Today I am going to be giving you some tips & tricks of how to carve your pumpkin and how to make it last longer :)
Picking a Pumpkin
There are 100 pumpkins to pick from, but what one do you choose? I always look for ones that don't look like they are rotting or bruised. Try to find one that is smooth and check the size. Usually I go medium or large but for little kids get a smaller one. It is always good not to wait too long! A couple of years ago I went to get a pumpkin a day before Halloween and they were gone! What a sad Halloween that was :P
Carving
You are going to need:
- knife
- spoon
- templates (if you are using them)
- sharpie
You could also buy a pumpkin carving kit from any Halloween store :)
Cut the top of the pumpkin off. You can make a triangle or something so you can put it back on easier. Scoop out the insides of the pumpkin (like the seeds and guts). Make sure you do not throw out the seeds!! I will have a pumpkin seed recipe tomorrow :) They are SO yummy if you never had them!
If you are not having a template use a sharpie and draw your design. This way it will give you guidelines. If you are using a template tape it on your pumpkin and poke holes on the design, you will be able to carve it easier and see the design! You can poke holes if you are not using a template as well. Then connect the dots :) If you mess up when carving, fix it with a toothpick. You can also make you pumpkin have ears with a toothpick!
Make It Last Longer
Take a picture. Haha, no I am totally kidding :) So, what you want to do is kill all of the bacteria on the pumpkin. This is because they can create mold on it and cause it to rot. Here is how to do that:
- wipe your pumpkin with a damp cloth
- put 1 teaspoon of bleach and one quart of water in a spray bottle
- spray the inside of the pumpkin and all the cut areas
- leave it for 20 minutes
- then rub all the carved parts with petroleum jelly, this will keep it from being dry
- wipe away all the excess
- keep your pumpkin our of direct sunlight and in a cool place
This should make your carved pumpkin last about a week :) Information from here: http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/carvedpumpkins.php
That's how to carve a pumpkin and make it last longer. Make sure you check out my blog tomorrow for my pumpkin seed recipes! Talk to you tomorrow :D
P.S Check out this website for some cool designs and more pumpkin information http://www.zombiepumpkins.com/
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