With Halloween just around the corner, there’s no doubt that the pumpkin reigns supreme during the month of october. It’s bright orange colors, it’s sweet taste and it’s versatility that allows it to be used in the kitchen as well as carved and placed on a the stoop secures it as the mascot of fall. But can you eat that pumpkin you left outside as a jack-o-lantern? Yair Ben-Dor has more.
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00:00 With Halloween just around the corner, there's no doubt that the pumpkin reigned supreme during
00:04 the month of October. Its bright orange colors, its sweet taste, and its versatility that allows
00:10 it to be used in the kitchen as well as carved and placed on the stoop secures it as the mascot
00:15 of fall. But can you eat the pumpkin you left outside as a jack-o'-lantern? According to
00:21 Tasting Table, while there are many different kinds of pumpkins out there, the ones that are
00:26 most often sold for Halloween festivities are called Howden pumpkins. Howden pumpkins are not
00:32 intended to be used for pies or soups, and the majority of them end up in the landfill after
00:38 being carved as jack-o'-lanterns and left outside. HuffPost reports having the pumpkin as a decoration
00:44 and then turning it into food may seem like a good way to avoid food waste, but food safety
00:49 should be considered to avoid any risks of foodborne illnesses. Pumpkins are a low-acid
00:55 veggie. Once cut and set at room temperature, pathogens that may be present will grow rapidly
01:00 on the flesh. So while you technically can eat the jack-o'-lantern pumpkin, it's not recommended. But
01:06 if you insist, the pumpkin should only be used as a lantern for a day so it doesn't start rotting
01:12 and decomposing, attracting nastiness and flies. Times may be tough, but food safety and your health
01:18 come before anything.