Canning Pumpkin

[elemay17]

I grew 'pie pumpkins' for the first time this year so I could can them but we also have a large volunteer pumpkin plant that grew. Do regular 'jack o' lantern' style pumpkins taste the same as the pie pumpkins? There are so many large pumpkins on it that are almost ready to turn orange way before halloween, we hate to waste them.Its either can them or feed them to the goats!

[DM]

I've never grown spl. pumpkins to can or make pies from, but i don't grow the really big giant pumpkins either...

BTW, much of the pumpkin pie filling you buy, is butternut squash...

DM

[CanNerd]

You might want to read this before you consider canning:

http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/tips/fall/pumpkins.html

[annabella1]

You can pressure can cubed pumpkin, I don't have my recipe handy right now but if you google canning pumpkin you will come up with several ways. Do not can mashed or pureed pumpkin as it is too dense to let the heat through it properly.

[NCLee]

Here's a link that may be of interest. It discusses the difference between pumpkin types. http://www.ochef.com/847.htm Scroll down to the bottom of that page. Noticed some other related links that may also be of interest.

A BTW. Since we don't eat a lot of pumpkin (prefer sweet potatoes for pies), I buy a few cans of pumpkin when it goes on sale in November.

I haven't tried this with pumpkins, but it should work for them. When sweet potatoes are starting to show their age, I bake them, run through a food mill, then freeze for future use. Freeze in meal or pie sized portions in flat pans. When frozen, remove and vac seal. For a side dish, drop the sealed bag in a pot of boiling water. Heat and eat -- season when it comes out of the bag. For a pie, thaw under running water. For heat and eat you can also freeze in microwave safe containers. Use defrost setting. When thawed, add your favorite seasonings, stir in, finish heating.

Hope these thoughts are helpful.
Lee