You want to choose a pumpkin but you don’t know what qualities you need to look for in order to get the right pumpkin for your needs. How do you asses a pumpkin, or any piece of produce for that matter? Well I won’t be speaking for the whole of the produce world, but for today we will take a look at getting the best possible pumpkin for your needs. So the question that you need to ask yourself is this; do I need a pumpkin that is asthetically pleasing or a pumpkin that will taste good (This is, of course, a function of what you plan to do with it).

I need a pretty pumpkin!

This means that you will be carving, painting or otherwise displaying your pumpkin. What it will taste like is no object because you do not plan on eating it. So lets find your pretty pumpkin. The first thing you should look for is symmetry. If the pumpkin is short and wide on one side than the other side should be reasonably similar. Ditto if it is tall and skinny. The pumpkin should be free of nodes of outcroppings and it should be a round oval shape. All pumpkins will have 1 side which is flatter than the others, this is the side that was on the ground. The pumpkin should be free of any mushy or dark spots and the stem should be firm. The skin should be a bright orange.

I need a tasty pumpkin!

When selecting a pumpkin on the basis of flavor you want to look for a slightly darker and deeper looking skin than you would on a decrative pumpkin. It should also be firm without spots or mushy parts. The pumpkin should be and you wan to choose a pumpkin on the smaller size, unless you plan to do a marathon style baking session. If you are getting big pumpkins be aware of the height of your pumpkin, as you want it to be able to easily fit into your oven. The stem should be solid and woody brown. This is not because you will be carrying it by the stem, but because it is an overall indication of the pumpkins health. For this application I could care less about symmetry as we only plan on gutting and mashing it later on.

You may have noticed a lot of similarities between the indications of what you want to see in your pumpkin. This is because they are overall signs of a healthy pumpkin. If at any time you feel that you have a pumpkin with something “off” about it, then do not buy it or use it in food products. As with any food avoid signs of mold, rotting or fungal infection. You don’t want those in your house or in food. If you pick your own take a look at surroundings. Do the plants in the area seem healthy, are they well stored and generally well cared for? If not, find a new place. Always wash your pumpkin before using it, and dry it completely before any carving or cutting of any kind.