How to Carve the Perfect Pumpkin

The countdown to Halloween is on! Have you carved a pumpkin yet? If not, follow the tips below to carve a spooktacular pumpkin that will wow your friends and family! 

1. Pick Your Pumpkin Wisely 

Most of us shop for the roundest and smoothest pumpkin. Don’t be afraid to get one that’s more visually interesting or even misshaped—as long as it doesn’t have any soft spots. If you have a pattern in mind that you want to carve, bring it with you. That way you can find the pumpkin that suits the shape of the pattern you’re going to carve.

2. Use Tools Around the House 

No need to buy a pumpkin carving kit, just use household items! For detailed work, you can use paring knives or some precision razor blades. Lemon zesters are also great for varying textures on your pumpkin. Melon ballers are useful for hollowing out a pumpkin or to create scooped-out balls that can later be pinned onto a pumpkin as eyes. Scrubber sponges are also optimal for smoothing out the surface of the pumpkin!

3. Cut Open the Bottom

Don’t cut your pumpkin open from the stem, it makes it much harder to clean out! Instead, cut your pumpkin open from the bottom. When you pull the plug out, half the seeds and other gunk will automatically come out- which makes it much easier to clean.

4. Clean Thoroughly

Scrape the walls of your pumpkin with a big metal spoon until they are an inch thick. How can you tell when you’ve scraped enough? Tape your template onto the pumpkin from the start and add thumbtacks all around the pattern. That way when you’re scraping down the inside, you can feel exactly when the thickness is right. This will cut down your carving time in half!

5. Practice Patience 

As you carve, do not pull pieces out while you go. This will preserve the stability of the pumpkin and keep it from breaking. Once you are finished carving completely, reach into the inside and gently poke the pieces out of the pumpkin. This will allow the pieces to come out way easier!

We hope these ideas have your creative juices flowing! We would love to see your own spooktacular pumpkins, so please share them in the comments below!