As Halloween fades into the background and thoughts turn towards Thanksgiving and even Christmas, the question on everybody's lips is what can I do with my leftover pumpkins?
The answer lies in how you chose to decorate them, if you carved them into Jack-o’-lanterns then they will have been exposed to bugs, wax, and the weather, so not really fit for human consumption. Fortunately, our wild animals and birds are not quite as fussy and they can become yummy animal treats.
On the other hand, if your pumpkins are still intact then they are perfectly fine for whipping up some delicious recipes. Pumpkins are packed full of antioxidants and carotenes, notably vitamins C and E, which are essential for a healthy heart, plus they are super low in calories, 100g is just 32 calories.
Read on for our top tips for what to do with leftover pumpkins.
Composting
This is the most obvious and simple thing to do with your carved pumpkins, simply chop into pieces, add them to your composting area, and cover with leaves (to keep those nutrients in), be aware that if you have left any seeds inside then you may have just started your very own pumpkin patch!!
Plant it
A simple and beautiful way to display colorful Autumn flowers, and will last around 2 weeks before adding to your compost.
Save them for Thanksgiving
Pumpkins will last around 12 weeks if uncarved and make a lovely festive addition to your Thanksgiving table.
Make a snack-o'-lantern
Cut the pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds, pulp, and some flesh, make holes in the 2 halves and hang from a tree in your garden. You can toast the seeds and add these back into the pumpkin halves for a tasty bird treat.
Spiced pumpkin soup
Check out our Instant Pot Spiced Pumpkin Soup recipe here, this takes just 10 mins on the pressure cooker function and is a super tasty way of using those leftover pumpkins.
Get glowing with a pumpkin face mask
Scoop out the seeds and pulp from a smallish pumpkin and place the hull on a baking tray. Roast for 45 mins at 350°, peel off the skin, and blend the flesh until smooth. You now have pumpkin puree!!!
Mix about 5 teaspoons of puree with 3 teaspoons of brown sugar (an exfoliant) apply to your face and relax for 20 mins. It smells great too and boosts your skin's healthy glow.
For more skincare tips(not pumpkin related) and to find out your skin's real age, you can take our fun skincare quiz here!!
We hope these ideas have inspired you to repurpose your leftover pumpkins rather than throwing them away. Do you have any other favorite uses? Let us know in the comments below!
