Can You Freeze Pumpkin?

My daughter really loves pumpkin pies and she has always wanted them for snacks at school. We have this mini-garden in which I can harvest my own pumpkin during October. I want to use only these home-grown pumpkins and not the ones bought at the store. Can I freeze pumpkin fruits?

Yes, you can freeze pumpkins. The best way to freeze pumpkins is to cut them in small 1 inch cubes and place them in a ziplock bag. You can also freeze cooked pumpkins and pureed pumpkins Whether cooked or fresh, refrigerated pumpkin lasts up to 5 days, while the best quality is kept up to 12 months when frozen.

Can You Freeze Pumpkins?

Pumpkins naturally decay faster at room temperature. If you store raw pumpkins carefully in a cool place, the fruits may last up to two or three months. If frozen, pumpkin may last a long time but the freshness is preserved up to one year only.

When you are planning to preserve pumpkins, always think about the risk in trying to extend the life of the food you eat. Pumpkin is a low acid vegetable that demands exceptional care when processed.

Always observe clean procedures when handling the fresh or preserved pumpkin.  Allowing the pumpkin to stay at room temperature for more than two hours during preparation may cause harm further than you think.

You can thaw raw pumpkin chunks before using them. Refrigerate the pumpkin flesh immediately after preparation or keep it refrigerated at all times.

Sweetened pumpkins, jams, butter, or gelled pumpkins must be refrigerated or put in the freezer in the same way as raw pumpkins.

Canning pumpkin butter, mashed or pureed pumpkin is also not advisable. When you freeze pumpkins in these forms, always use high-quality freezer bags or containers.

How to Freeze Pumpkins

You can put preserve the quality of pumpkins whether cooked or raw. Here are the following guidelines when freezing or refrigerating pumpkins:

  • Choose a dense, fully ripened pumpkin with no blemishes or soft spots, and not soggy or dry
  • Peel, cut it clean, and scoop the seeds out. Slice the flesh into 1-inch cubes.
  • When freezing fresh pumpkin cubes, loosely fill in the freezer bags with the cubes in a single layer. The packing should not be too tight to prevent the cubes from sticking together.
  • You can also wrap the raw pumpkin cubes with top quality foil or plastic wrap before refrigerating.
  • You can cook the cubes by boiling, roasting, or steaming.
  • Allow cooling before refrigerating or freezing. The rule of thumb is to refrigerate pumpkin within two hours of cooking.
  • Do not place the cooked pumpkin in freezer bags. Before putting it in the freezer, choose bottles with tight lids or food-grade airproof containers.
  • Containers should not be filled up completely. To allow food expansion, leave a room of about one-half inch headspace.

How To Use Up Extra/Leftover Pumpkin?

Pumpkin is a delicious and versatile fruit that can be used in a variety of recipes. But what do you do when you have extra pumpkin? Here are five delicious ways to use up your leftover pumpkin:

1. Make a delicious soup – Pumpkin soup is a great way to use up any extra pumpkin you have on hand. Just add some chicken broth, vegetables, and spices, and you’ll have a hearty meal in no time.

2. Bake a tasty pie – This is a great way to use up any extra pumpkin you have on hand. Just add it to a pie crust with some sugar and spices, and bake according to your recipe.

3. Make some yummy pancakes – Pancakes are always a hit, and they’re even better when made with pumpkin. Just add some pumpkin puree to your favorite pancake recipe, and you’ll have a delicious and healthy breakfast in no time.

4. Whip up a tasty smoothie – This is a great way to use up any extra pumpkin you have on hand. Just add some pumpkin puree, milk, and yogurt to a blender, and you’ll have a delicious and healthy drink in no time.

5. Make some homemade ice cream – This is a great way to use up any extra pumpkin you have on hand. Just add some pumpkin puree, milk, sugar, and spices to an ice cream maker, and you’ll have homemade ice cream in no time!

So there you have it – five delicious ways to use up your leftover pumpkin. Next time you find yourself with extra pumpkin, try one of these recipes and enjoy!

Pumpkin Recipes

This Pumpkin Cake, baked in easy steps, is made out of pumpkin puree, eggs, sugar, and a little salt. With only up to 55 minutes, the oven is set in 350 Fahrenheit degrees.

The true taste of pumpkin is complemented with other spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and gloves with these Pumpkin cupcakes. They are also sprinkled with chopped nuts.

The Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins are soft, mushy pumpkin cakes with cream cheese filling. No other complicated ingredients and is quite simple to make.

Wrap Up

Can you freeze pumpkin? Yes, you can freeze pumpkin. You can use it in breads or cakes or just re-heat and eat as a side dish. Here is how to do it: cut the pumpkin into manageable pieces, remove seeds and stringy fibers, peel, cook pumpkin in boiling water until soft enough to mash, put in ice-cube trays and freeze, transfer cubes into an airtight container or bag. Do not forget to label the container with today’s date.

Now that you know how to freeze pumpkin, let me hear your experience with it in the comment section below. How will you use the frozen cubes of pumpkin?

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