RBC | This year my fella and I carved a pumpkin a bit too early, the poor thing probably won’t see this weekend, let alone Halloween. In our defense, we did know it wasn’t going to make it that long, but he was leaving on a longer job and we didn’t think we’d have another chance to do it. However, I did think it would last a bit longer than it is. Right now Mike Wazowski (a popular character from Monsters Inc.) is looking like he’s a six-week-old pumpkin rather than a six-day-old pumpkin. And that got me figuring I likely could have done a lot more to assure his health and sent me down a road of pumpkin preservation research.
Preserving a carved pumpkin can help extend its lifespan and keep it, and your Halloween decorations, looking fresh and fierce for much longer. Here are some tips to help you preserve your carved pumpkin:
First, be sure to choose a fresh pumpkin. Look for one that is firm, has a sturdy stem, and doesn’t have any soft spots or mold.
Second, clean your pumpkin(s). Before you get to carving, clean the exterior of the pumpkin using a damp cloth or sponge to remove any dirt or debris. Make sure it’s completely dry before proceeding.
Next, make sure you carve with care. When carving your pumpkin, use clean and sharp tools to create your design. Make sure to remove all the seeds and stringy flesh from the inside. This is both for your own safety, nobody needs tetanus (an infection caused by the bacteria clostridium tetani), and to ensure additional bacteria don’t start immediately eating away at your pumpkin.
Then you will want to thin your pumpkin’s walls. To extend the pumpkin’s life, thin the inner walls of the pumpkin where you’ve carved. This reduces the thickness of the flesh that can rot and helps the design stay intact.
When you are finished carving and cleaning, apply a preservative. One common option is a mixture of water and bleach (approximately one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water). This helps kill bacteria and mold. Alternatively, you can use commercial pumpkin preservative sprays, which are available at many craft and Halloween stores. Other carving enthusiasts believe applying vaseline to the inside and cut edges of your pumpkin is another great way to seal in moisture and prevent decay.
As your pumpkin is now alive in a way, it is important to keep It cool. Store your carved pumpkin in a cool, dry place when you’re not displaying it. Avoid direct sunlight and heat, as they can cause the pumpkin to deteriorate more quickly (I reckon this is where I really went wrong with Wazowski).
Also, use an LED light rather than a traditional candle. When lighting your pumpkin, opt for LED lights or battery-operated candles rather than real candles. Real candles can generate heat, which can speed up the decomposition of the pumpkin. LED lights are safer and won’t affect the pumpkin’s freshness.
Rehydrate your pumpkins, they can lose moisture over time, causing them to shrivel. To counteract this, you can soak the carved pumpkin in cold water for a few hours to rehydrate it. Afterward, pat it dry.
And the final tip I found, refresh the cut edges. Every few days, you may use a knife to gently trim away any dried or shriveled parts of the cut edges to keep the design looking sharp.
Remember that even with proper preservation techniques, carved pumpkins will eventually start to decay. How long they last depends on various factors such as the quality of the pumpkin, environmental conditions, and how well you maintain them. Be sure to take a picture when they are freshly carved. That is what I am holding onto at this point: Mike Wazowski still looks good in this picture.
BY ADRIENNE WIX
ADRIENNE WIX photo
It’s time for pumpkin-carving! Keep your artwork fresh for longer by properly preserving your pumpkin.
