October
means it’s time to carve pumpkins and decorate our front stoops with
jack-o-lanterns. Whether they’re scary, silly, or simple, they can add a lot of
festive autumn character to our homes. However, they can present their own set
of challenges, particularly if you decide to make yours with children. Organic Authority has put together a great list of
pumpkin carving tips and tricks to help you make amazing decorations safely and
effectively. Happy Halloween!
1.
Bigger pumpkins are easier to carve, but before you grab the largest specimen,
inspect the rind.
2. A
lighter color means softer flesh that’s easier to carve in detail.
3. Any
bruises, cuts or soft spots can mean the pumpkin’s already started rotting — a
bad sign if you want it to last more than a few days.
4.
Give your pumpkin a lift. If it’s heavy, it’ll probably have thicker flesh. It
should feel somewhat light, meaning it’s nice and hollow inside.
5.
You’re only as good as your carving tool. A boning knife — sharp, thin and
pointed — is a good choice for carving small details.
6. For
cutting out the lid, you might want a larger carving knife or even a serrated
knife.
7. If
you’re carving with kids, don’t just hand them a deadly weapon and let them
start hacking away with it. Pick up a pumpkin
carving set that includes a safety knife
designed for small hands. Your health insurance provider will thank you.
8.
Here comes another of Halloween’s greatest moments: Reaching inside a pumpkin
and pulling out a handful of gooey guts and slimy seeds. But wait! Don’t just
throw that away. Rinse
the seeds and toast them on a baking sheet.
Sprinkled with seasonings, they’re a perfect snack.
9.
Scrape the inside of the pumpkin completely to expose the light-colored flesh,
which reflects more light.
10.
You can use a large spoon or ice cream scoop for scraping — or if you’re
feeling daring, try an electric mixer on medium-low speed.
11. If you’re
going for high art, print or draw your design on paper first. Then lightly
trace the design through the paper and onto the pumpkin with the tip of your
knife.
12. For a more
extemporaneous approach, sketch your design directly onto the pumpkin with a
dry-erase or water-based marker.
13. It can be
surprisingly hard to keep a candle lit inside a dank gourd. Make sure you
provide enough oxygen to feed the flame by leaving the lid ajar (cut it at a
steep angle to help with this) and by cutting “ears” or air holes in the sides
and back of the pumpkin.
14. Avoid a
pumpkin inferno by placing a tea light inside a pint glass.
15. Want to keep
your Jack indoors? Sprinkle his insides with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves and
he’ll double as an autumn air freshener.
