You sculpt your Halloween pumpkin, put a candle inside and place it on your front porch candy or treats arrive. Before anyone knocks on your door, you start thinking of different ways to use that carved pumpkin after the night’s festivities: pumpkin pie, pumpkin bars, pumpkin soup. Can it be a decoration? And food?

We spoke with food safety experts about decorative pumpkins and when you can use them as food.

“You use a pumpkin as an ingredient or as a decoration, but not both,” said Darin Detwilerprofessor of food policy at Northeastern University and author of “Food security: past, present and forecast.”

Buying a pumpkin, carving it, having it as a decoration and then turning it into food may seem like a good way to avoid food waste, but food safety must be considered to avoid any risk of foodborne illness.

“Pumpkins are a low-acid vegetable, so once cut and brought to room temperature, any pathogens that may be present will grow quickly on the flesh,” explained Kimberly Baker, Adirector of the Flood Control and Safety Systems Program at Clemson University. “The longer the pumpkin sits at room temperature, the more pathogens grow that can make someone sick if they ate the pumpkin.”

Once you make a pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern, it should only be used for decorative purposes for a variety of reasons. We may not follow typical food safety protocols when we bring home a pumpkin. “Often we don’t wash our hands before carving, wash the pumpkin, carve it on clean, food-safe surfaces or use clean equipment for carving,” Baker said.

A cut or carved pumpkin should be kept cold to prevent it from becoming a host for bacteria. “Once you cut it, you need to keep it below 40 degrees Fahrenheit so you can use it (for culinary purposes) later,” said Norman Hunt IVcertified ServSafe chef and manager at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

“Keep in mind that vegetables, including pumpkins, when cut, are considered a TCS food – time and temperature controlled for safety,” explained Jonathan Deutschprofessor of food and hospitality management at Drexel University in Philadelphia. “This means it should be cooked immediately or stored in the refrigerator and cooked within a few days for optimal food safety.”

When a jack-o-lantern is left outdoors, there is a risk of bacteria growing. “In most of the country, October days can be quite warm, which encourages microbial growth. And creatures from urban, suburban and rural environments can all climb in and around jack-o-lanterns,” Deutsch said. “It is not It is safe or advisable to cook and eat leftover jack-o-lanterns, even if they appear to be in good condition.

If you think, I will place my jack-o-lantern inside so there is no chance of animals and insects. There is remains a risk for food safety. “Storing a pumpkin indoors makes no difference in terms of the safety of eating the pumpkin,” Baker explained. “Pathogens can come from any contact surface, indoor or outdoor, and cause contamination of the pumpkin.”

Baking a pumpkin isn’t a solution either. “Depending on the pathogens, some may not be killed or leave a toxin even if the pumpkin is cooked,” Baker explained.

Remember, there are other ways to decorate a pumpkin, whether by painting it, using stickers, or other creative methods.

“To minimize food waste, one could decorate the pumpkin without cutting it so it can be used as food,” Baker said. “Decorations can be attached externally without piercing the skin.”

Emilie Bernerchef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education, adds: “I would recommend that they buy a smaller pumpkin (less waste) or not carve it at all and decorate it creatively with paints, stickers, pompoms, etc. .” If you’re using paint or glitter, she says, “Make sure you cut all of that before cooking and don’t drag it into your pumpkin with your knife while you’re working with it.”

If you change how you decorate your pumpkin this year so you can eat it, rinse it with water before cooking with it to reduce the chance of cross-contamination. “Pumpkins are often associated with contaminated soil and irrigation problems due to proximity to the animals,” Detwiler said. “Improper cleaning and lack of hand washing are key factors that place them in the “danger category”. »

The truth is that most carving pumpkins are not the best to eat because they usually don’t have the best flavor or texture, even though they are safe to eat.

“These pumpkins have a woody texture, thin wall and don’t have all the flavor of a pie pumpkin bred for use as a food,” Baker said.

Experts recommend choosing smaller pumpkins to roast for pies or add to soup (sugar pumpkins are a good option). According to Deutsch, “They are generally much meatier, sweeter and have a softer texture when cooked.”

Consider saving the seeds and roasting them. “Pumpkin seeds can be roasted and eaten if the seeds are removed at the time of carving and immediately washed and roasted or refrigerated before roasting,” Baker said.

If you decide to carve a jack-o-lantern, reduce your waste by tossing it into your compost pile or municipal compost bin instead of the trash this Halloween. Baker suggested, “Use the carved pumpkin in the compost to help fertilize new plants in the spring garden. »

Hunt added, “If you know anyone who has chickens, (pumpkin) is a treat!” »