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Step 1
Think about the design that you plan on carving into the Halloween pumpkin before choosing your fruit. If you plan on carving a wide face, it is wise to pick a pumpkin that is round and fat. If you are planning to carve a longer face, it should be carved on an oval-shaped pumpkin.
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Step 2
Choose a pumpkin that is free of rotten spots, mold, dents or scratches. It will be very difficult to carve or paint a Halloween pumpkin that is already a bit spoiled.
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Step 3
Pick a pumpkin that has a nice thick stem. This is especially important when you are picking a Halloween pumpkin to create a jack-o'-lantern. The stem is how you will remove and replace the lid on the jack-o'-lantern.
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Step 4
Sit the pumpkin flat on the ground to be certain that the bottom will sit nicely. This is very important for jack-o'-lanterns, because if the pumpkin does not sit flat, it could roll over and cause the candle inside to fall out resulting in a fire.
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Step 5
Look at the color of the pumpkin before picking it. If the Halloween pumpkin is completely orange, this is a keeper. If the orange is still a bit green when you pick it, it may not ripen further for those planning to cook it.
