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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that hollowing out pumpkins is infeasibly hard work?

50 replies

Greensleeves · 30/10/2009 18:58

I have about 8 pumpkins sitting here waiting to be carved, dh is away and the kids are too little to do the hollowing out donkey work, but thye are very excited about carving faces

the last time I hollowed out a big pumpkin it took hours and I had blisters

am I doing something wrong? are you meant to cook them first or something? or does everyone else just have bionic strength?

OP posts:
GentleOtter · 30/10/2009 18:59

Honest to God they are easier than doing a turnip.

Wonderstuff · 30/10/2009 19:00

I left it up to dh this year, although we did it last week and had it inside for a few days so now it is quite rotton
Some posters on another thread were saying in Scotland they used to hollow out turnips or something and pumpkins are a breeze in comparison.

Why on earth do you have 8?

Wonderstuff · 30/10/2009 19:01

LOL @ x post

eggontoast · 30/10/2009 19:03

Maybe, 8 is a little adventurous?? I always do one and really enjoy it.

I don't think it is a good idea to bother if it makes you unhappy!!!

I love doing mine and make it really special because it is once a year and its gets pride of place with a candle in it as a beacon to trick or treaters to call by!!.

hanaboo · 30/10/2009 19:05

oh god, i've gotta do two tomorrow seriously... does anyone know of an easy way then?

wonderingwondering · 30/10/2009 19:05

I used a metal ladle this year which was very efficient - got most of the seeds out, bit of stabbing around with a knife to loosen the rest, more ladling. Less than ten minute all in (including two carved faces). Not the most precise bit of pumpkin art you'll ever see, but DC's are happy .

madamearcati · 30/10/2009 19:06

We are going to do a turnip this year (or swede actually) seems so much more British than a pumpkin and I love the smell of the candle in them and raw turnip is yummy.

Ivykaty44 · 30/10/2009 19:08

black marker pen to make the eyes and smile

MamaGoblin · 30/10/2009 19:10

I've always used a spoon and ended up with an aching arm - this year, I realised an ice-cream scoop would be a better idea! (the sort with a scoop, not the sort with a handle you squeeze) Took 3 minutes. That is my Halloween Tip Of The Day.

mawbroon · 30/10/2009 19:16

Turnips are hard work.

Pumpkins are cheating

southeastastralbeing · 30/10/2009 19:18

are they 'ard pumpkins like phil mitchell

notimetotidy · 30/10/2009 20:20

I had this conversation with someone a few days ago. Apparently people take all the flesh out of the pumpkin as well as the seeds. I just take the seeds out and scrape enough of the flesh so that all the little stringy bits are gone. Takes about 3 minutes - face a few minutes more. Maybe it's me that's doing it wrong! Anyway, HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE - party, party

paisleyleaf · 30/10/2009 20:28

I guess it depends if you want the flesh or not.

notsoteenagemum · 30/10/2009 20:29

I do the same as you notimetotidy, I usually make it a bit thinner at the front but theres no point scraping it all round the back.
We always used to do a swede when I was little now that was hard work.

famishedass · 30/10/2009 20:38

I brought a pumpkin carving kit for £1 in ASDA. Best £1 I ever spent.

Failing that, an ice cream scoop, like someone else said.

AnnieLobeseder · 30/10/2009 20:45

I only scrape the seeds out, not the flesh, but it still seems to take a while. Then when I've done the face, I trim the holes thinner.

One year I scooped out all the flesh too, but it made the pumpkins too thin and they wilted within a day! They last much longer if you leave the flesh in.

Eight is very ambitious, though, I have to say!!

Glitterknickaz · 30/10/2009 20:46

YANBU
That's why DH does it

Lilyloooohhhh · 30/10/2009 20:48

Just scrape out seeds and stringy stuff here too!
Only have one though , dc's wanted one each
Am quite proud of mine this year , not 'ComeOVeneer' effort but pretty good!

paisleyleaf · 30/10/2009 21:01

vaseline is apparently good for making it last longer (spread around the inside).

MsHighwater · 30/10/2009 21:36

Until today, I had never made a pumpkin lantern in my life before. I do, though, remember attempting to carve out turnips in my childhood (in Scotland) and that was HARD!

I couldn't believe how easy the pumpkin was in comparison (wishes there was an actual pumpkin emoticon)

ilikeyoursleeves · 30/10/2009 21:39

I carved a pumpkin the other day and thought it was easy!

...and it looks fab

FlappyTheBat · 30/10/2009 21:41

My dad carved out a pumpkin yesterday with dd1, I think he wishes that we had used them when I was a child.
It used to take him hours to carve out a neep (swede) when I was little.

Pumpkins don't have the same smell though when the candle is lit, neeps were much nicer!

Pixel · 30/10/2009 22:35

But I want the flesh so we can make pumpkin and cinnamon muffins. It seems a shame to just waste it.

southeastastralbeing · 30/10/2009 22:38

it didn't occur to me to eat the inside [grin[ ew bet it tastes shite anyway

aristoBLACKcat · 30/10/2009 22:57

did one pumpkin yesterday and was suprised how easy it was.......bit messy tho but DCs are happy

8????