There are many ways to decorate pumpkins these days, but the classic way to carve a pumpkin is to pick up a sharp kitchen knife and get to work. With Halloween approaching, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to carve a pumpkin, plus other options for those who want an easier (or safer) way.
It’s that time of year when everything is coming up orange and pumpkins take center stage on our stoops and in our windows. Pumpkin carving can be a fun family affair even though children should not be responsible for the actual carving process since it can be a dangerous proposition when tiny hands meet sharp knives and thick pumpkin flesh.
The Origins of Pumpkin Carving
While you’re carving, share with your kids the history of pumpkin carving which began in ancient Ireland. It was the Irish who first brought this tradition to America from their green homeland steeped in mystical Celtic traditions. Since pumpkins did not exist in Ireland at the time, turnips were traditionally carved and placed on doorsteps with candles burning inside on All Hallow’s Eve as a way to ward off evil spirits and honor the dead.
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Don’t Forget to Save the Seeds
When you scoop out the insides of your pumpkin, save the seeds and check out our top ideas on how to use pumpkin seeds.
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How to Carve a Pumpkin
1. Select your pumpkin with an eye toward how you want to carve it. Taller pumpkins can work better for freeform faces whereas round pumpkins are more suited for intricate stencil designs. Also be sure there are no soft spots on the pumpkin, since that indicates it’s already starting to rot.
2. Wipe the pumpkin clean with a damp cloth before carving it.
3. Using a sharp paring knife, first cut off the top of the pumpkin to create a lid. Cut a small notch into one portion of the lid to make it easy to fit it and pumpkin back together again once the carving is complete.
4. Use a large metal spoon to scoop out the inside of the pumpkin. Reserve the pulp and seeds separately for future recipes or simply discard in your compost bin.
5. Optional step: To make the jack-o’-lantern last longer, spray the inside of the pumpkin with a bleach and water solution and let it dry completely before carving. You can give it another bleach treatment after carving if you’re worried it might rot too quickly, but if it will be sitting somewhere relatively cool and not carved too far ahead of time, it should be fine.
5. Draw your design on the pumpkin using a marker or ballpoint pen. This step is when you can involve small children since it will make them feel more invested in the process.
6. Carve the design using a sharp paring knife and discard the excess pieces or reserve them for recipes. Always cut away from your body in order to prevent injuries from slipping, and don’t grab the biggest knife you own (that’s overkill).
7. Pop a tea light into the pumpkin, replace the lid and await your trick-or- treaters. Battery-operated candles are safer than regular candles and also help the jack-o’-lantern last longer since they don’t heat up the inside!
Homemory Flickering LED Tea Lights, 12 for $9.42 on Amazon
These flameless LED candles provide a realistic flickering glow for your pumpkins.
Check out some of the best pumpkin carving tools if you want to get a bit more sophisticated. You can also try a surface carving kit, use pumpkin stickers to avoid carving at all, or try painting them with fun designs. See more pumpkin decorating ideas if you want to try your hand at pumpkin vases.
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