October, the weather cools, the leaves begin to fall and a certain level of creepiness and excitement sets in as Halloween approaches. Halloween isn’t just about getting dressed up in costume, trick or treating, candy or even haunting houses — while those are all super fun, carving pumpkins has been a fan favorite for decades!
But…
If you have ever carved a pumpkin before, you know that the pumpkin doesn’t stay ‘fresh’ for very long. Typically within a week of carving a pumpkin, it begins to rot. So, how can you slow down the rotting process so you can enjoy your carved pumpkins for a little longer?
Let’s take a look!
First, when you are choosing a pumpkin to carve, make sure you are choosing the right one! Look for a pumpkin with a deep, even color and a hard, thick stem. These are less likely to fall to premature rotting.
Second, remove all of the seeds and guts and then soak your pumpkin for about a half an hour in a mixture of peppermint oil and water. They have anti-fungal properties and will guard your pumpkin against mold. Mix one tablespoon of peppermint castile soap and a gallon of water. Then soak for about 30-minutes.
Third, the thicker the pumpkin skin, the longer it will last. It’s best to not cut all the way through the pumpkin when carving.
Another thing you can do it soak your pumpkin in an ice bath for about an hour after carving.
Finally, once your pumpkin is all carved out and cleaned out, sprinkle cinnamon powder all over the interior. Cinnamon is a natural fungicide and it smells pretty great too!
Happy Carving!