@jointhecovn 🎃 its pumpkin season, if you don’t know, now you know #daystilhalloween #pumpkinseason #pumpkin #pumpkinpatch #pumpkinpicking #pumpkinpie #pumpkincarving #whitepumpkin ♬ original sound - Covn
Pumpkin spice? Pumpkin bread? Pumpkin pie? All sounds good, but have you ever wondered which pumpkins you can eat and which ones you can't?
We have created a guide so you can know your stuff every Halloween season.
Pumpkins originated in the Americas, used by the Native Americans and indigenous people. They were a very common and nutritious food source. Now pumpkins are more wide spread globally.
First up: your classic Halloween pumpkin. The bigger they are, the less likely the skin is edible - this is due to the fact they're too thick and lack any enjoyment to eat. Pumpkin seeds however, are edible and are used in a variety of dishes. The seeds are rich in magnesium, vitamin K, and zinc. They're also high in calories so are often used in trail mixes for extra energy. The pumpkin 'guts' aka the worst bit of carving that you have to pull out and gets everywhere - that bit is edible too! It can be used in vegetable broth. The actual pumpkin flesh is also edible. However, due to the size of your traditional pumpkins, the flesh had high water content, so it wouldn't be our top choice.
Our first recommendation is the White Pumpkin (sometimes referred to as Ghost Pumpkins). They can be used in desserts, as well as savoury dishes like curries, soups, and stews.
For baking, our recommendation is Sugar Pie pumpkins. They're small so easy to handle, and pack a great sweet punch.
A bigger, but also edible type of pumpkin, is the Cinderella. Other edible types include the fairytale, the Jarrahdale, the Kabocha, Jack be Little, Porcelain Doll, and Hybrid Pam.
Gourds may also spring to mind when discussing this topic. Gourds are edible, but they're hard to cook, and there's not much edible flesh. So if you want more bang for your buck we would stick to the pumpkin breeds. Squash is a good alternative however.
When picking a pumpkin to eat, bare in mind that peak pumpkin season is September and October. You can keep pumpkins up to 90 days, and its best to keep them in a cool dry area. Also make sure the pumpkin you pick doesn't have any soft spots, and the skin is fully intact. Once cut, the pumpkin should be used within 5 days.
Please note that no matter which type of pumpkin, the stem is never edible.
Are you going to try a pumpkin-tastic recipe this fall?