Thread: Easiest way to scoop out a pumpkin?

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Hey, all. I would carve SO many more pumpkins if my wrist weren't killing me halfway through scooping out the first one. I've tried tablespoons, metal serving spoons, an ice cream scoop...etc.

Does anybody know an easier way? What's the best tool for this?

Thanks for any help! I'm getting REALLY excited now!

If you have one of the Pumpkin Masters kits, the plastic scoop provided does a pretty good job, IMO. Small sppons are tedious. A wide, slightly concave scoop works best to get the most pulp out quickly. That said, I love carving pumpkins and the time is well worth it. We normally carve about 8-10 for our display.

Steel Ice Cream Scoop advocate here. We cut the hole at the bottom of the gourd and reach down scraping from the top of the pumpkin to the base. For some reason, the lining pulls off easier this way. Plus, the bottom gets the candle (We're very traditional in this area here at the Wolfman's Haunted House) and the Jack settles down very nicely over the base. Freeze the candles before using; they'll last a long time. Try using votives, they'll still be burning noon the next day, awesome, all-night-long Jack O'Lanterns!

Thanks, guys! Wow, great ideas, Wolfman...I didn't know that about freezing candles...I will try this!

I think i might try cutting it at the bottom instead this year. I need an easy way because ironically I, a Halloween lover, am allergic to pumpkin!! I have to wear gloves when I carve and they are a pain.

I am an advocate of using your hands, I just use my fingernails to scrap it out.

Set them outside and pay the neighborhood kids to have a go at it

it's a bit extreme, but when I have a lot of pumpkins to scoop out andI am not making pumpkin soup with the insides I use an electric drill with a large drill bit. Does it pretty quick but you also have to be careful not to get too close to the skin.

Originally Posted by MedeaViolia

it's a bit extreme, but when I have a lot of pumpkins to scoop out andI am not making pumpkin soup with the insides I use an electric drill with a large drill bit. Does it pretty quick but you also have to be careful not to get too close to the skin.

Alright! Extreme pumpkin scooping!!

Originally Posted by MedeaViolia

it's a bit extreme, but when I have a lot of pumpkins to scoop out andI am not making pumpkin soup with the insides I use an electric drill with a large drill bit. Does it pretty quick but you also have to be careful not to get too close to the skin.

Right on! I use a modified paint stirrer that connects to a drill. Chop off the bottom, hammered the metal to a more oval shape, welded and you're ready to go You can clean out a pumpkin in about 5 seconds...lol. I got the idea from a tv show a couple of years ago about this guy who carves dozens if not hundreds of pumpkins each year.