Jack-O-Lantern

Oct 20, 2021, 11:00:00 PM

Carving your Halloween pumpkin is a big part of the holiday. Unfortunately pumpkins don't last forever and your masterpiece that you spent hours, days - let's be honest you've been planning this carving since last Halloween - will start to droop and wilt within a few days. Luckily, we have a few tricks to keep your Jack-O-Lantern looking fresh!

Step 1 - Do not cut the top of your pumpkin off! Cutting of the stem will dramatically decrease the life of your pumpkin. Instead, cut off the bottom or the back of your pumpkin.

Step 2 - After you have completely cleaned out the inside of your pumpkin, make sure you save the seeds to bake later, clean your pumpkin with a bleach water mixture. Mix together 1 tablespoon of bleach per quart of water and use to clean the inside and outside of the pumpkin.

Step 3 - Let your pumpkin dry completely before setting outside or carving! Once it is completely dry carve your masterpiece.

Step 4 - Once you have finished your carving, spread petroleum jelly on all of the surfaces that have been carved, including a light spread on the entire inside of the pumpkin.

Step 5 - Place your pumpkin on display for all of the trick-or-treaters to admire. If your pumpkin does start to wilt submerging it in an ice bath for a couple of hours can help refresh it. Reapply petroleum jelly.