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6 ways to use your pumpkin after Halloween, from bird feeder to delicious doggy treats�
Millions of Americans trash their pumpkins after they serve their spooky purpose on Halloween, but there are other ways to discard them without adding to the landfill.
Halloween traditions like dressing up, haunted houses, and pumpkins are a yearly staple as October rolls around and the leaves turn orange. While the joyous holiday can pose safety risks for pets, it’s silly goofy fun for the whole family.
Only 20% of pumpkins are used after Halloween
Pumpkins might have started in South America, but their brilliant orangeness is a welcome treat worldwide when October 31 hits. Unfortunately, we tend to discard them by November 1.
As per a report from the UK, 17 million pumpkins are purchased each year and used for decorations, fall food treats, and fun games. Only 20% of those are used for anything else, illustrating our lack of care for autumn’s most iconic veggie.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Eating pumpkin is perhaps the most obvious use
They might make stunning decorations but pumpkins are actually hearty vegetables packed with fiber, beta-carotene, and vitamins A, C, and E.
Rather than scooping out the seeds and simply discarding them in the trash, give them a good rinse and chuck your favorite spices on them. Bake these in the oven for the perfect treat that is also anti-inflammatory.
The pulpy innards can be used as well, and your imagination is the only thing holding you back. The pulp could be used as the base in everything from soups to stews, curries to hummus. The sky is the limit. Even the pumpkin skin is an edible treat if you crisp it up in an oven or air fryer.
Pumpkin can make you more beautiful – sort of
If you don’t like the taste of pumpkin, or you’re simply full up on the latest Halloween treat, then you might consider slathering some of the veggies on your face.
Because they’re packed with antioxidants and enough vitamins to put your supplement regimen to shame, pumpkins make great additions to your skincare routine.
You could mash it up to create a facemask, include it in your next sugar scrub recipe, make a hair treatment, create a soothing body butter, and even lather it on your feet for an at-home spa treatment.
Your more beautiful self is just one Google search away.
Dogs love pumpkin too and they aren’t picky about scraps
The same nutrients that are good for you, including potassium and iron, are also amazing for your dog. The best part? They’re not fussy about how it’s served or presented.
The easiest way to infuse your dog’s diet with pumpkin for the next few weeks is to bake or boil it without the usual oil or seasoning. Add a scoop or two to your dog’s dinner, but be cautious as it’s high in calories for your furry companion.
Adding another use to your pumpkin is not as wasteful
Even if you don’t completely recycle your Halloween pumpkin, there are many ways to rinse a few more applications out of the orange vegetable.
Because it’s already hollowed out, pumpkins are easy enough to turn into birdfeeders. Fill it to the brim with bird-friendly treats like cereals and nuts, then throw it on your lawn and watch your feathered friends go crazy.
Most pumpkins can live for a few weeks past Halloween, and with Thanksgiving just a month away, you’re going to need a centerpiece for your food. With a bit of lipstick and some seasonal decor, your Halloween pumpkin will quickly become a major conversation starter.
In the spirit of Halloween, you could also use your pumpkin for all manner of witchy deeds as practitioners claim the vegetable possesses protection, fertility, abundance, and manifestation properties.
