Don’t be daunted by cutting up your pumpkin – it’s much easier than it looks! Follow this easy peasy step-by-step tutorial to learn how to cut a pumpkin into wedges, slices and cubes, as well as how to remove the skin. Plus get lots of easy pumpkin recipes!
How to cut a pumpkin for cooking – step-by-step
This quick and easy tutorial teaches you how to cut pumpkin wedges, pumpkin slices and pumpkin cubes, as well as how to easily remove the skin from your pumpkin – with step-by-step photos.
Step 1: Cut the pumpkin into wedges
Place your pumpkin on a large chopping board. Push the tip of a large knife into the centre of the pumpkin, just next to the stem, and cut straight down, right through the pumpkin.
Move the knife about 1/8 of the way round (depending on the size of your pumpkin) and repeat, so that you have a large wedge.
Repeat until you have 8 large wedges of roughly equal size. (If your pumpkin is very big, you may wish to cut it into 10 or even 12 large wedges).
Step 2: Remove the seeds
Use a large spoon to remove the seeds and stringy bits from each wedge.
If any of the stringy bits are particularly tough, use a sharp knife to cut them off.
You now have large wedges which you can roast in the oven to make roasted pumpkin wedges.
Or, if you need pumpkin slices or cubes, continue on to the next step.
Step 3: Cut the wedges into slices
Take one pumpkin wedge at a time, place it on the chopping board and cut into thick slices.
You now have large slices which you can also roast in the oven.
Or, if you need pumpkin cubes, continue on to the next step.
Step 4: Cut off the skin
Take one pumpkin slice at a time, place it flat-side down on the chopping board and use your knife to cut off the skin.
Step 5: Cut into cubes
Finally, take one pumpkin slice at a time and cut it into cubes.
You now have pumpkin cubes which you can use in pumpkin soups, stews, curries and pasta dishes.
How to store cut pumpkin…
Cut pumpkin is best used straight away, but you can store cut pumpkin in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can you freeze cut pumpkin?
You can freeze pumpkin, but freezing pumpkin will change the texture – it will become much softer once thawed. So only freeze pumpkin if this won’t be a problem. (For example if you are using it in a soup or pie recipe.)
Easy Pumpkin Recipes
Here are some easy peasy pumpkin recipes that you can use your cut pumpkin in:
- Leftover Chicken, Kale, Quinoa and Pumpkin Salad
- Roasted Pumpkin Hummus (Vegan)
- Bacon, Sage and Pumpkin Pasta
- Slow Cooked Beef and Pumpkin Chilli
- Spicy Pumpkin Soup (Vegan)
- Easy Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup (Vegan)
Easy Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup
How to cut a pumpkin for cooking – step-by-step
Equipment
- 1 Large chopping board
- 1 Large sharp knife
- 1 Dessert or serving spoon
Ingredients
- 1 Whole pumpkin
Instructions
Step 1: Cut the pumpkin into wedges
- Place your pumpkin on a large chopping board. Push the tip of a large knife into the centre of the pumpkin, just next to the stem, and cut straight down, right through the pumpkin.
- Move the knife about 1/8 of the way round (depending on the size of your pumpkin) and repeat, so that you have a large wedge.
- Repeat until you have 8 large wedges of roughly equal size. (If your pumpkin is very big, you may wish to cut it into 10 or even 12 large wedges).
Step 2: Remove the seeds
- Use a large metal spoon to remove the seeds and stringy bits from each wedge.
- If any of the stringy bits are particularly tough, use a sharp knife to cut them off.
- You now have large wedges which you can roast in the oven to make roasted pumpkin wedges.
- Or, if you need pumpkin slices or cubes, continue on to the next step.
Step 3: Cut the wedges into slices
- Take one pumpkin wedge at a time, place it on the chopping board and cut into thick slices.
- You now have large slices which you can also roast in the oven.
- Or, if you need pumpkin cubes, continue on to the next step.
Step 4: Cut off the skin
- Take one pumpkin slice at a time, place it flat-side down on the chopping board and use your knife to cut off the skin.
Step 5: Cut into cubes
- Finally, take one pumpkin slice at a time and cut it into cubes.
- You now have pumpkin cubes which you can use in pumpkin soups, stews, curries and pasta dishes.
Notes
- Suitable for freezing. (Freezing pumpkin will change the texture – it will become much softer once thawed, so only freeze pumpkin if this won’t be a problem.)
- Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
Pin Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup for later
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