Don’t toss that Jack-O-Lantern just yet—here are 4 easy ways to repurpose your Halloween pumpkin
‘Tis the season of pumpkin; be it jack-o-lanterns or pumpkin-spiced lattes, the orange squash is ubiquitous every fall.
And usually, post-Halloween, these pumpkins are tossed into the trash. But there are plenty of ways to repurpose a pumpkin. And, if taken into consideration before carving, you’ll find even more uses for this versatile vegetable.
Eat
Making a pumpkin puree out of a used Halloween decoration is great base for many other dishes. To soften the meat of the pumpkin remove seeds and guts, peel off rind and boil, bake or steam. Mash the pumpkin by hand or using a food processor. The puree is now ready to be used to make pumpkin bread, muffins, cookies, custard, pie and more.
Packed with protein, potassium, zinc and more, the seeds of pumpkins are a tasty, nutritious snack that couldn’t be easier to make!
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Rinse pumpkin seeds and let dry.
- Toss in a bowl with extra virgin olive oil and salt, making sure they are well coated.
- Spread seeds out in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for about 40 minutes—or until golden brown—stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
Enjoy!
Beautify
Pumpkin delivers a megadose of vitamin A, which helps soothes skin and maintains glow, as well as many other essential enzymes and powerful antioxidants.
Using raw pumpkin, puree in a food processor until creamy. To this base you can add brown sugar or oatmeal for exfoliating, honey for moisturizing, apple cider vinegar for an astringent. Just mix well, smooth all over face, let set for 15 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water to reveal a brighter, smoother complexion.
Decorate
Pumpkins can be used to create cute, DIY containers for fall plants and flowers. To begin, hollow out your pumpkin. From here, you may add soil—and a seasonal plants such as mums or ornamental kale—to make a planter.
Place a piece floral foam in your hollowed out pumpkin to build a fresh cut flower arrangement—be sure to add water every couple of days to extend the life of your bouquet. Alternatively, design your arrangement in a vase beforehand—just be sure to use one that is slightly smaller than your pumpkin.
Compost
A great way to dispose of any vegetable, composting your carved pumpkin will save valuable space at overflowing landfills, as well as create premium garden soil for next season.
Chop the pumpkin into slightly smaller pieces to aid in the breakdown process and mix well into existing compost.