How to Carve a Pumpkin

How to carve a pumpkin

I’m feeling nostalgic and going to talk about carving pumpkins with a traditional face! Here are all the steps you need to start carving a pumpkin.

Wash and Dry Your Pumpkin
I used some castile soap under running water. You can use your hands, but I’m going to use a veggie brush. We will give it a good scrub to get off the dirt and dust! This gets all the bacteria and dirt off the pumpkin before we start carving. Once you are done, use a paper towel to dry it off.
Draw a Design
Use a sharpie and draw the design ahead of time. It’s probably because I’m a perfectionist, but it seriously takes the pressure off. I think it is MUCH easier than free handing!
Carve Out the Stem
I drew a circle around the stem to mark the area I wanted to cut out. That way you don’t have to worry about cutting a perfect circle. Cutting off the top of the pumpkin makes it so that you can scoop out the pumpkin flesh and seeds.
Scoop Out the Pumpkin Flesh and Seeds
Use a spoon to scoop out the pumpkin flesh and seeds! I place them on a baking sheet and then separate them later to bake. But dig in and don’t fear the slime! That’s all part of the fun. I’m scooping it out because it makes it easier to carve and preserve.
Carve Your Pumpkin
Use a pumpkin carving tool to do this part. I don’t use a knife because it can be too large for some areas of the design. Don’t worry about following the sharpie design , just get the shape done. Because after you can go back and cut out the details. For sharp corners, take out the knife and re-insert it, rather than trying to bend the knife.

Put the top back on and take it outside, placing it in the shade. Do not put it in direct sunlight because that will make it rot faster. Then use an LED light, not a candle, to light your pumpkin up!