Its fall and time to visit your local pumpkin farm to get pumpkins and gourds to decorate your house. Carving pumpkins and roasting the seeds is a tradition for many families including ours. While you are there getting jack-o-lanterns why not get a pie pumpkin as well. These are the pumpkins grown for use in pies, breads and bars. They are sweeter and have less water in them than the traditional carving pumpkins which tend to have a stringy flesh.
If you are cooking a pie pumpkin this year remember that pumpkin puree cannot be safely canned at home. The best way to preserve puree would be to freeze it. To freeze simply wash the pumpkin and cut into cooking size pieces and remove the seeds. It can be cooked in boiling water, in steam, in the oven or in a pressure cooker. Cook until soft then remove pulp from rind and mash the pulp. Place the pumpkin puree bowl in another bowl filled with cold water and stir occasionally till cool. Package in freezer containers in the size you want to use (2 cups equals 1 can). Remember to thaw it in the refrigerator when you are ready to use it.
If you would prefer to pressure can pumpkin it can only be done in cubes and in a pressure canner. The steps to can cubed pumpkin are to first wash and remove the seeds. Next cut the pumpkin into 1 inch wide slices. Then peel and cut the flesh into 1 inch cubes. Blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes. Fill the jars with the cubes and cover with the cooking liquid leaving 1 inch headspace. Process according to your altitude using this chart from The National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Pumpkin can be dried or made into fruit leather. To dry cut strips no more than one inch wide by 1/8 inch thick. Steam the strips over boiling water for 3 minutes then dip in cold water to stop the heating process. Drain well then dehydrate in a food dehydrator until brittle. For making pumpkin fruit leather use pumpkin puree and spices with this recipe from The National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Be sure to follow safe preservation methods when dealing with pumpkin. Using safe freezing and canning methods will allow you to enjoy your pumpkin all winter!
