My Best Pumpkin Carving Tips

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"How do we carve pumpkins?" My friend Nyssa messaged me this question in early October 2016 β€” and with good reason.

pumpkin-carving-tips

This post was originally published in October 2016 and last updated in October 2021. All October posts are part of the Countdown to Halloween!

She and her husband are NYC transplants originally from Melbourne, Australia. Nyssa and I became Internet friends more than a decade ago thanks to loving a band, and for as long as I can remember she’s celebrated Halloween.

For you U.S. friends who might not be aware…Halloween isn’t quite a THING in the rest of the world like it is here. So the fact that Nyssa celebrates is super fun to me.

The year she asked me this question was her first Halloween season in the U.S., and she and her husband wanted to do it up right! So she asked the expert (her words – I’m flattered!) for pumpkin carving advice.

Since we are in prime pumpkin carving season and as your resident pumpkin guts lover, I thought I’d share a few of my tips with you.

 

Spooky Little Halloween’s Best Pumpkin Carving Tips

 

Tip #1: Look for a good stem

If it’s extra-long or curvy, you get bonus points. Not only does this add character to your jack, but it also makes it a heck of a lot easier to open the lid.

 

Tip #2: Pick one that sits steadily

When you think you’ve found the perfect pumpkin, take it to a flat spot and make sure it sits steady. Nothing is worse than getting your precious pumpkin home only to discover it’ll roll away as soon as you light it up for the evening.

 

 

Tip #3: Don’t pick a perfect pumpkin

Halloween is a holiday for misfits and weirdos. Don’t let your pumpkin be the exception! It might sound silly and a little Linus in”It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”, but I look for a pumpkin that “speaks” to me rather than hunting down one that is perfectly round. Look for a jack with a little character!

 

Tip #4: Never ever buy those pumpkin carving kits

They are crap and will break. You don’t need any special tools for pumpkin carving β€” you have everything you need in your kitchen! I use sharp knives right out of my drawer and metal spoons for cleaning out the pulp.

Of course, if you’re carving with kiddos please use tools appropriate for their abilities or carve for them. Not trying to send anyone to the hospital here!

 

 

Tip #5: Practice your face or design on paper

I can still remember my mom and dad drawing practice faces on the newspaper we laid down for pumpkin carving when I was a kid. It’s something I still do to this day – it helps me perfect my design before I put in on the pumpkin.

When I am ready to draw it on the pumpkin, I use a pencil. It doesn’t leave behind lines like a permanent marker will, and it helps to make a slight indention to get your carving started.

 

Tip #6: Cut your lid at an angle

When you’re ready to open up your jack, insert the knife at an angle rather than straight up and down. This way, your lid won’t fall into the pumpkin!

 

Tip #7: Use a real candle

Look, I get the safety concerns around an open flame, and I’m certainly not suggesting you put your home or well-being at risk. But if you are monitoring your jack, use a real candle. It’s just so much more fun when that face is flickering at you from a real flame. #halloweenpurist

 

 

Pumpkin Carving Resources

Looking for creative ideas for your pumpkin carving this year? I’ve got plenty right here on Pinterest, including a ton of no-carve ideas if that’s more your style!

 

 

What’s your best pumpkin carving tip?

I love hearing your suggestions, so tell me what tip I left off the list in the comments!

 

Happy haunting,

 

Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween

Miranda is the Houston-based writer, blogger, and Halloween lover behind Spooky Little Halloween, the blog celebrating October 31st all year long. Her favorite Halloween things include pumpkin guts, chocolate bars in her trick-or-treat pail, real haunted houses (including the one she lives in!), and historic cemeteries.

7 Comments

  1. Reply

    Nyssa

    October 25, 2016

    This is the guide I was looking for! Thank you, Miranda!! <3

  2. Reply

    Autumn Zenith

    October 14, 2021

    Awesome tips! Another that I like to employ is to work with a room temperature (or, if possible, even ever-so-slightly warm) pumpkin. Not only does this keep your hands from freezing, but I find it makes for (slightly) softer, easier to cut into pumpkin flesh.

    Autumn Zenith πŸŽƒ Witchcrafted Life

    • Reply

      Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween

      October 14, 2021

      That’s a great one I would never have thought of because of where I love! It’s always warm in October, but you make a good point. A lot of spooky friends further north might have cooler pumpkins they’re carving.

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