Pumpkin guilt. It’s real.
But after all, what do you do with all those pumpkins after Halloween? Especially if you carved them and they are starting to sag.
Throwing them in the garbage is wasteful.
So I came up with a disposal plan this year. We hit up a roadside stand in September and I bought 3 very large pumpkins and 5 smaller pumpkins. I didn’t want to toss them in the garbage.
I think many of us are trying to be more resourceful by wasting less and shaving money off our grocery bills.
Here are 8 ways to dispose of those pumpkins and get some good use out of them!
Read more: What to do with pumpkins & gourds after Halloween – Don’t just throw them out!
1.) Roast the pumpkin seeds
When I roast my own pumpkin seeds, they are always delicious and nutritious. The ideal on-the-go snack when running errands during the day.
I’ve purchased roasted pumpkin seeds at the local grocery store and online but they are never quite as good as the ones I roast myself. Almost all are too salty.
Pumpkin seeds are also my go-to when I’m starving before bed and I need a small snack to settle my stomach.
But the best part of eating pumpkin seeds is that they are a natural source of tryptophan, an amino acid that helps the body produce serotonin and melatonin, hormones that promote sleep.
The zinc, copper, and selenium in pumpkin seeds can also affect sleep duration and quality
Pumpkin seeds are also an excellent source of magnesium, another natural supplement that can help promote a good night’s sleep.
2.) Feed the wildlife
Many people find hungry deer in their backyards this time of year. The apples and pears from our trees are nearly gone and they deer and sniffing around looking for food.
Pumpkin is nutritious for both humans and animals. Deer enjoy the taste of pumpkin.
There’s not much in life more satisfying than watching a deer devour pumpkin pulp in your backyard. I’ll pass on the deer poop but maybe they’ll decide to poop in your neighbor’s yard, not yours! That was a joke.
Other hungry animals like squirrels and bunnies also eat pumpkins. But it’s the seeds that really warm their fuzzy hearts.
And it’s very little effort on your part. All you have to do is toss the already cut-up pumpkin in your backyard and let those deer dive in, pumpkin guts all over their mouths.
3.) Compost them
Maybe you don’t have any wildlife in your backyard. Or maybe it’s illegal to feed the wildlife in your area.
If so, there’s nothing wrong with composting past their prime pumpkins.
Pumpkins are heavy feeders, so they require lots and lots of nutrients to grow. All that excess nitrogen is fabulous for your compost pile.
So no shame in dumping the pumpkins in your compost pile. But I would cut them up first. A solid pumpkin takes a while to break down and nourish the pile.
Chopping it up in pieces decreases the breakdown time. Throw them in with your leaves!
And even if you don’t have wildlife to enjoy the pumpkins, I’ve seen tons of people post on FB groups about wanting extra pumpkins for their wildlife. So it’s never a bad idea to find out if others are actively seeking pumpkins to feed their wildlife once they run out.
4.) Feed it to your constipated dog
Nope. You didn’t misread that. That’s exactly what I meant. Having two small dachshunds, I know that small dogs are prone to constipation. It’s not pleasant and you have to deal with it.
Rather than rushing to a pricey vet, feeding your dog a little pumpkin puree is a great alternative and will likely work to “get things going.”
When I used to dogsit my mom’s terrier, she would give me canned pumpkin to feed her when things got backed up. Worked like a charm! The dog no longer had issues.
But I was always sure to take out the dog right after she fed!
Most dogs don’t mind the taste of pumpkin, especially if it’s cooked and warmed up a bit. If they don’t eat it, mix it with their regular food, canned or crunchy, and down it goes.
If you didn’t buy pumpkins this year, use canned pumpkin for dog constipation, works equally well!
Maybe pumpkin isn’t 100% effective in eliminating worms and parasites, but it does have a lot of curcurbitacin, a biochemical compound that is toxic to intestinal parasites. If you suspect your dog has parasites, adding pumpkin to their diet makes a good first step to expel them naturally.
5.) Cook with the pumpkin pulp
The most obvious thing to do with the interior of the pumpkin is to use the pulp to cook with. Pumpkin pies, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin soup, pumpkin cookies. I could go on all day.
For my 45th birthday, my 12-year-old used the flesh of one of the pumpkins to make me a pie! She even made the crust herself with no help. And it was delicious!
After harvesting your pulp, put it in an airtight container in the fridge.
Even if you don’t like pumpkin pies yourself, they are the ideal thing to bring to Thanksgiving Dinner or the church Thanksgiving gathering. And if you’ve never made a pumpkin roll, it’s time. Cream cheese anyone?
While it’s true, some pumpkin varieties are better than others, we’ve tried a bunch for fun over here and all have worked well in our recipes.
I’ve never tried cooking with gourds, have you? But I do compost them or leave them for my backyard squirrels.
6.) Make a birdfeeder out of the shell
This one is super fun. If you’ve carved a few holes in your pumpkin then you can repurpose your pumpkin into a bird feeder.
Simply add your favorite bird seed to the bottom of your empty pumpkin and watch your feathered friends flock.
To avoid the birdseed from getting soggy, you can always add a layer of wood or wood chips to the bottom of the pumpkin and put the birdseed on top.
Once the seed is gone, you’ll find the pumpkin will start to decompose into your landscaping. At this point, you can let it break down over winter or throw it into your compost pile.
Or, it’s possible the deer and squirrel have already eaten it.
Fast fact: Pumpkins shouldn’t be thrown into landfills because they emit methane gas, which is harmful to the environment.
7.) Donate the pumpkins
If all else fails, you can always make a valiant effort to donate the pumpkins so that other people can use the pumpkin in any of the ways above.
There are animal groups who might want them or other home gardeners interested in composting them. Even a cooking school, using them for students to practice harvesting the pulp and for recipes.
Or, call your zoo and see if they want them for the animals.
Checking your local FB groups or local “Buy Nothing” group would be another great option, and their goal is to reduce waste anyhow.
Just don’t wait until they are too far gone to donate! No one wants a mushy, moldy pumpkin.
8.) Turn those jack-o-lanterns into beauty products to get your skin glowing!
Ready to live your best life? Then perhaps it’s time to make your own face mask or face scrub out of the pumpkin pulp.
October is a rough month on your skin as the humidity drops in many parts of the country. It’s also colder so your skin craves nourishing ingredients to plump it up.
Besides, Halloween parties are exhausting, and Halloween makeup wreaks havoc on your skin.
Pumpkin to the rescue with vitamins A, C, E, antioxidants, zinc, potassium, and fruit enzymes.
I have a pre-teen and teen daughter and they are expensive! But they love their face masks, scrubs, and hair treatments.
So an opportunity to shave a few bucks off the beauty bill is welcome here.
I am amazed with what all you came up with.