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Preserving jack-o-lanterns

pollinator

Posts: 2103

Location: Oakland, CA

posted 14 years ago

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With Halloween approaching, BoingBoing offered a link to an informal study of pumpkin preservation methods:

http://www.myscienceproject.org/pumpkin.html

To keep a carved pumpkin looking perfectly pristine for a few days, hairspray or a bleach solution might work.

But to keep one looking okay for as long as possible, it came down to a tie between a pricey commercial spray, and...nothing.

It seems just carving the pumpkin, and letting the cut surfaces heal and dry out a little, is the best strategy, of the ones they tried.

Interesting that they didn't try smoking them...

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Erica Wisner

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Posts: 1292

Location: Okanogan Highlands, Washington

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posted 14 years ago

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Interesting.

Since the main reason I want to preserve my Jack-o-lanterns is so that I can enjoy them on Halloween and then eat them afterwards, I don't think any of these sprays would work for me.

I usually just carve it a day or two before, and trim off the exposed areas before cooking.

Wonder if anyone's tried a hint of clove oil?

-Erica

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Joel Hollingsworth

pollinator

Posts: 2103

Location: Oakland, CA

posted 14 years ago

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Erica Wisner wrote:...the main reason I want to preserve my Jack-o-lanterns is so that I can enjoy them on Halloween and then eat them afterwards...Wonder if anyone's tried a hint of clove oil?

Great idea!

Cinnamon is also an anti-microbial agent. Maybe just using pumpkin pie spice would be the easiest & most direct. It would also give a nice fragrance, I imagine.

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