With Halloween right around the corner, you may have all kinds of tricks and treats up your sleeve... but are you ready for the scariest story of the year?

Out of the 2 billion pounds of pumpkins that are grown in the US each year, about 80% of them (a whopping 1.3 billion pounds) are thrown away! 😱

This isn't just a terrible waste of a nutritious and delicious plant. Pumpkins and other fruits and vegetables that end up in landfills cannot break down effectively and release methane gas, one of the most powerful greenhouse gases that contribute to the climate crisis.

So what's the best thing to do with your leftover pumpkin? Cook it of course!

Here are our favorite ways to cook all parts of your Halloween pumpkin:

Pumpkin Seeds

When carving your pumpkin, separate the seeds from the pumpkin guts (save this too!) and give the seeds a good wash and dry. Place the washed and dried seeds on a baking tray, toss with some oil, salt and spices and roast them in the oven for a crunchy, sweet or savory snack.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Recipe by Momokaki
Great recipe for Roasted Pumpkin Seeds.
CookpadMomokaki
Honey brown sugar toasted pumpkin seeds Recipe by Chef Nena
Perfect time of year for fall snacks left over from your kids jack o lanterns . They taste like a rich caramel corn flavor. Great snack for the kids too !
CookpadChef Nena
Discover more recipes with pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin Guts

The stringy pumpkin bits, or pumpkin 'guts', are just as edible as the flesh of the pumpkin and can be substituted for pumpkin purée in some recipes. Fry them into crispy fritters, blend them into warming soups or bake into pumpkin bread - the possibilities are endless!

Pumpkin belly fritters Recipe by Shuchi Jain
#leftoverfood Pumpkin, both soft white one and yellow fibrous one, is extensively used in our cooking. We always throw the leftover soft fibrous and sticky innards/belly that we scoop out from the pumpkins. However this leftover pulp has been used to create a delicious and finger licking fritter, cr…
CookpadShuchi Jain
Vickys Halloween ‘Cream of Carved Pumpkin’ Soup GF DF EF SF NF Recipe by Vicky@Jacks Free-From Cookbook
A great frugal recipe to use up all the stringy bits you would possibly throw away after carving your Halloween pumpkin. Where do you think pumpkin puree comes from? It’s not normally from the flesh and so these parts are perfect for soup! Served with roasted pumpkin seeds in place of croutons you’r…
CookpadVickyJacks Free-From Cookbook
Pumpkin Guts Bread (GF option) Recipe by Genna
One of my favourite recipes for using all parts of a carved pumpkin. Adapted from Diana’s Famous Pumpkin Bread (https://eatingrichly.com/how-to-cook-a-whole-pumpkin-and-recipe-for-pumpkin-gut-bread/) - which has great tips and recipes.
CookpadGenna
Did you know? Pumpkins are low in calories and fat, but rich in vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants. They get their beautiful orange colour from beta carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A to help boost your immune system to get your body ready to face the winter’s colds. 🎃🤧

Pumpkin Flesh

If you use your pumpkin within 24 hours of being carved, you can still cook it like any other squash. Carving pumpkins are bred for size rather than taste, but can still be delicious when paired with other fall flavors.

Try chopping your pumpkin into 1-inch cubes and roast the pieces in a 400°F oven with some oil and spices until caramelized and tender. Or you can add it to curries and soups for a hearty meal:

Winter Pumpkin Chicken Curry Recipe by Bossy Panda
Winter is coming, and it’s time to eat all the decor pumpkins! 🎃 This dish is very rich and smooth with the coconut milk and pumpkin. It’s not spicy, even slightly sweet from the pumpkin. Absolutely recommend for a family dinner!
CookpadBossy Panda
Pumpkin Soup 🥣 Recipe by kingfisher 👩‍🍳
Pumpkin soup from the vegetable food. 🥣 I do not like throwing away the leftovers. I always think about is that what can I do with them. So, this soup is one of the examples of not throwing out leftovers. 💁‍♀️ It is very nutritious because it is composed of just vegetables. Also, it is vegetarian.…
Cookpadkingfisher 👩‍🍳
Search Cookpad for more pumpkin recipes

If you left your carved pumpkin out a little too long, don't worry! There are other ways to ensure your squash has a sustainable afterlife. If you have a garden, you can compost it at home. Or give it to your local composting or food waste site where it will biodegrade and add nutrients back to the soil. 🪱🌱

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What's your favorite way to use up holiday pumpkins?

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