You won’t want to use the large carving pumpkins for baking; instead look for smaller pie pumpkins (also called sugar pumpkins) which are dense and darker in color. These are the types of pumpkins you want to use when making puree for Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Bars, and Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal.
Can you use giant pumpkins for pumpkin pie?
Yes, you can! But it probably won’t taste as good. You won’t get as much pumpkin out of one of a jack-o-lantern pumpkin as you would a pie pumpkin of the same size. And it will probably have a different flavor.
What size pumpkin is best for pumpkin pie?
Smooth and irregular in shape (not symmetrical), this squash has hard gray-blue skin and dense yellow-orange flesh that cooked up string-free and silky-smooth, with a robust flavor that made for a silky, almost creamy pie. These squash can also get quite big, so look for ones weighing less than 6 pounds.
What can I do with a large pumpkin?
Eat Them!
- Make pumpkin pie. The “meat” inside a pumpkin, once the seeds and stringy interior have been scooped out, can be made into fresh pumpkin puree and used in a pie.
- Make pumpkin soup.
- Make a pumpkin spice latte with actual pumpkin.
- Roast pumpkin seeds.
- Make vegetable stock.
- Make pumpkin bread.
Are large pumpkins edible?
The flesh of big pumpkins is perfect for soups and curries. The flesh of petit pumpkins, squash and gourds is best suited for pies, breads and cakes – although it’s also delicious in a soup. Smaller pumpkins tend to be more flavoursome, less fibrous and less watery.
Can you bake with large pumpkins?
Those large, showing pumpkins are full of water. Yes, you can cook up the flesh, make soup, breads, and cookies. But if you want to make pie or any other recipe that calls for canned pumpkin, then you must get rid of a large amount of liquid. (Note the picture with the whole collapsed pumpkin after baking.)
Can I roast a large pumpkin?
While you can roast a pumpkin whole, it saves some time to halve it or cut it into wedges. This also gives you a chance to scoop out all the seeds, which you can roast as a snack. Unlike some other types of squash, pumpkins have thick skin, which is best removed from the flesh after roasting.
Can I use any pumpkin for pumpkin pie?
Avoid ornamental varieties and large pumpkins, which are bred for size and looks not flavor. Instead, choose those labeled as “pie pumpkins.” They are small, dense, and rich in color, and they have sweet, full-flavor flesh.
What kind of pumpkins make good pies?
For cooking, you’ll want to use sugar pumpkins (also called pie or sweet pumpkins), which are small and round.
What’s the difference between a pie pumpkin and a regular pumpkin?
The Difference Between Pie Pumpkins and Carving Pumpkins
Carving pumpkins are typically thinner and easier to saw into. They also have less guts on the inside, which are also grainier and stringier, making them easier to clean. Pie pumpkins, meant for baking, are usually smaller and more rounded.
Can you bake with jack-o-lantern pumpkins?
You sure can! Halloween pumpkins are just really big squash. While they may not be as sweet as a muscat or sugar pumpkin, they’re perfectly edible and I cook mine every year and use it to make homemade pumpkin purée, which I use in all kinds of recipes.
Can you cook any pumpkin?
Now, you actually can cook with any kind of pumpkin, but starting out with a pie pumpkin, or sugar pumpkin is going to help you end up with more pumpkin from less work. Pie pumpkins are smaller, often a little squatier in shape, and if you are fortunate, labeled as a baking, pie, or sugar pumpkin.
How do you process a large pumpkin?
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.
What pumpkins are not edible?
At the same time, they ask “Are all varieties of pumpkins are edible?” The plain and simple truth is – – Yes, all varieties of pumpkins are edible. Of course, pumpkin seeds are edible, too. Both pumpkin flesh(pulp, or meat) and seeds taste good, and are healthy and nutritious.
Are Halloween pumpkins OK to eat?
Sure — as long as it is in good condition and hasn’t’ yet been carved. Pumpkins typically used for jack-o’-lanterns usually are larger, with stringier pulp and more watery flesh. However, you can still eat the jack-o-lantern variety with fairly good results.
Why is my pumpkin watery?
Drain excess water: If the puree has a thick, watery consistency that means the pumpkin is still holding a lot of water.
How do you soften a pumpkin for cutting?
Bake or microwave it
For all large, difficult-to-cut squash and pumpkins (or a recipe where you’re keeping the squash mostly whole, like this one), giving the whole thing a quick zap in the microwave or the oven is an insanely easy trick for softening the skin just enough to make cutting easier.
Why is my pumpkin so stringy?
If the pumpkin flesh is still stringy (like spaghetti squash), it needs to bake a little bit longer.
How do you harvest pumpkin for pie?
Cut off the stem, then cut the pumpkin in half (from top to bottom). Use a spoon to scrape out any fibers and seeds out of each half. A serrated grapefruit spoon or an ice cream scoop work great for this. Clean and save the seeds for roasting, if you like.
How long does it take to roast a pumpkin?
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Cut pumpkin in half; scrape out seeds.
- Drizzle pumpkin with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. (Omit pepper if using in sweet dishes.)
- Place cut side down on a baking sheet. Roast until very soft, about 35 to 45 minutes.
What is the best way to cook a pumpkin?
Brush the pumpkin flesh with oil, sprinkle with salt, and place flesh down on the baking sheet. Pierce skin a few times with a fork or knife to let steam escape. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a fork easily pierces the skin.