Thread: Preserving pumpkin carvings

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What does everyone use to preserve their pumpkins? I read about Pumpkin Fresh, not sure if it works.

Thanks again,

Vonda

I've heard that vasoline works. I haven't tried it, but it is my plan for this year. You just smear a little on all of the cut surfaces.

-Handy_Haunter

I've tried vaseline and WD40 in the past, you'd think WD40 somewhere were there's going to be a naked flame is a bad idea, sounded it to me to but everywhere i read assured otherwise.

I suppose vaseline is your best bet, just a light smear on the freshly cut surfaces to lock as much moisture as possible in.

I believe the WD40 keeps insects away, as well, i imagine it tastes like crap and posions them. So if you live in an area where that's an issue, i'd give it a try.

My personal tip, if they're getting a little less firm, soak them in a big bowl of cold water overnight, it'll soak up all the moisture it can and be nice and firm again in the morning!

Great Thread topic - Just the other night I was thinking about creating the same Thread. We attempt to carve upwards of 30 pumkins a years to place in your pumkin patch display and it is hard to carve that many pumkins within 24 hours of Halloween night. We have tried the vasoline, but I did not find that it helped much. If anyone else has any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

I will admit I'm a bit overzealous when it comes to my carving creations. I treat my p-kins almost like kids. (Scary, I know).... Anyway, here are a few tricks I've picked up over the years for making your pumpkins last longer... AND a couple websites that have interesting pumpkin preservation information.

PRESERVATION WEBSITES:
Keep A Halloween Pumpkin Fresh
Freeze Dried Pumpkin

My Tips (though, different people have different strategies):
1- First thing's first... when you pick out a pumpkin, try to get one with a lighter orange shell. Those with a darker shell tend to rot faster. Those with a lighter shell tend to last longer. I don't know why, but I've just noticed a trend.

2- Before you start to carve your perfect pumpkin, give your pumpkin a bath with anti-bacterial soap. This will help prevent mold later. It also gets all the ucky dirty grubbies off your pumpkin... and makes their shells shine like pearls!

3- To keep your pumpkin hydrated longer, apply vaseline to the cut edges or sections of the shell that have been scraped away. This keeps moisture in.

4- If your pumpkin starts to look a little wilty or dry, let it soak in the tub for a couple of hours. A nice, warm bath will help it relax it's pumpkiny muscles and it will thank you later.

5- If you're very extreme and have lots of extra space in your 'fridge, you might think about doing this (I got a p-kin to last a whole 5-weeks this way.) Place a moist paper towl over the carved face of your pumpkin, seran wrap it in place, and stick it into the 'fridge.

6- Letting wax drip on the inside of your pumpkin also helps it last longer-- it acts as a moisture sealant and prevents mold.

7- I've also read that spraying your p-kin with lysol will "keep the green baddies away"-- I haven't tried this, so I don't know how effective it is.

Some varnish might work. The spray on clear stuff. Make sure it's good and dry before adding fire!

I did a test last year at our pumpkin carving party with WD40, silicone spray, and vaseline. None of these fared any better than the pumpkins without any sealer and the WD40 rotted faster than any of the others. Ive never tried the "pumpkin dip" products. Of course we do tend to get the Indian Summers out here with 80 and occasionally 90 degree October weather. Perhaps no product will keep the mold away in that heat. Extreme Pumpkins suggests you plug in that old fridge in your garage for a few days and keep it cool but not cold and fill it with your clean uncarved pumpkins until the day before. I unfortunately recycled that fridge long ago.