How To Keep Your Carved Pumpkin From Rotting
By Pacey on October 20, 2021
(Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images)
If you want to make your jack-o-lanterns last longer this Halloween there are more than a few tips and tricks that can help.
- Clean the inside and outside. Cleaning pumpkin inside and out with a teaspoon of bleach per one quart of water will sterilize the gourd, killing any bacteria. Let it dry fully before you start carving.
- Give it a bleach-water bath after you carve it. Submerge your masterpiece in a bucket filled with water and 2/3 cup of bleach. Soak for up to 24 hours.
- Apply petroleum jelly. This will prevent the edges from drying out too fast. But since it’s flammable, don’t put a candle inside your pumpkin — use a flameless votive instead.
- Rehydrate the pumpkin daily. Spraying it every day with water mixed with a few drops of bleach will keep it moist and ward off mold.
- Store it in the fridge overnight. If you have room, store it in a plastic bag in your refrigerator, OR any other cool, dark area of your house.
- Give it an ice bath. If you see your pumpkin starting to wilt, give it an ice bath overnight for some serious rehydration the dry it thoroughly to prevent mold.
- Don’t use real candles to light it. Using candles essentially cooks your pumpkin. Try using a flickering flameless candles or glow sticks instead.
- Display it in a stable temperature. If you’re in an area where the temps drop to freezing, be sure to bring your pumpkins inside each night.
- Don’t carve it. Not carving your pumpkin sounds may feel tragic, but it will stay fresher longer. As an alternative try painting or stickers instead.
