How to Cook a Whole Pumpkin

Pumpkins are a fun part of Halloween. You can carve them, display them or you can even make them part of a holiday feast. If you cook a whole pumpkin, you can eat the seeds and use the flesh for baking. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

  • Pumpkin
  • Baking sheet
  • Salt
  • Sharp knife
  • Roasting pan
  • Water
  • Fork
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Instructions

  1. Cooking the Seeds

    • 1

      Remove the top of a pumpkin by carving around the stem with a sharp knife. Cut deep enough to reach the hollow inside. Pull the top off the pumpkin by grasping the stem firmly.

    • 2

      Remove all the stringy flesh and seeds with your hands. A spoon may be needed to scrape the stringy material and seeds form the sides of the pumpkin.

    • 3

      Separate the seeds from the stringy material and set the seeds aside. Discard the stringy material.

    • 4

      Wash the seeds and place them on a baking sheet in a single layer. Preheat the oven to 325 F.

    • 5

      Sprinkle salt on the seeds. Cook for 5-7 minutes and then flip the seeds over. Cook for another 7-10 minutes or until light brown.

    • 6

      Remove the seeds from oven. Cool before eating.

    Cooking the Pumpkin Flesh

    • 7

      Cut the whole pumpkin into several large pieces.

    • 8

      Place the pieces in a large roasting pan skin side up.

    • 9

      Fill the roasting pan with one inch of water. Cover the roasting pan.

    • 10

      Cook the pumpkin for 30 minutes or until the pumpkin flesh is soft when pierced with a fork.

    • 11

      Remove the roasting pan from the oven. Place the cooked pumpkin on a baking sheet or plate to cool.

    • 12

      Peel skin off of the cooled pumpkin with a knife. Cut the cooked pumpkin into small chunks and mash with a potato masher to use for baking.

Tips & Warnings

  • Make sure water remains in the bottom of the pan to keep the pumpkin from drying out.

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Comments

  • Lburas Nov 18, 2007
    The article doesn't tell us what temperature to roast the pumpkin flesh to get it to cook soft in 30 minutes.
  • Lburas Nov 18, 2007
    The article doesn't tell us what temperature to roast the pumpkin flesh to get it to cook soft in 30 minutes.

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