How To Preserve a Pumpkin After Carving

4 Materials
$10
2 Hours
Easy

One of the most beloved fall activities is going to the pumpkin patch and picking out a pumpkin to carve into a jack o lantern. As you may know, those pumpkin-patch pumpkins ain’t cheap and when you spend hours carving an intricate design you want it to last as long as possible. Here is how to preserve pumpkins this fall.

 Pumpkins grow from the dirt, and the dirt and mold that they pick up from those fields will cause them to rot. To properly preserve them, this means you will need to remove both the dirt and mold from the pumpkin.

Cut the top off the pumpkin and scoop out the guts.

Fill a large tub like a sink with water and add 2 tablespoons of bleach. Let the pumpkin soak for half an hour. Dry off the pumpkin as best you can so it is not soaking wet.

Carve a face into your pumpkin.

Apply petroleum jelly to the pumpkin inside and out. Rub it into the flesh as best you can. It will act as a barrier to the air and help keep if fresh for longer.

Keep your pumpkin in a cool, dry place. If you live in a warm climate you can refrigerate it when not being displayed.

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Adrienne Carrie Hubbard | Crafty Little Gnome
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