Jack Carved Pumpkin

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Avoid grass and direct sunlight, and consider putting your pumpkin on a literal pedestal, such as a turned-over planter, to prevent condensation from accumulating on the bottom. This way it won't drop inside the pumpkin when you put it back on top, like it would with a straight up-and-down cut. If you do carve from the top, cut out the lid on an angle. Choose one that's fresh, with a sturdy stem, no bruises and a flat bottom so it won't roll while you carve. Wait to carve your pumpkin—but work fast once you start. Look for a battery-operated LED light that fits inside your pumpkin and switch it on.

Get a taste of Italy via these seasoned pumpkin seeds which are coated in fennel seed, dried oregano, and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. Looking for a few delicious roasted pumpkin seed recipes? Roast the pumpkin seeds in the oven for up to 45 minutes. Samhain was celebrated on Nov. 1 in ancient Britain and Ireland, marking the end of summer and the beginning of the new year.

Cut/scrape the stringy guts off the inside of your lid , and set it aside. Today’s jack-o’-lanterns may still sport scary faces, but they are more likely to be put out for fun or to welcome costumed trick-or-treaters than as an effort to scare evil spirits away. There’s also a dangerous version of ajack-o’-lantern. A poisonous luminescent orange fungus, Omphalotus olearius, is commonly known as the jack-o’-lantern mushroom! Found in woodland areas of Europe, this glowing growth clusters at the base of decomposing hardwood tree stumps. While the mushroom won’t produce a strong enough glow to power your next hollowed-out gourd, it is a great conversation starter at your next jack-o’-lantern carving party.

Like the ghouls and ghosts who spook us every Halloween, jack-o’-lanterns—so tempting to tiny predators and susceptible to mold and rot—are not really meant for this earthly plane. If you get the big pieces of pumpkin out of the way first, you can go back and clean up the edges of your design later. If you want to avoid the mess and decorate a pumpkin without carving it, then you could try painting it instead. A small paring knife or a craft knife may make it easier to work on small, intricate details.

You normally begin carving a pumpkin by cutting off the top to create a lid. It is necessary to cut at a 45 degree angle so that the lid will have a place to rest once replaced. Since 1995, Epicurious has been the ultimate food resource for the home cook, with daily kitchen tips, fun cooking videos, and, oh yeah, over 33,000 recipes. But, as with anything in life, it's better to have a plan before you start.

Then, scrape the inside of the pumpkin with your spoon to remove any soft tissue and prevent rotting. Now, cut out your design with the knife using an up and down motion along each line you drew. Finally, set a candle or light inside of your carved pumpkin and put the top back on.

Once you learn the basics of how to carve a pumpkin, you may want to experiment with different tools. Pros even use an electric carving tool, such as a Dremel. Turnips, beets and even potatoes were hollowed out, carved and illuminated to scare evil spirits away on All Hallows’ Eve, the night before All Hallows’ Day (All-Saints’ Day). It is quite probable that carved and illuminated veggies were a part of Celtic fall festivals long before St. Patrick stepped onto the Emerald Isle. You made an interesting point when you explained that it is a good idea to use a large spoon when scooping seeds out of a pumpkin. I would think that it would be a good idea to get a dedicated spoon for seed scooping.

And, of course, carving pumpkins isn't off-limits to a group of just adults as well. Start off by making sure you have the right gear—then read on to learn how to carve pumpkins, step by step. A sharp, sturdy, long-bladed knife and a sharp paring knife are serviceable carving tools for making a simple jack-o’-lantern.

Your hand makes a good scoop for extracting the bulk of the seeds and the stringy fibrous goo, but to get out all the guts, you’ll probably want a scraper other than your fingernails. A tablespoon, soup spoon or a melon-baller make serviceable scrapers for getting the last of the stringy guts out of a pumpkin. Small saws with serrated edges cut easily into tough-skinned pumpkins. These creations are called jack-o’-lanterns, and they are proudly displayed on porches and stoops Kidz across the country.