They are in high demand on Halloween: Huge pumpkins with scary or funny faces cut into them. Would you like to ward off evil spirits and carve your own pumpkin like Jack O' Lantern, the legend behind the tradition? We'll show you how easy it is.
The interfaces are clearly marked before carving
You need:
- A Halloween pumpkin
- A special pumpkin carving set or alternatively an ice cream scoop, soup spoons and sharp knives in different sizes
- disposable gloves
- a bowl to reserve the pumpkin flesh
- vaseline
- candle or tea light
manual
First wash the pumpkin thoroughly, it should be completely free of soil and dirt. Then you can start carving:
- Below the stem, mark the rounded or serrated cutting line of the lid.
- Cut about two centimeters deep and separate the lid.
- Pull on the glove and scrape as much of the fibrous tissue containing the seeds out of the pumpkin as possible.
- Using a scraper, ice cream scoop, or tablespoon, scoop out the flesh from the squash and set aside for later.
- Use a flashlight to check that enough pulp has been removed. The beam of light should shimmer through the pumpkin.
- Wipe the squash inside and out and let dry.
Then the actual carving of the pumpkin face begins. There are templates online that you can print out to make designing easier. You can also simply cut out a face out of triangles, as was done in ancient Ireland, or use your imagination.
- If you have printed out a template, attach it to the pumpkin with adhesive strips.
- Transfer the lines with a small, sharp knife.
- Remove the paper and carefully cut along the lines.
- So that nothing breaks, filigree details should be cut out while the pumpkin is still very stable.
Preserve the pumpkin
In order for your work of art to survive a few days undamaged, it is important to preserve it. Coat all of the cut edges and inside of the squash with a thin layer of petroleum jelly. The easiest way to do this is with a kitchen sponge or a piece of kitchen paper.
Do not place the candle or tealight directly in the Halloween face, but in a mason jar. In this way you prevent the lighting from going out at the first draft.
tips
The pumpkin flesh is far too valuable to throw away. Cook yourself a warming pumpkin soup from this. Since Halloween pumpkins do not taste as aromatic as butternut or Hokkaido, you should prepare the soup with a little water. Also delicious: hearty muffins, pumpkin buns or pumpkin bread.