Monthly Archives: "October 2015"

Everyone has their own technique for carving pumpkins.  Some people use plastic carving kits while others employ an assortment of kitchen knives, garden tools and miscellaneous sharp objects.  Pumpkin carving, like any other job, needs the right tool for getting the job done safely.  Here are my top 3 tips for what NOT to do when carving a pumpkin.

1. Never use a kitchen knife – serrated or smooth edge. The amount of force needed to cut through the outer skin of the pumpkin makes this type of tool difficult to control when carving.  Instead, utilize a wood-cutting jigsaw blade with long handle.  It’s easy to control and you do not have exert a lot of force to cut through the skin which makes this tool a safer choice.
2. Never use a knife to scoop out the seeds and stringy membranes inside the pumpkin. If you torque your knife sideways, you can chip, snap or bend it.  A good tool for this job is a flat, paddle-style ice cream scoop preferably made out of metal.
3. Never use a utility knife or small kitchen knife to carve designs in the outer skin of a pumpkin. This can dull your good knives.  Some of the best tools to use for this are pottery tools or the plastic pumpkin carving kits available around Halloween.  They are designed for this type of job and are safe to use.