The Best Way to Carve a Pumpkin for Halloween

Opening and Cleaning out the Pumpkin

Cover your workspace in newspapers or a large garbage bag. Work on a clean, hard surface, such as a dining table or the kitchen floor. Put down a layer of newspapers or cut open a large garbage bag to unfold it into a large tarp to catch any spills or messes you make.

Cut a lid into the top of the pumpkin with a serrated knife. You can use a serrated knife from your kitchen or the largest serrated tool in a pumpkin carving kit. Draw a circle with about a 2 in (5.1 cm) radius from the stem with a washable marker. Tilt the blade at a 45-degree angle toward the stem and push it into the pumpkin. Saw along your outline with the knife until you can pull the lid off. Cutting at an angle prevents the lid from falling inside of your pumpkin. Make sure your hand can easily fit inside the hole so you’re able to scoop out the seeds. Try cutting a hole in the bottom of the pumpkin instead. That way, you can just set a candle or light on the cut-out base and put the pumpkin on top instead of reaching inside to light it.

Scoop the seeds and pulp out of the pumpkin with a spoon. Start by pulling out as much of the pulp and seeds as you can by hand and put them in a large bowl. Then, scrape the inside walls of the pumpkin with any large stiff spoon, ice cream scoop, or scraper from a carving kit. Keep scooping out the pulp until the pumpkin is about 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) thick. Save and cook the pumpkin seeds for a tasty fall snack.

Designing and Carving Your Design

Draw on the pumpkin with a washable marker to make a free-hand design. If you want to let loose and really get creative, let your imagination run wild and draw your design right onto the pumpkin skin. If you don’t like your design or want to make a change, just wipe the marker off with a damp paper towel and redraw it. Mark the sections you want to cut out with an X so you don’t accidentally carve out the wrong piece. You could draw a spooky face with sharp teeth, the silhouette of a cat, or a scary ghost.

Poke holes in the pumpkin with push pins to outline a stenciled design. If you have a printout stencil or a design that came with a carving kit, tack it onto the side of the pumpkin you want to carve with push pins or tape. Use another push pin or a fork to poke holes every ⁄8 in (0.32 cm) along the outline of the stencil to use as a reference for your design. When you take your stencil off, all you’ll have to do is connect the dots while you’re carving. A pumpkin carving kit usually comes with a sharp tool you can use to poke holes. Sprinkle a little baby powder onto your pumpkin and rub it into the holes so they’re easier to see.

Cut along your outlines with a serrated knife. Start carving your pumpkin near the center of your design and work toward the edges. Push the knife straight into the pumpkin along the outline of your design. Use an up-and-down sawing or rocking motion to cut through the skin. Start by making rough cuts to remove large sections and go back to clean up the edges. Always cut away from your body so you don’t hurt yourself if your knife slips. If you’re working on a small or intricate design, switch to a paring knife instead. You can throw away the pieces of pumpkin you cut out or feature them in your design. You could attach them with toothpicks to make ears or horns. If you’re carving names or letters that have cutouts like an “O” or “A,” cut the piece out and reattach it to the pumpkin with a toothpick.

Make simple shape cutouts with cookie cutters and a rubber mallet. If you want to add some striking designs to your pumpkin, hold a cookie cutter against your pumpkin. Tap the cookie cutter gently with a rubber mallet to push it through the pumpkin’s skin. Once it’s all the way through, just pull the cookie cutter out and the section of pumpkin will come out with it. Use cookie cutters with spooky shapes, like ghosts, bats, or moons.

Try creating dotted patterns on your pumpkin with a drill. Draw a few clusters of dots on your pumpkin with your marker to make a pattern or group of stars in your design. Use a drill to bore holes through the pumpkin skin. Change to larger and smaller drill bits to add a variety of dots to your pumpkin. You could also use a drill to easily cut out eyes if you’re carving a face in your pumpkin.

Rub petroleum jelly around the cut edges of the pumpkin. Since the cut edges of the pumpkin are exposed to the air, they could rot or develop mold quicker. Pat the cut edges dry with a paper towel before rubbing a thin layer of petroleum jelly over the exposed skin. Petroleum jelly makes a thin protective layer that keeps mold and bacteria out.

Lighting and Displaying Carved Pumpkins

Put tea lights inside your pumpkin. Light one or two small tea lights and set them on the bottom of your pumpkin. Put the lid back on your pumpkin to light up your design so it’s visible. Just make sure to blow the tea lights out at the end of the night so they don’t stay lit or cause a fire. Candles will stay lit better if you cut or drill a small vent hole at the top of the pumpkin.

Use an LED light for a fire-safe alternative. Look for a battery-operated LED light that fits inside your pumpkin and switch it on. You can leave the light on overnight without any risks, so they’re great if you want to keep your pumpkin lit up when it gets late. A flickering LED light looks just like a candle without a real flame.

Put your pumpkin out on display. Set your carved pumpkin outside on a patio or table to add some Halloween spirit to your home. Find a spot where it won’t easily fall or get knocked over so your pumpkin stays safe. If you’re using tealights, avoid putting your pumpkin near anything flammable. Put your pumpkin in a garbage bag in the fridge if temperatures dip below freezing or go above 70 °F (21 °C) to slow down rot.

Soak your pumpkin in cold water if it starts to shrivel. When you notice your pumpkin starting to dry out, fill a sink with cold water. Submerge the pumpkin for a few hours or overnight to help rehydrate it. Pull the pumpkin out and thoroughly pat it dry with paper towels before putting it back out again. If you don’t dry your pumpkin, it may develop mold faster.