What's the Difference Between a Pie Pumpkin and a Carving Pumpkin?

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Just like there are lots of different varieties of apples, there are lots of different varieties of pumpkins! Some types of pumpkins are best for cooking (like in pies!) and some are best for carving and decoration. So which is which, and why? Let’s find out!

What’s the Difference Between a Pie Pumpkin & a Carving Pumpkin?

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You’ll notice when you see pumpkins at the grocery store, the farmer’s market, or the pumpkin patch that pumpkins come in all different sizes and colors. Usually, the skin of a pie pumpkin is darker than the skin of a carving pumpkin, but that can vary a lot. Some pie pumpkins are deep orange, and some are “blonde” (very pale orange), and all the colors in between.

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Pie pumpkins tend to be smaller than carving pumpkins. But even within the group that we call “pie pumpkins” there are a lot of differences. Some are small (about the size of a softball), some are bigger (the size of a cantaloupe), and some are even bigger than that (the size of a large watermelon).

The biggest difference is what is inside the pumpkin. Carving pumpkins (or jack-o-lantern pumpkins) tend to have pale orange flesh, and not very much of it. That makes it easy to carve through the flesh and make your fancy designs.

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”.

If you’ve ever carved a pumpkin before, when you cleaned the seeds and strings out from inside the pumpkin you might have noticed that the pumpkin’s flesh was a bit stringy, too. Pie pumpkins have a more dense flesh that isn’t as stringy. It’s easier to scrape out in bigger chunks, rather than in stringy clumps like spaghetti squash.

Is a Pie Pumpkin the Same as a Sugar Pumpkin?

Yes. A sugar pumpkin is a type of pumpkin that tends to be small, dense, and a little sweeter than a carving pumpkin. These pumpkins are perfect for pies or other baking. There are other varieties of pumpkins (not called sugar pumpkins) that are also good for pies and baking. But most of what you’ll find in grocery stores are sugar pumpkins.

Can I Eat a Jack-o-Lantern Pumpkin?

Yes, you can! But it probably won’t taste as good.

You won’t get as much pumpkin out of one of a jack-o-lantern pumpkin as you would a pie pumpkin of the same size. And it will probably have a different flavor. Pie pumpkins tend to have a sweeter, richer flavor than a carving pumpkin. Carving pumpkins will likely have a sort of bland, maybe a little bitter flavor. If you’ve got the option, always choose a pie pumpkin over a carving pumpkin for baking.