The trouble with pumpkins

Discussion in 'Recipes and Cooking' started by marlingardener, Oct 23, 2019.

  1. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

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    Most of the recipes using pumpkin call for "peeling, cutting into chunks, and boiling". Have these recipe mavens ever tried peeling pumpkin, much less cutting it into chunks (and how big are those chunks)?
    A lady that I've baked bread with taught me a simple and relatively easy way to deal with fresh pumpkin. Cut it in half along the equator, scoop out the seeds and stringy stuff, turn it upside down on a lipped baking sheet, and bake in a 350 degree oven until the pumpkin collapses. Flip it over, let it cool, and peel off the skin. I puree the pumpkin in a food processor, then freeze it in two cup batches (two cups makes a pie, and is also the correct amount for pumpkin/pecan bread.)
    Of course, it helps a lot to have someone (hubby) with a sterilized jig saw to cut off the stem and halve the pumpkin. Some guys will go to great lengths and trouble for a nice pumpkin pie!
     
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  3. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    That is the way I have been cooking pumpkin for years. Leave the stem on while it's cooking and it just slips right off with the skin.
     
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2019
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  4. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

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    Toni, I'd leave the stem on if it wouldn't interfere with putting the pumpkin half turned over to cool. You are years ahead of me in the pumpkin cooking area!
     
  5. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Great posting MG. I was just looking at pumpkins today in the food store and didn't buy one because I was too daunted by the prospect of peeling and carving it up!
     
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  6. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

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    I have LOTS of pumpkin puree in the freezer. My dear husband went to a store for cheese, and came home with two pie pumpkins (they were a bargain and he couldn't pass them up). After preparing those two, he got two more this week. If those pumpkins stay on sale at bargain prices, I may need another freezer!
    Cayuga, just make sure you put the halves on a baking sheet with four sides. The pumpkins do juice a bit while baking, and could make a mess in your oven.
     
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  7. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Okay MG. Will do.
     
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  8. mart

    mart Strong Ash

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    Mother just cut the pumpkin into squares or serving size pieces,, turned them upright and sprinkled brown sugar cinnamon butter ect and baked about 35 to 40 minutes ! Then we just spooned the interior out to eat it ! Really good !
     
  9. Islandlife

    Islandlife Young Pine

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    Years if not decades ago I tried the boiling and it never worked well so I ended up just buying it in the tin. Mostly I prefer fresh stuff and bake it myself etc however in the case of pumpkin I don't use enough to warrant the effort to get it. Baking though is a great idea and had I thought about it years ago when I was growing pumpkins and loved to use everything I grew I'd of been using more of it.

    Would InstaPots work for cooking down a pumpkin fast? Am thinking the skin would be a problem though (having to peel a raw one).
     
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  10. Odif

    Odif Young Pine

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    I plant Hokkaido pumpkins. They are small and we just boil them whole and then cut in half and get the seeds out. We eat the skin along with the rest of the pumpkin. Usually pumpkin soup.
     
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  11. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Never heard of Hokkaido pumpkins Odif. Sound good though.
     
  12. Netty

    Netty Chaotic Gardener Plants Contributor

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    I've been doing it this way for a few years. Not only do I find it much easier, but I find the flavor of baked pumpkin far superior to boiled.
     
  13. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    The pumpkin carmelizes with baking. Much better flavor than boiling.
     
  14. mart

    mart Strong Ash

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    My stepdaughter cuts them in half removes the seeds and strings and fills them with beef stew before baking ! She says its delicious but I have not tried it ! For small pumpkins just cut the top off !
     
  15. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    That sounds really good mart
     
  16. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    Island Life....cut the pumpkin in half, remove seeds. Put water in the bottom of the pot, pumpkin on the rack and cook for approximate 13 minutes. Or you can cut it in chunks and cook those for about 6-7 minutes.
     
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