How to Preserve a Pumpkin the Right Way

With October comes all kinds of beloved fall traditions: spooky movies, delicious candies, pumpkin spice lattes and delightful, hearty casseroles. But there’s one October hallmark we start getting excited about long before the leaves start to change colors—and that’s pumpkin carving.

Whether you go for the traditional triangle eyes and a toothy grin or mix it up with some truly artsy designs, there’s no denying the fun of turning that orange orb into a Halloween icon. And, if you do it right, you can keep that delightful creation fresh all throughout the month.

How to Preserve a Pumpkin

To keep your pumpkins looking brand-new throughout October, just fill a large tub with 10 parts water and 1 part vinegar. Let the gourds soak for 20-30 minutes in the bath, then pull them out and let them air-dry. Voila! You’ve got some pretty pumpkins that definitely won’t show their age.

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A post shared by Amanda • The Rustic Red Fox (@therusticredfox) on Sep 29, 2020 at 4:11pm PDT

Why does this work? The vinegar kills fungus, making it hard for the pumpkin to rot. That’s why vinegar-soaked pumpkins look so new; they’re unblemished by the grossness that inevitably befalls their untreated peers. And best of all, this method is safe for wildlife, too, so if a squirrel or bird thinks your pumpkin is a tasty snack, they can chow down.

You can also spritz pumpkins with bleach, though that may not be as safe for the neighborhood creatures.

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Punkins got a bleach bath today! 🛁 . Thankfully it’s supposed to cool WAY down in a few days, but its been warmer than I was expecting these past couple weeks. Since the pumpkins get around 8 hours of full sunlight sitting on the steps, I have to do my best to keep them clean so they last through October. I rinse & dry them off outside every couple days, rotate the pumpkins frequently (switch them up with the ones in the shady spots) and give them bleach baths. Once it cools down, it won’t be so difficult to keep them looking fresh, but I will still be spraying them with a bleach solution to keep mold away. I’ve also read that putting Vaseline on them helps, but that sounds like a giant mess and disaster waiting to happen🙅🏼‍♀️ Any tips for keeping uncarved pumpkins fresh?

A post shared by @ jennnn.tx on Sep 24, 2020 at 11:41am PDT

More Pumpkin Ideas

If all of this has made you curious about pumpkins in general, look no further. Learn fascinating facts about pumpkins and discover creative uses for your old pumpkin. Looking for more decorating ideas? Try these no-carve patterned pumpkins, make a no-carve owl pumpkin and learn how to create a pumpkin bouquet.

And of course, if you’re carving pumpkins, you’ll have some leftovers. Here’s how to make a DIY pumpkin bird feeder!