So you know how to make a carved pumpkin for Halloween, it’s finally done and it’s a masterpiece!
The question is now – “How to keep pumpkins from rotting that includes carved pumpkins?”
The last thing you want to see after carving and decorating some Halloween pumpkins is the lovely carved-out smiles turning into rotting grimaces and mush. Our guide will teach you a few tricks on how to keep a pumpkin fresh.
Remember, after you carve a pumpkin and the “pumpkin guts” have been removed, you cannot completely stop a rotting pumpkin. Once exposed to air, mold, and bacteria the rotting process will naturally begin to rot.
However, you can take steps to keep them looking fresh and beautiful, plus “make the pumpkin last longer,” whether carved or uncarved.
Stop for a moment to consider the journey this colorful winter squash travels for your enjoyment. This giant pumpkin, some as big as a basketball began as small pumpkin seeds planted in soil.
From there the pumpkin vine started to grow, the leaves and flowers battled the elements, enduring days of direct sun, along with overcoming diseases like root rot, blossom end rot, and the white powdery mildew.
Its sole purpose is to decorate your front porch as a Halloween pumpkin or become a part of grandma’s delicious pumpkin pie! What a life!
Some things you’ll learn in this article:
- How to preserve a pumpkin
- How long do carved pumpkins last
- How to keep pumpkins from rotting
- How long does a carved pumpkin last
- and other tips on how to keep a carved pumpkin from rotting
When Should You Carve Your Pumpkin?
With the warmer temperatures most areas of the US are experiencing year round these days, figuring out just how long you can enjoy your Halloween Jack O’Lantern can be a bit of a challenge.
If your autumn temperatures are above 70° degrees Fahrenheit, you are probably best to let the pumpkin sit and not carve your pumpkin until two or three days before Halloween.
How Early Can You Carve A Pumpkin?
In cooler temperatures, you might be able to get away with 4 days lead up to the big day. Just be sure to keep your pumpkin in the shade and out of the wind as much as possible.
Of course, you might want to bring it indoors and set it in the fridge (or put it in the basement if you have one) during the daylight hours to help it stay fresh and avoid a soft spot from starting.
How Long Do Pumpkins Last After Carving Them?
Generally speaking, a pumpkin should last 3-5 days after you carve it.
Additionally, there’s no law saying you can’t carve more than one pumpkin. Have one for the week leading up to Halloween and another one for Halloween night and the week after!
How To Preserve Carved Pumpkins – The First Step
However, your journey begins with selecting your pumpkin. Some families make a big “to-do” of picking this winter squash.
The whole family heads to a farm where they walk the fields full of giant pumpkins searching for the perfect gourd to harvest fresh from the vine.
Others visit a temporary pumpkin patch, where vendors truck in small and giant pumpkins with a small stem still attached. Included are other gourds, dried corn stalks, fresh apples and hay to assemble the “harvest season.”
Some get their pumpkin at the local grocery store.
After many miles of travel and handling, and before any pumpkin carving begins, clean the outside of the pumpkin.
- Lightly wash the outside of the pumpkin to remove any dirt or soil
- Using paper towels, dry off all the excess moisture from the surface of the pumpkin.
Below you’ll find several solutions, tips and techniques you can use for:
- Preserve Jack O Lanterns
- Keep it from drying out
- How to make carved pumpkins last
- How to keep carved pumpkins from rotting
- How to preserve a pumpkin uncarved
- Extend and make your carved pumpkin last longer (don’t expect long-term storage life)
- … and slow down developing pumpkin mold.
How To Make A Carved Pumpkin Last By Applying A Pumpkin Bleach Solution
Perhaps, the best method to help keep and prevent carved or uncarved pumpkins from rotting is by preserving the pumpkin with bleach aka pumpkin preserver spray.
Spray With A Bleach Solution
Using water, bleach and a spray bottle, spray your pumpkins, including the inside, the edges and all cut openings with a mixture of 1 tablespoon of bleach per quart of water to get rid of all the mold, mildew and other unwanted stuff.
20 Minute Soak In A Bleach Solution
Another way is to soak the pumpkins in bleach using the same bleach solution for about 20 minutes.
Giving your decorated pumpkins a solid misting with a bleach-based spray, such as Clorox Cleanup with Bleach can also come to the rescue.
