This is my actual pumpkin at my home. My son Sam and I carved it and within days it was like this.

What do you do with pumpkins? Now I have to buy another and carve it to have something to put out.

According to thekitchn.com there are many methods for sterilizing and preserving pumpkins involve the unnecessary use of harsh chemicals and environmentally unfriendly solutions. Common tricks include using bleach or apple cider vinegar.

  • When prepping your pumpkin for carving, be sure to scrape and discard as much of the pulp (aka pumpkin guts) as possible. The cleaner and drier the pumpkin interior, the slower the rotting process.
  • Dilute one tablespoon of peppermint dish soap such as Peppermint Castile Soap in a quart of water. Pour the mixture into a clean spray bottle and lightly spray the inside of your pumpkin. Peppermint is antifungal and will slow the decomposition process.
  • Consider placing your carved pumpkins in the fridge at night. Spray your pumpkins with the Castile soap-water mixture and wrap each one in a trash bag prior to placing in the fridge. This process will rehydrate your pumpkins each night.
  • Another way to rehydrate your pumpkins is to fill a large bucket, bin, or tub with cold water and soak the pumpkins overnight.
  • Put a fruit fly trap inside so fruit flies don't start eating the pumpkin.

I never put my pumpkins out so they stayed warm. Have you tried any of these methods? Let me know in the comments below.

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