10 Tips to get the most out of your fall pumpkins

With Halloween and Thanksgiving around the corner, pumpkins are making their annual appearance both inside and out. Whether you’re carving jack-o’-lanterns, creating a festive centerpiece, or decorating your outside living space, these bright orange favorites are a sure sign of fall.

Once the season ends, are you trying to think of ways to reuse or recycle the pumpkins that have served your seasonal decorations so well?

Read on for 10 tips to make the most of your fall pumpkins!

1. Make the insides part of your meals. The “guts” of your pumpkin can be used to make a delicious puree you can add to your favorite meals for increased nutritional value. First, separate the seeds from the pulp. Then roast the pumpkin flesh in a baking pan at 400°F until tender. When done, chop the pumpkin mixture coarsely with a potato masher or puree it in a food processor or blender, adding a little water if needed. Add your puree to your favorite chili, fall soup, casserole, macaroni and cheese, or homemade energy bars. You can even freeze it for later!
2. Roast pumpkin seeds for a healthy snack. Once you’ve scooped out the seeds and separated them from the pumpkin flesh, rinse the seeds well and arrange them in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet. Drizzle a little olive or canola oil, mix to coat, then add your choice of seasonings. Salt, soy sauce, or curry powder will make a savory snack. Sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar for a sweeter treat. Preheat the oven to 250°F. Bake, turning seeds periodically, until they are lightly browned and crisp.
3. Use small pumpkins as serving bowls. Take your dining table to a new level by using smaller pumpkins as serving bowls for soups or dips. Simply chop off the tops of the pumpkins, scrape them out, and place them on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Brush the inside with canola oil, sprinkle a little seasoning over the inside, if desired, and bake at 350°F for about 35 minutes. Once cooled, they are ready to serve your favorite harvest dip or soup.
4. Turn your pumpkin into a planter. Fill the bottom third of the hollowed-out pumpkin with potting soil, place the plant in the center, and then pack additional soil around it. When the pumpkin starts to decompose, you can plant the whole thing in the ground. The pumpkin will provide natural fertilizer and moist compost for your plant.
5. Create candleholders. You can use small pumpkins as candleholders by simply carving a hole big enough to fit a candle, insert the candle, and you’re ready to decorate!
6. Make a pumpkin facial mask or body scrub. Pumpkins contain vitamins, carotenoids, antioxidants, and excellent hydrating properties, all of which can help refresh your skin. Search online for natural skin treatments that combine pumpkin puree with ingredients like honey, milk, cinnamon, egg yolk, and green tea.
7. Help feed wildlife. Chop your pumpkins into chunks and put them a safe distance from homes, preferably in wooded areas, for wildlife to consume.
8. Make an air freshener. Rub seasonal spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, or allspice on the lid of a cleaned, hollowed out pumpkin. Cut a few holes in the pumpkin for air flow. A repurposed jack-o’-lantern works great since holes have already been cut. Place a beeswax or soy candle in the bottom, light it, and then replace the top. Remember never to leave the candle burning unattended.
9. Save pumpkin seeds to plant in Spring. Allow at least 20 square feet per plant. Be sure to wait until all chances of frost has passed before planting three to five seeds in mounded soil at a depth of one inch. In cooler regions, planting can start as early as late May. In warmer climates, mid-July may be better. Once the seeds germinate, select two of the healthiest plants, thin out the rest, then watch your garden grow!
10. Host a pumpkin-smashing event and compost the remains. Keep pumpkins out of the landfill by inviting friends and family to a pumpkin-smashing party. Pumpkins make great compost for your garden, especially when combined with leaves. If you don’t have a compost pile or garden, contact a local zoo, farm, or community garden to see if they’re interested in taking the remains.