Pumpkin carving tips & ideas

Jack-o’-lanterns are an iconic part of Halloween celebrations, but carving a pumpkin can be time consuming and messy. What’s the best way to carve a pumpkin? We’ve gathered our favourite tips and recipe ideas for easy, fun pumpkin carving – and tasty treats for afterwards.

Top pumpkin carving tips

1. Choose your perfect pumpkin

   There are lots of pumpkin types around during autumn – the larger, orange varieties often found in supermarkets during October are great for carving due to their soft skin, but may take longer to scoop out due to their size. You could also try carving the smaller green, white and variegated types but their uneven sizes, shapes and textured surfaces may be a challenge for beginners.

2. Use a sharp knife

   What’s the best knife for carving a pumpkin? Professional carver Christian Russell recommends a curved paring knife. Pumpkins can be tough, so choose a sharp knife for this – Ninja’s StaySharp knife blocks feature a built-in sharpener to keep your knives in top condition.

3. Cut a large, angled lid – and remember the chimney!

   Cut a lid around the stem – remember to make the hole big enough for you to reach in and scoop out the seeds! Cutting the lid on an angle (rather than straight down) can help to stop it from falling into the pumpkin. Top tip: If you’re using a tealight candle in your lantern, try using an apple corer to easily make a chimney hole in the lid! Alternatively try an LED tealight.

4. Make a pumpkin stencil

   Don’t want to mess it up? Draw your design onto paper, then cut it out and draw around it in pencil before you start carving.

5. Try cutting the rind away for a glowing effect

   In some areas of your design, try partially cutting through the pumpkin to remove the rind without cutting all the way through the flesh, to get a soft glowing effect that can add dimension to even the simplest design.

Pumpkin carving ideas and inspiration

Once you’ve chosen and prepped the perfect pumpkin, it’s time to think of what to carve. From classic spooky Halloween designs to something more unique like your favourite character (or small kitchen appliance?), Pinterest is a great source of inspiration and has options for all skillsets.

How to make your Halloween pumpkin last longer

A carved pumpkin can last anywhere up to 10 days, but there’s no guarantee, and carving too far ahead of Halloween could leave you with a mouldy pumpkin. Aim to carve no longer than 3-5 days before you want to display it.

Can you stop a carved pumpkin from rotting? Some people coat their creations with hairspray, WD40, diluted bleach, coconut oil, or petroleum jelly – but there’s little evidence to suggest these make a difference.

Try to keep your pumpkin in cool, dry conditions and avoid leaving it out in the rain.

You could also try painting spooky designs onto your pumpkins instead of carving them.

Pumpkin recipes

All this pumpkin talk got you feeling peckish? Treat yourself to an extra pumpkin for cooking up a seasonal treat…

1. Snacking Pumpkin Seeds

   You won’t want to consume the pumpkin you’re using for decoration, but you can make a tasty treat out of the seeds! Give them a good wash and pat them dry, then toss them in the oil of your choice and add whatever seasoning you like before air frying for approximately 20 minutes at 210°C, or until brown and crispy.

2. Cheesy Pumpkin Soup

   Pumpkin soup is a cosy-season classic, and this indulgent recipe is gently spiced with nutmeg and topped with cheese. Cheesy Pumpkin Soup is simple with the Ninja Soup Maker which blends and cooks your ingredients all in one jug, minimising the washing up.

3. Get experimental

   As an ingredient, pumpkin adds a creamy, sweet element to lots of dishes, which makes it a surprising star in puddings! Try a pumpkin spice Ninja CREAMi creation, or add mashed, roasted pumpkin to your chocolate brownies for a fudgy texture.