Whether you plan to make fresh pumpkin pie, decorate your front porch, or carve a jack-o-lantern, you’ll appreciate this list of tips for picking the best pumpkin in the patch.
Check the Pumpkin’s Color and Sound
The first thing you’ll notice about your pumpkin is its color. If you plan on baking with your pumpkin, you might think that the color doesn’t matter as much since it won’t be on display. However, like most fruit, the pumpkin’s color is an indication of ripeness. To find a ripe pumpkin, you should look for a one that has a deep orange color. Another indication of the pumpkin’s ripeness is the sound it makes when you thump it. An immature pumpkin will sound solid when you knock on the rind, but a ripe one will sound hollow.
Test the Pumpkin’s Rind
The next thing you should test is the pumpkin’s rind. The skin of the pumpkin should be hard and firm. If you can easily puncture the skin with your thumbnail, then the pumpkin isn’t ready to be picked yet. Once the pumpkin rind has hardened, it will protect it from pests so you can display it for longer.
Look for a Pumpkin with a Hard Stem
Another part of the pumpkin that will harden as it approaches maturity is the stem. Check to make sure the stem is hard and that it is securely attached to the pumpkin, but don’t pick the pumpkin up by the stem. Even if it seems like a natural handle, the stem of the pumpkin probably isn’t strong enough to hold the weight of the large fruit. If it falls off, the pumpkin will decay faster.
You might also like: 8 Fall Candles To Elevate Your Home This Season
Examine the Bottom of the Pumpkin
The last thing you need to check before you select your pumpkin, is the bottom of it. You should look for two things. The first is necessary no matter how you plan to use the pumpkin. First, check the bottom of the pumpkin for signs of decay. If the pumpkin has started to rot, it will be soft and mushy at the bottom. Second, if you plan to display your pumpkin, check that the bottom of the pumpkin is flat so that it won’t roll easily.
Disclaimer: The stock image is being used for illustrative purposes only, and it is not a direct representation of the business, recipe, or activity listed. Any person depicted in the stock image is a model.