How To Keep Jack O Lanterns From Rotting With Borax Rich Pumpkin Preservation Sprays
Several commercial pumpkin preservative sprays, specially formulated to prevent pumpkins from decaying are on the market.
With names such as Pumpkin Fresh and Pumpkin Dunk’N extend the storage life of your carved pumpkin and keep it from rotting.
These preservatives contain water, borax and sodium benzoate. They work as a fungicidal solution that kills bacteria and mold.
All you need to do is dry the surface and spray the pumpkins with any of these marvelous sprays to make them last until your Happy Halloween.
How To Keep Carved Pumpkin Fresh With Rubbing Alcohol or Floor Cleaner
Spraying some rubbing alcohol can work wonders when it comes to keeping pumpkins from rotting, preventing fruit flies and avoiding mold build up.
Floor cleaners can also work as excellent preservatives for uncarved pumpkins, keeping them shiny and fresh for up to four weeks.
All you need to do is apply an acrylic liquid floor cleaner to a wet towel and wipe the pumpkins with the same.
How To Preserve Pumpkins With Acrylic Finish Spray or Hair Spray
Hairspray and acrylic finish sprays are another great sealants that prevent pumpkins from getting dehydrated.
The sprays work as a barrier to mold growth while preventing rodents from eating your jack-o-lanterns away.
How To Keep Carved Pumpkins Fresh With WD-40
Exhibiting anti-freezing and water-repelling properties, WD-40 is impressive when it comes to keeping uncarved pumpkins fresh for longer.
WD-40 also prevents insects and other creepy crawlers from swarming around the inside of your decorated buddies.
Carved pumpkins can reap the benefits too!
Simply spray WD-40 over the surface of the pumpkin and wipe off the excess. Wait a day to allow the spray to dry completely before you place real candles or flameless candles inside.
How To Prevent Pumpkins From Rotting With Petroleum Jelly Sealant/ Tabasco with Vaseline
You can make sure that pranksters think twice about touching your pumpkin art by applying petroleum jelly to your sterilized dried pumpkins.
Smearing just a thin layer of petroleum jelly on the interior, the edges, and the cut-out sections of your jack-o-lanterns to create a barrier to combat bacteria from reaching the flesh and keep moisture trapped inside, at the same time adding some shine to them.
If you are going to paint your pumpkin, you can use Vaseline as a sealant to protect your work and help them last an extra week. Tabasco sauce plus petroleum jelly together help to repel pesky pumpkin-eating critters.
How To Preserve A Pumpkin After Carving With Vegetable Oils
Most of the vegetable oils like olive oil available on the market can be quite helpful in preventing a pumpkin from getting rotten.
- Dry the pumpkins completely
- Using a paper or cloth towel
- Rub a small amount of vegetable oil a over the surface
- Use enough oil for the pumpkin to look shiny but not greasy.
How To Make A Carved Pumpkin Last Longer By Avoiding Exposure To Sunlight
Pumpkins rot quicker when exposed to direct sunlight. Place them away from the sun and keep them as cool as possible to make them last for about a week. In warm weather, you can also put your pumpkin in the refrigerator, but make sure you don’t freeze it
Place them away from the sun and keep them as cool as possible to make them last for about a week. In warm weather, you can also put your pumpkin in the refrigerator, but make sure you don’t freeze it
In warm weather, you can also put your pumpkin in the refrigerator, but make sure you don’t freeze it.
How To Stop A Pumpkin From Rotting By Hydrating The Pumpkins
Over time, pumpkins tend to start getting drying out or shriveled as they lose water content.
In order to revive a dried out pumpkin, submerge it in a bathtub or a bucket of water overnight or at least, for a few hours.
Make sure you wipe off excess water after taking the pumpkin out to prevent molding.
Remember, chemicals and oils are usually flammable and can prove to be dangerous.
If you choose to keep your pumpkins from rotting with these “oil” solutions and want to light them with candles inside – consider other options.
Instead, place glow sticks or battery-operated tea lights inside your Halloween jack-o-lanterns.
Summary
Carving a pumpkin can be a fun family affair. Try several of the above methods to see which one works best for you.
Select the right pumpkin, pull out the serrated knife, a trash bag for the pumpkin guts, a glass of cold water, the carving tools, and get carving!
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Originally posted 2022-10-22 18:55:29.
