If you want to know how to cook, roast, or bake a pumpkin, then you’re in the right place. It’s really much easier than you can imagine to prepare a pumpkin (at least easier than I had imagined)!
Originally published November 14, 2015
Sometimes we do things without really thinking.
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I used to buy pumpkins for decoration, then after Thanksgiving, I always felt bad throwing them away, but they weren’t pumpkins for cooking, so there really wasn’t much else that I could have done with them.
Use your pumpkin to make these healthy pumpkin carrot cupcakes!
However, last year, I actually used my head and bought an edible pumpkin! This way, I could use it as decoration, and then use it for cooking or baking, instead of dumping it in the green can to be composted! Genius, right? I mean, who doesn’t love pumpkin bread? I’ve done the same thing this year and just look at how lovely my simple centerpiece is.
If you’ve ever wondered ~
How do you cut a pumpkin for roasting?
It couldn’t be more simple: just use a large knife on a well stabilized cutting surface (place a damp paper towel underneath your board) and slice it in half from the top to the bottom, so you end up with matching halves.
How do you know a pumpkin is cooked?
Testing a pumpkin to know when it’s cooked is easy, too: just press on the skin (use a piece of foil for protection if you are afraid to burn your finger) and press on the skin. If it’s soft, or “fork tender”, it’s ready.
How do you bake a whole pumpkin?
It’s super simple, and I’ll show you how in just THREE easy steps!
Let me show you how simple it is to bake a pumpkin which I bought at Trader Joe’s. Just make sure the one you buy is labeled as edible and preferably organic. They’re often referred to as sugar pumpkins.
Note: you can use this method on most winter squash, too, such as butternut squash and acorn squash. If you have mini pumpkins, did you know you can cook and eat those, too? Try this fabulous mini pumpkin recipe from Jill at Mad About Macarons!
How to Prepare a Pumpkin
Ingredients
- an edible pumpkin
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C)
- Cut the pumpkin in half, from top to bottom (not side to side), then remove the seeds (save the seeds and see the recipe at the bottom) and stringy bits (keep the seeds to toast, if desired). I used a pumpkin scraper which makes the job much easier, but it’s not necessary.2.Next, place both halves cut side down on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet and place in a preheated oven for about an hour or until soft. You can press on the pumpkin to test it. Remove from oven when ready.3. When cool, use the same pumpkin scraper or some other similar tool to scoop the flesh from the skin of the pumpkin. The pumpkin separated from the skin on its own with this pumpkin! Place in a bowl and keep refrigerated (or freeze) until ready to use in recipes, such as pies, muffins or desserts. If you want pumpkin purée, just blend it up in a food processor, so easy! If you want to put some in the freezer, just make sure there’s no air in the containers or bags.
Edited November 2, 2020: I had a volunteer pumpkin plant grow from the compost under my avocado tree, and ended up with 7 of these little pumpkins this year. I feel guilty saying I grew them as I hardly did anything! Give pumpkin growing a try if you have space for a pumpkin plant!
Can I freeze pumpkin after it’s cooked/baked?
Absolutely yes! You can freeze it at the end of the baking process outlined below, or puree it and then freeze it, too. Keep it in freezer bags or airtight containers.
🍽 🍽 🍽
Need a light and festive Thanksgiving dessert? Try this lovely cranberry cake with orange glaze!
Let me show you how simple it is to bake a pumpkin which I bought at Trader Joe’s. Just make sure the one you buy is labeled as edible and preferably organic. They’re often referred to as sugar pumpkins.
Other Recipes that use Pumpkin
Here are some ideas for using your pumpkin (in addition to the pumpkin muffin recipe above).
Potato Pumpkin Gnocchi with Butter Sage Sauce
Mini Pumpkin and Orange Doughnuts
Pumpkin Cheesecake with Chocolate Mousse covered in Chocolate Ganache
And if you love pumpkin seeds as much as I do, here’s how to roast the seeds, from my pal, Camilla, from Fab Food 4 All.
No more wasted decorative pumpkins. We can have our pretty pumpkins and eat them, too!
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How to Prepare a Pumpkin (How to Cook, Bake or Roast a Pumpkin)
Simple directions on how to cook a pumpkin.
