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Velvet Digest

What type of pumpkin is best for pie?

Author

Ethan Hayes

Updated on April 29, 2026

Compared to carving pumpkins, pie pumpkins, aka sugar pumpkins, are smaller and easier to bake:
  1. Small and round.
  2. Normally found in the grocery store or at farm stands.
  3. Full of flesh that's good for cooking.
  4. Pulpy, sweeter flesh on the inside.

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Likewise, what kind of pumpkin do you use for pie?

The best pumpkin pie recipe calls for the sweetest, densest winter squash. Usually, they're cucurbita moschata or cucurbita maxima, as the pepo species is often too mild and watery. Grow buttercup or Musque de Provence within your garden or purchase butternut at the grocery store.

which pumpkin is best for baking? Butternut pumpkin: This buff-coloured, pearshaped pumpkin has dense, dry, sweet-tasting flesh, making it the most versatile type for cooking.

Similarly one may ask, can I use any pumpkin for pie?

2 Answers. You may use all sorts of pumpkins and squashes (a Cucurbita moschata or Cucurbita pepo may be called either, depending on variety) to make a pie. The Halloween types may not be the best choice: they tend to be stringy, not very sweet, and sometimes over treated with pesticides.

How can you tell a pie pumpkin?

Pie pumpkins have a darker orange flesh. The flesh of a pie pumpkin is also quite thick. When you pick up a pie pumpkin, it should feel heavy for the size, but a carving pumpkin should “look” about as heavy as it “feels”.

Related Question Answers

Are Cinderella pumpkins edible?

Cinderella (Rouge, Rouge Vif d'Estampes): Cinderella pumpkins have become increasingly popular in recent years because of their shape, bright color, and enchanting name. Shape: flattened, yet rounded. Ribbed: Deeply. Edible: Semi-sweet, moist, and good for pies.

What's the difference between a jack o lantern and a pumpkin?

Jack-o'-lantern pumpkins have a thinner shell and typically have less flesh (or pumpkin guts) on the inside. The flesh is grainier and stringy. The inside of a carving pumpkin tends to contain more water than pie pumpkins.

How do you prepare a pumpkin for cooking?

Cut the pumpkin halves into smaller pieces, then place the pieces skin-side up in a shallow baking dish with a lid. Add water to just cover the bottom of the dish, and cover tightly. Bake in a 325ºF (165°C) oven for about 1 hour, or until the pumpkin is fork tender.

Are pumpkin pies made with pumpkin?

Pumpkin pie is a dessert pie with a spiced, pumpkin-based custard filling. The pumpkin is a symbol of harvest time, and pumpkin pie is often eaten during the fall and early winter. The pie is often made from canned pumpkin or packaged pumpkin pie filling (spices included), mainly from varieties of Cucurbita moschata.

Are white pumpkins good for pie?

The flesh inside a white pumpkin is edible. White pumpkin can be substituted for orange pumpkin in many recipes, whether you're baking white pumpkin pie or concocting a pumpkin soup. The satiny texture and sweet pumpkin taste of the Lumina variety is excellent for baking.

Where can I buy Cinderella pumpkins?

In 1883, W. Atlee Burpee purchased the seeds and introduced the variety to the United States where it is now known as the Cinderella pumpkin. Today Cinderella pumpkins can be found at specialty grocers and farmers markets in Europe, the United States, Asia, and Australia.

Can you cook carving pumpkins?

Although typical large carving pumpkins can taste awful, they are edible. It is always best to use "cooking pumpkins" when selecting a pumpkin which you intend to eat. If you are carving it for Halloween before eating, wash it before you cut into it and rinse it again after displaying.

How do you make pumpkin pie from scratch from real pumpkin?

Directions
  1. Cut pumpkin in half lengthwise; discard seeds. Place cut side down in a microwave-safe dish; add 1 in.
  2. Meanwhile, roll out pastry to fit a 9-in.
  3. Drain pumpkin.
  4. In large bowl, combine the mashed pumpkin, eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves; beat until smooth.
  5. Bake at 425° for 15 minutes.

What can you do with stringy pumpkin guts?

Put the pumpkin chunks in the oven with a little water and bake for about 90 minutes or until tender, then purée until smooth. Separate the stringy "slime" from the seeds and purée the "slime," too. That should make plenty of pumpkin purée to use just as you would the canned stuff called for in some recipes.

What is a sugar pumpkin substitute?

So, if your recipe calls for pumpkin but you do not have any in your kitchen, you can substitute other winter squash varieties, measure for measure. Good choices are acorn squash, hubbard squash, butternut squash, buttercup squash or calabaza. Sweet potatoes are also a good option as a substitute for pumpkin.

What part of the pumpkin is pumpkin pie made from?

To make pumpkin pie straight from a pumpkin, start by cutting a round cap out of the top of the pumpkin and then scooping out the stringy insides and seeds. Then, cut the remaining pumpkin shell into small cubes or slices and boil them over medium heat until they're soft.

Can you eat raw pumpkin?

Raw pumpkin has a hearty, rich flavor that makes it a good stand-alone snack or side dish. One of the best ways to eat pumpkin is to slice it into cubes, but you can also eat raw canned pumpkin. However, so you don't tire of it, you can add other ingredients without sabotaging its nutritional value.

Can you eat the skin of the pumpkin?

Technically, the skin of nearly all pumpkin and squash varieties is edible; however, some varieties' skins are simply too tough and take too long to soften when cooking, resulting in the flesh being ready well before the skin. Therefore, it is recommended to remove the rind of certain varieties prior to cooking.

What are different types of pumpkins?

There are five common species of Cucurbita: ficifolia (chilacayote squash and Malabar gourd), maxima (Hubbard, 'Lakota,' buttercup, and winter squashes), mixta (cushaw squash), moschata ('Shakertown Field' and 'Long Island Cheese' pumpkins), and pepo (jack-o'-lantern varieties, delicata squashes, ornamental gourds).

What type of pumpkin do I have?

Choose pumpkins that are 3-6 pounds in weight, and have names like Sugar Pie, New England Pie or Baby Pam Pumpkin. Look for a pumpkin with 1-2 inches of stem. If it's green, even better—that means your pumpkin is super fresh. The shape of the pumpkin is unimportant, but it should be free of blemishes and soft spots.

How long do pumpkins last?

8 to 12 weeks

How long does a pumpkin take to cook?

Method 2: Boil: Halve and peel pumpkin, then cut the flesh into uniform cubes and boil until tender, 15 to 30 minutes, depending on size of cubes.

Can you use a large pumpkin for baking?

Those large, showing pumpkins are full of water. Yes, you can cook up the flesh, make soup, breads, and cookies. But if you want to make pie or any other recipe that calls for canned pumpkin, then you must get rid of a large amount of liquid. (Note the picture with the whole collapsed pumpkin after baking.)

What is a jarrahdale pumpkin?

The Jarrahdale pumpkin (or cucurbita maxima) is actually a member of the squash family. Its skin is a cold shade of grey/blue that's contrasted beautifully by the golden flesh. Native to Australia, the Jarrahdale is a cross between the Blue Hubbard and Cinderella pumpkins.