Pumpkins are great fall fruits, and there are enough kinds of them to satisfy everyone’s palate. Regardless of the type of pumpkin you intend to purchase or grow in your garden, it’s good to know what parts of a pumpkin you can eat and which ones you can’t.
What Part of a Pumpkin Do You Eat?
You can eat every part of the pumpkin with the exception of the stem, and you can eat these parts in many different ways. There’s no doubt that a pumpkin is a great treat, and hardly any of it will go to waste!
Edible Parts of a Pumpkin
Most of the parts of a pumpkin are edible, so let’s take a look at some of the things you can do with them:
Flesh
How to eat it: The flesh is the ‘meat’ of the pumpkin, and it is delicious and healthy. One of the easiest ways to cook it is to set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and use a sharp knife to cut the pumpkin into chunks, then place them on a baking sheet. Make sure the skin side is up (flesh side down), then cover the pan with either foil or parchment paper. Bake until the flesh gets soft, or until a fork goes all the way through the pieces. After they’re done, remove the chunks and purée them in a blender. You can drink it plain or use it later in puddings, cakes, pancakes, and many other dishes.
Of course, don’t forget about using the flesh of the pumpkin to make homemade pumpkin pie! When it comes to pumpkin pie, fresh pumpkin is always better than canned pumpkin!
Seeds
How to eat them: The seeds of a pumpkin contain a lot of nutrients, including protein, zinc, copper, and magnesium. The oils contain good fatty acids. You can start by scooping the seeds out of the pumpkin and placing them into a bowl. When you’re ready, mix a few teaspoons of oil (sunflower or coconut oil works great) per cup of pumpkin seeds in a saucepan and set on medium or medium-high heat. Pour the seeds in and add a touch of sea salt, then continue stirring them until they are warm. For the best results, make sure you eat them while they’re still warm! You can keep them at room temperature for an entire week.
Pulp
How to eat it: The pulp is the stringy innards of the pumpkin, usually called either pumpkin guts or pumpkin pulp. Some of the ways you can eat it include puréeing it to add flavor to risotto or rice, turning it into chutney, including it with your other vegetable scraps when you make broth, adding it to pear or apple juice for cider, and making a yummy pumpkin hummus. Pumpkin purée can be enjoyed at breakfast with some fruit and spices, such as cinnamon or nutmeg. There are tons of recipes online made with all parts of a fresh pumpkin.
Skin
How to eat it: One of the best things to do with pumpkin skin is to slice it and bake it into chips. To start, simply slice it thin and spread it out on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with a little olive oil and your favorite spices (or just salt and pepper) and then bake it in the oven until the slices are nice and crisp. For the best results, keep the oven temperature at at least 350 degrees Fahrenheit, but keep an eye on them so that they don’t burn or get overly done.
Inedible Parts of a Pumpkin
Stem
What to do with it: One of the easiest ways to reuse your pumpkin stems is to use them in various arts and crafts projects, but first you have to dry them out. Using a knife, cut around the stem, then pull it out from the rest of the pumpkin. Remove any skin, pulp, or guts that might be attached to it, and make sure it’s clean. Place the stems in a box and keep them in a cool, dry place for three to eight weeks, until they are perfectly dry. Then search the internet for your next craft project!