumpkin is within a week of when you plan to carve it. "Look for a large pumpkin, heavy for its size, with unblemished skin," Evan says. And be sure to avoid the telltale sign of an older pumpkin: a dry, brittle stem.

Tiny pumpkins might seem like a great idea for small children, but they're actually harder to carve. Their smaller size means that it's easier to cut yourself while trying to carve out a design. Plus, if they're too small, there won't be room for a candle or other light to go inside.

A solid moisturizing regimen is always a good idea. If it's a carved pumpkin you're treating, you can use petroleum jelly or vegetable oil to rub into all the exposed parts (do this after a bleach soak for twice the benefits). Petroleum jelly, according to these carving experts, helps it to not dry out and shrivel up.

A good average size for a pumpkin to carve is 12 to 20 pounds, according to Ed Morton, who has been carving intricate designs into the gourds for more than 20 years.

Make sure it has no cracks, splits or soft spots that are a sign of rot. Gently press a fingernail into the rind. If you can easily push through the surface, the pumpkin was probably picked too early and will rot. A mature pumpkin will not easily scratch.

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