How to carve a pumpkin for Halloween? Guide and inspiration for October 31

2018-10-17

October is definitely a month full of pumpkins! Pumpkin is a vegetable with a very wide range of uses in the kitchen - it is perfect for both sweet baked goods and savory dishes. Pumpkin is also an indispensable element of autumn decorations in our homes. The tradition of creating pumpkin farms came to us from the United States, and such farms appear every year near larger cities. Pumpkin is also one of the most important Halloween decorations - jack-o'-lanterns with candles inside decorate homes around the world on October 31 every year. If you also want to create your own pumpkin lantern, read our short guide.

How to carve a pumpkin for Halloween?

Choose the right pumpkin - it is not worth buying a pumpkin earlier than a week before Halloween, as it may not survive until the holiday itself. Try to choose a healthy, undamaged pumpkin. Watch out for mold! Look at the pumpkin carefully. You can tap the pumpkin, if you hear a "hollow" sound, the pumpkin is ripe. Choose a pumpkin with a flat base - this will make it easier to place the candle in it later. If you're carving a pumpkin with kids, consider a medium or smaller pumpkin.
Choose the right pattern - it is worth considering in advance what pattern we want to put on the pumpkin. Below you will find some inspiration, you can also find many free patterns to print on the Internet. Draw your pattern on a piece of paper or print it out. Cut out the pattern in the places where you will trace it onto the pumpkin. Redraw the pattern.
Use a sharp knife to carve pumpkins. The simplest method is to cut off the top of the pumpkin along with the stem. It is a good idea not to cut off the top horizontally, but diagonally towards the center. Now it's time to carve out the pumpkin - an ice cream scoop or a large spoon works well for this. Place the pulp and seeds in a large bowl. Attention! The deeper you carve the pumpkin inside, the more light will penetrate it. Remember to hollow out the base of the pumpkin as flat as possible - this will ensure stability when you insert the candle into the pumpkin. Now it's time to cut out the pattern in the pumpkin according to the previously drawn pattern. Cut slowly and carefully.
It's time to light up the pumpkin with a carefully selected candle.

What candle to put in a pumpkin lantern?

Traditionally, small block candles or tealights are used. This is a very good solution. To better protect the pumpkin and the surroundings, we recommend placing the selected candle in a glass candle holder. You can use the simplest votive candle holders for this purpose. Always trim your candle wick to a length of approximately 5 mm.

If you light a candle in a jack-o'-lantern, remember to provide adequate ventilation. Don't forget to leave the appropriate number of holes at the top - you can completely remove the cut lid from the pumpkin or make a few holes in it. Remember to never leave a lantern with a lit candle unattended. It is a good idea to place the lantern on a stand or plate, especially if you intend to place the pumpkin surrounded by wood.