If you didn't carve your pumpkin this year, don't smash it after the holidays are over. Here's how to cook a pumpkin so you can make homemade pumpkin puree to enjoy all year long.
If you're like me and you're a complete Fall-fanatic, chances are, you have already bought several pumpkins this season. There is a pair on your porch, one that the kids have painted up, another ready to carve, and another still in your car trunk. Its just so hard to stop when you see the perfect pumpkin looking up at you every time you're at the grocery store and you keep taking field trips to the pumpkin patch! When the big, spooky holiday comes and goes, what do you do with all these pumpkins? Definitely just throw out the ones that have been carved. As soon as possible. But the ones that are still intact and a glowing orange are just screaming "Eat Me!" I cook up my pumpkins every year and enjoy having a freezer stock full of purred pumpkin that goes into all sorts of season goodies and beyond. Do you remember last spring or summer when all you wanted was pumpkin cookies, but no one was carrying this seasonal item anymore? Cans of pumpkin basically disappear after the winter holidays! Use our tutorial on how to cook a pumpkin, and you can always have pure pureed pumpkin, any time of the year, without preservatives, artificial colors, or the cost and mess of the cans. It's easy to learn how to cook a fresh pumpkin and I'm showing you below.
How to cook a pumpkin
Step one: Cut out the stem and cut the rest vertically on both sides so that you have two halves that can be placed into a pan. For extra-large pumpkins, you might only be able to cook one half at a time. I recommend medium-size pumpkins that can fit into an 9 x 13 pan, but still give you plenty of pulp. Try to pick a heavy one that you know has thick walls.
Step two: Scoop out the insides as best as you can. You don't have to worry about scrubbing the outsides clean because you'll only being using the insides. Also, leaving a little stringiness won't hurt, and will be much easier to scrape off after cooking.
Step three: Place into a brimmed pan and fill with an inch or two of water. The steam will help to cook and soften it faster than without.
Step four: Bake at 350 for an hour or two, depending on the size and width of the pumpkin. The more dense, the more time it needs. My pumpkins here got two hours in the oven, and even though the tops look like they had a bad day, the insides were perfect.
Step five: The outside skin should easily peel of without effort, but don't be too hasty to start right away! The pumpkin will be piping hot! Once its cooled and pared, throw out the peels (which should come off easily) and toss the good stuff into your blender or food processor. I find that by steaming the pumpkins, they are very moist and have soaked up plenty of water that there is no need to any more water.
Step six: Puree until smooth, and divide into baggies. I like to measure out 2 cups, which is just over what a typical store-bought can contains. This way you don't have to do any more measure or thawing or refreezing from a larger bag when you look for recipes that require just one can.
Step seven: Use 'em or freeze 'em! My favorite recipe of all time is to mix up a bag of this with one box of cake mix to make pumpkin cookies or pumpkin muffins in no time at all. At times when I've been breastfeeding and wake up STARVING in the middle of the night, I've been known to make a batch of these and munch on the entire plate throughout night feedings, and mysteriously remove all evidence before morning!
And hello, baby food! This is pure, natural, untouched vegetable for your little.
From my pumpkin, I got about 14 cups, or the equivalent of 7 large cans of pumpkin, so when you consider that this pumpkin cost me around $4, it is certainly a cost effective tradition. And, THAT is how to cook a pumpkin.
What are you doing with YOUR pumpkins this year?! Do you have any excellent pumpkin recipes to share?
Katie Hoffman says
I absolutely love pumpkin and never know what to do with all the pumpkins we collect. This year we already have 5 and so I'll definitely try this!
Laura Lajara says
Hi, I am a fan of this blog and I pinned this article. I am preggers and I am cravinggggg pumpkin everything! Seriously, I want to grab the pumpkin from the screen and eat it LOL But honestly, this was an outstanding article. I never really knew how to handle a pumpkin and have only purchased canned ones because the size of the thing intimidates me hehehe 😉 Its humungous and I didnt know how to handle it in the kitchen. Im very excited to say that now I can do it with these easy steps and satisfy my mommy craving lol
Camille says
Yay, I'm so glad!! What a wonderful time of the year to have pumpkin cravings! Congrats on your pregnancy, and definitely, let us know how the pumpkin baking goes! You'll really be surprised with how easy it is!
Carol Woods says
Thanks for sharing how to cook your pumpkin puree. I freeze and can many things but for some reason I never thought about making, portioning out and freezing pumpkin puree. Great idea.
Shelley Beachy says
This is a great article! I've never made my own pumpkin for baking before, but this is a great step by step way to successfully accomplish it. Now I have no excuse not to give it a try! 🙂 Thanks for sharing this, as I will be referring to it!
Katie Eich says
That does not look as time consuming as I thought it would be. I may give it a try! I love to make whole wheat pumpkin bread, but always use canned pumpkin.
Anne says
Thanks for the great info! Pinning and following!
Kris DeVoss says
Thank you so much for this ...I can't wait to make my own pumpkin cookies!!! I never knew this either!!
Sarah Matos says
This was very helpful! Ive wanted to utilize our pumpkins but didnt know where to start. I find the step by step photos helpful.
Cheryl McCalister says
Thanks! These pics make it look so easy!! 😀
Amy H says
This is great! Thanks for sharing! We have a couple of pumpkins we didn't carve that would be perfect for this. The kids have been asking if we can make something out of them and I could also set aside some puree for the baby. So everyone's happy! I'm thinking this is a perfect project for today with the kids being off from school. 🙂
Dorothy Boucher says
this is wonderful, now do you have to eat this right away or can you freeze this after its been bagged.. thanks for sharing with us 🙂
Melissa George says
wow i dint know that making pumpkin puree was that easy! i will have to try it at home now!
Candy Kelley says
PUmpkin is so verstile... Love pumpkin cheesecake
Melissa George says
wow i love pumpkin recipes as i feel they are easier to make. i loved the step by step instructions as it mafe my work much more easier.
Lisa Coomer Queen says
This is awesome. I love pumpkin and this will insure me that I have it at all times. Thanks
Dee Lafrenz says
Thank you for the info. I have never made pumpkin myself. I will now try it!