Pumpkin Recycling
October 20, 2009
So you’ve been to the pumpkin patch and have all these pumpkins sitting around. How can you use ALL of the pumpkin instead of tossing it in the garbage when Halloween is over? Pumpkins are a vegetable and a great source of vitamins. It’s low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. 1 cup of raw pumpkin has 171% of your Vitamin A needs for the day. It’s also a good source of Vitamin C and Vitamin E.
USE THE SEEDS
1. TOAST THE SEEDS
Separate the seeds out from the stringy and gooey pumpkin insides. Throw them in a strainer and rinse them off. Spread them out on a cookie sheet in a single layer, spray them with olive oil, add salt and bake for 45 minutes on 300 degrees. Other options include sprinkling seasoning salt or garlic salt for more flavor.
2. MAKE A SWEET TREAT
Martha Stewart has an interesting twist on pumpkin seeds, make a Pumpkin Seed Brittle.
3. KID’S CRAFT PROJECT
4. RECYCLE FOR SPRING PLANTING
You can save the seeds, store them and use them in the spring. Dry the seeds for 7 days and then wrap them in newspaper or magazine pages until spring.
USE THE PULP
Don’t throw your pulp in the garbage and do not put it down the drain. According to Mr. Rooter, pumpkin pulp hardens in the drain and clogs it.
Compost or if you have chickens, you can feed the pulp to them.
USE THE PUMPKIN ‘MEAT’
There are TONS of recipes for using fresh pumpkin to make pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, breads, whatever suits your fancy. Different kinds (and sizes) of pumpkins are good for different types of food so you make sure you get the right kind of pumpkin if you plan to bake with it. Typically, smaller pumpkins are for baking. You can bake, boil or microwave the pumpkin to get it ready to use in your recipes.
ANYTHING LEFT OVER
If you have anything left over from your pumpkin or you carved your pumpkin and left it outside for decoration, the whole thing can be composted, just make sure to cut it into small chunks. If you don’t have a compost bin, cut it into chunks and bury it in your garden. Great nutrients for your soil.