Ingredients
- an edible pumpkin
- (preferably organic)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C)
- Remove the stem if desired. Cut the pumpkin in half, from top to bottom (not side to side), then remove the seeds and stringy bits (keep the seeds to toast, if desired). I used an OXO scraper which makes the job much easier, but it's not necessary.
- Next, place both halves cut side down on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet and place in preheated oven for about an hour or until soft. Press on the pumpkin to check. Remove from oven when ready.
- When cool, use the same OXO tool or some other scraper to scoop the flesh from the skin of the pumpkin. If you want puree, just put it in a food processor, so easy! Place in a bowl and keep refrigerated until ready to use in recipes, such as pie, muffins or cakes. Freezes well, too.
Notes
This freezes perfectly.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 6Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 0g
Nutrition information is only estimated.
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Can the pumpkin be cooked by boling as you would with boiling potatoes? Also, have you tried cooking kershaw pumpkins, also called cushaw squash? They are the large crookneck green and white striped ones. Any hints on those?
I wouldn’t boil the pumpkin as it will just make it even more wet and probably difficult to use for many recipes (unless you eat it boiled, and that’s it). No, I’ve never even heard of those pumpkins! Where are you? Is it a local type?
In the past I boiled my pumpkin. The result was watery pumpkin that I couldn’t use in the recipes I wanted to. Mainly pumpkin pie.
Oh no, it would make it way too watery to use. Hope you give this a try, it’s much better :)
Thank you Christina for your very helpful instructions. We grow our own pumpkins and put them around the house, but I treat them like my plants and take them in when cold weather arrives so they are in perfect condition. I have been wanting to cook them and not throw them in mulch pile. So I thank you so much for your easy solution. . Now I need recipes to store and cook with the pumpkin pulp and spices to make it eatible.
Good for you, Rose! Sorry I missed this comment until now, though!
Thank you for reposting 2018 for Canadian Thanksgiving. I have roasted pumpkins before, but I was never sure what oven temp I should be using.
Not sure what you mean by an OXO scraper, but I use an ice cream scoop, (and OXO makes a good one) and it works well.
You’re welcome, Christel and Happy Thanksgiving to you! The Oxo scraper is the orange tool I’m using in the photo. I don’t think they make it anymore, though, which is why I added the tool set in the Amazon links.
[…] You can also use this recipe to make two round cakes, but make sure to adjust the baking time as it will be longer than 30 minutes. Here’s my post on how to prepare and cook pumpkin. […]
I’ve actually never even thought of roasting a pumpkin before, which is funny since I roast spaghetti squash and butternut all the time! I’ll have to try it next time!
That’s funny, isn’t it?
Happy Thanksgiving Christina,
Have a wonderful time with your family!
Most of my family will be working, in fact both my son and daughter in law will be working until 8:30 for teacher parent interviews.
My husband and I will be babysitting the twins who are 4 and a half. We usually have 2 Thanksgivings. Our Canadian one in October and then the American one. I’m making your chicken fingers for the boys and pasta with our sugo that we made in the summer.
We will also try to watch one of the many football games. My boys cheer for San Francisco 49ers, even though they are not doing very well.
I will definitely make this! We always roast the seeds.
Enjoy your day! Thanks as always for your lovely pictures and straight forward directions!
Luisa from Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada.
Oh that’s nice that you celebrate ours, too, Luisa! Sounds like a busy time for everyone, but I’m sure lots of time will be made for the food! :) Thank you to you, and have a happy 2nd thanksgiving! CC
Christina thank you for your lovely posts – Great idea particularly as in Nz I haven’t been able to find canned pumpkin , which features in so many American based recipes. I have been trying to find a scraper like the one you mentioned , is it possible to get more details ?
Hi Myrto, I just added an affiliate link, this one: http://amzn.to/2mYAct5 to the post, maybe you can find one in NZ, too! Good luck! CC
Thanks for the reminder! I used to take the jack-o-lantern the day after Halloween, slice it in half and make a wonderful pumpkin chutney. Sad that so many pumpkins are destined for the landfill.
Oooh, pumpkin chutney sounds good! I agree, Patricia, it is really sad when food goes uneaten. :(