Iit's pumpkin carving time!

[Donna_T]

Okay guys and gals, 'tis the season!
I carved my first punkin of the season today and I'm back to the problem I have annually---how do I keep my carving from turning molding and getting skummy (pretty much like drying gourds.) I've tried treating the fresh carving with lemon juice, salt, bleach, but the most I've been able to get is a week before those gray fuzzies attach themselves. Do I need to clean out the inside of the pumpkin so that air can circulate? So far, the dozen or so pumpkins I've done have just been carved on the surface--not getting down to the inside cavity. But I'm supposed to carve at a fall fair in 10 days and I'd like to know if there is anything I can do to prevent this malady from happening again. Anyone????

Donna T

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I always thought lemon would do it? But they have something called fruit fresh? wonder if that would work?

[wade clark]

I think Fruit Fresh is vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), and will probably help. The main thing, I believe, has to do with the pie! Take a big metal spoon and dig out every bit of the soft pulp inside, then you have a harder dryer thinner shell to carve. Leave the lid off and let it dry without the pulp. The pulp goes in the pie!!!
Wade

[kaiserb]

A quick google yeilded this:


http://www.pumpkinfresh.com/

"It's so clean & easy!"

By treating your pumpkins with PUMPKIN FRESH Spray-On Pumpkin Preserver, your family will enjoy pumpkin carving so much better than ever before, . Just spray PUMPKIN FRESH pumpkin preserver on the inside, and cut surfaces of your freshly carved pumpkin, & that's all there is to it! ...Clean & easy. There's absolutely no mess!

PUMPKIN FRESH contains our powerful & unique breakthrough formulation - this is not a "coating", rather a powerful "absorbing fungicidal agent" which soaks into the flesh of your pumpkin masterpiece protecting it from mold, rot and decay, allowing it to keep its freshness much longer than if left untreated.

At last, no more sad faces from having to throw away your mushy rotting pumpkin just days after the fun of carving it. Keep your carved pumpkin happy, fresh & lasting much longer this Halloween season, by spray-treating it with PUMPKIN FRESH!

"Your family will love it!"

[Callynne]

Donna, do you have a home economist at your local court house? Back in my youth, when I canned everything under the sun, I'd call her and ask her advice. If she didn't know the answer, she'd find out and get back to me.

Not too long ago someone asked me a question I didn't know the answer to, I mentioned the home economist, a new one is there and found the answer out for my friend immediately (thanks to computers, I'm sure!). Anyhow, it's worth a try, if she doesn't have the answer she'll know where to look! Good luck, let us know what you find out! Callynne

P.S. If you try out the advertised product posted by Kaiserb, let us know....Kaiserb....loved the ad!

[Kenny_S]

No advice, just want to see it!Talking

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

if you take the guts out of a pumpkin.....if will just be a shell of its former self! But oh dem pies!! lolApple

[Kenny_S]

Take a gander at these pumpkin carvings. Fantastic!

www.pumpkingutter.com.


Play as a slide show. Simply Fantastic carvings and carver.
Hope you enjoy.

[kaiserb]

Originally Posted by Callynne

P.S. If you try out the advertised product posted by Kaiserb, let us know....Kaiserb....loved the ad!

I am still trying to figure out how my "whole family will love it".

[Donna_T]

Thanks everyone for your ideas and hints. I've used fruit fresh on real fruit to eat,but never thought about it. I've got some of it in the cabinet and will try it next week when I carve at the demo. I don't know if I have time to get the miracle stuff in the ad--but I loved the ad!

When I finished this "first" of the season pumpkin carving, I immersed the whole thing in strong bleach water. I'll see how it does to ward off mold.

Deborah, I do have an extension office in our town and I'll give them a call tomorrow. I used to call on them often--even did some volunteer time in their office many years ago.

Thanks all--good ideas. Sorry--no picture. Grandson has borrowed the digital camera. I'll ask him if he can bring it home to visit me! Just a plug for Fox Chapel and WCI--When I was there this summer, I bought the Pumpkin Carving Book on their "scratch and dent" sale rack. Super book and super price and great inspiration for this year's pumpkins.
Donna T