Looking at leftover Halloween pumpkins and wondering how to how to reuse carved pumpkins? Don’t throw out those Halloween pumpkins or used pumpkins for Thanksgiving decorations! Whether you’re wondering what to do with a whole pumpkin or a pumpkin that’s carved (old jack-o-lantern), you’ll find something on this pumpkin tip list — including fun kids activities!
How To Use Leftover Halloween Pumpkins (16+ Recycled Pumpkin Activities for Kids)
Wondering what to do with pumpkins after fall or pumpkin carving gone wrong, or what to do with leftover pumpkins after holidays?
What can you use leftover pumpkins for?
- Make a pumpkin fairy house
- Create a pumpkin bird feeder / mini pumpkin wildlife feeder
- Transform it into an awesome pumpkin sensory bin activity
- Create pumpkin art
- Make leftover Halloween pumpkin soup
- Feed pumpkins to animals
- Make pumpkin candles
- Compost pumpkins
- Make pickled pumpkin rinds
- Donate pumpkins to zoos, farms, or animal sanctuaries
- Bake pumpkin cookies
- Re- grow pumpkins
- Make pumpkin puree
- Freeze pumpkin for later
- Make pumpkin chili
- Hollow small pumpkins out for soup bowls
- Pickle the pumpkin rinds
- Bake pumpkin bread
- Make pumpkin hummus
So, if you’re wondering how do you get rid of old pumpkins, don’t throw them out! KEEP SCROLLING to see the full list of ways to use pumpkin leftovers below or Thanksgiving pumpkins (including answering can you eat carving pumpkins!).
A large quantity of pumpkins end up in landfills each year when there are so many other great ways to get rid of pumpkins after Halloween or Thanksgiving. Before you throw away used pumpkins, consider donating them, feeding them to wildlife, using them for food, or even allowing pumpkins to rot into the soil so the soil can benefit from pumpkin nutrients.
Can you eat Halloween pumpkins?
Yes, you can eat Halloween pumpkins the same way you would eat sugar pumpkins (aka: pie pumpkins). The flesh is just thinner than other pumpkins.
What can I do with leftover jack o lantern pumpkins?
Here are fun ideas to answer what to do with my pumpkins…
Best Ideas For What To Do With Pumpkins After Halloween – 16+ Things You Can Do With Pumpkins After Holidays
Eat your leftover Halloween pumpkins!
If your Halloween pump kin is mold-free and you haven’t painted it or sprayed it with anything, then it may still be good for eating!
(Definitely don’t throw out pumpkins if you haven’t even cut into them!)
What can I do with leftover gourds and pumpkins?
- Make pumpkin puree
- Make pumpkin soup or pumpkin chili
- Hollow small pumpkins out for soup bowls
- Bake pumpkin cookies
- Pickle the pumpkin rinds
- Make pumpkin ravioli
- Bake pumpkin bread
- Make pumpkin hummus
PUMPKIN TIP: Search online for carving pumpkin recipes or recipes for Halloween pumpkins / recipes for leftover Halloween pumpkin for more ideas on pumpkins food.
Can you eat a carving pumpkin?
You may be surprised that you can eat carving pumpkins that same way you can eat pie pumpkins or sweet pumpkins. The biggest difference you’ll notice is that pumpkins for carving have thinner flesh.
When you are carving pumpkins, save the flesh and the seeds for eating!
But… can you eat the pumpkins you carve?
Can I eat a pumpkin after carving?
Yes, you can eat a carved pumpkin as long as it doesn’t have any mold, preservatives, or paint. If you carved your jack-o-lantern just a few days before Halloween, it will probably still be good to eat (if it hasn’t been eaten by wildlife or infested with bugs). Rinse the pumpkin off (inside and out) before using for recipes.
Reusing your pumpkins for food is a great way to teach kids how to use something for more than one purpose!
Cooking with pumpkins is just one thing of what to do with Halloween pumpkins.
Here are other ideas for what can you do with leftover Halloween pumpkins or what to do with old Halloween pumpkins…
Roast leftover pumpkin seeds.
I mean, making roasted pumpkin seeds is a given, right?
If you’ve never eaten pumpkin seeds roasted, you’re in for a treat!
If you have pumpkins you haven’t carved, you need to open them up and (at the very least) take out the pumpkins seeds so you can eat them!
- Learn how to dry pumpkin seeds for eating
- How to make pumpkin seeds 4 ways
- Make dill pickle pumpkin seeds
FUN PUMPKIN SEEDS FLAVORINGS: Put different seasonings out and let kids create their own! Kids will love this recipe project!
Make a pumpkin fairy house.
This is one of my favorite ways to re-use Halloween pumpkins because it doesn’t matter if you have large or small pumpkins or if you have whole pumpkins or carved pumpkins from Halloween.
Use the pumpkin to make your own pumpkin fairy house by adding flowers, nature finds, and more to your pumpkin.
If you have a carved pumpkin, make the eyes windows and carve the mouth up into a door.
(Or, turn the pumpkin to the backside and carve the unused side for your fairy house.)
Such a fun way of reusing pumpkins!
LEARN HOW TO MAKE A PUMPKIN FAIRY HOUSE
Make a pumpkin craft bird feeder.
This is such an easy fall preschooler craft or group craft for kids, especially if you have a bunch of leftover mini pumpkins after Halloween or Thanksgiving.
Slice the top off and fill with bird seed and hang outside for wildlife.
If you’re wondering what to do with a bunch of mini pumpkins or what to do with small pumpkins, this is a great pumpkin project for kids for using pumpkin.
Another one of my favorite uses for pumpkins leftovers!
LEARN HOW TO MAKE A PUMPKIN BIRDFEEDER
Use leftover pumpkins for fall sensory play.
Wondering what to do with leftover pumpkins from Halloween for kids? Make a sensory activity!
Pumpkins are great for sensory play because they hit on so many senses!
They’re squishy and gooey and cold and hard and soft all at the same time.
Also, pumpkins are very fragrant so it touches on the sense of smell, too.
If you’re wondering what to do with pumpkin from Halloween, giving the pieces new life as a sensory bin is a great idea!
Let your kids play with the carved jack-o-lanterns with Little People or animal figures until they get to the point that you have to compost them.
If you have uncut pumpkins, put a plastic tablecloth on the table, get some kiddie aprons like this, cut open a pumpkin, place some scoopers, bowls, and play items (this would be a lot of fun!) on the table and let kids go to town.
Don’t stress about the mess, but bonus if it’s a nice fall day and you can do it outside.
After, leave the pumpkin, guts, and seeds for wildlife, compost the pumpkin pieces, or let them rot in your garden or yard.
MORE FALL FUN: GAMES TO PLAY WITH PUMPKINS
Make pumpkin art.
Whether you have a fresh pumpkin uncarved or a carved jackolantern pumpkin, let kids create art on them!
(It’s a great way to repurpose your pumpkin for as long as it lasts!)
Grab markers or fast drying paint sticks like this and let kids go to town making art on pumpkins!
IMPORTANT: Don’t feed painted pumpkins to wildlife or ingest pumpkins that are painted if you are wondering what to do with leftover pumpkins after Halloween that have been painted.
MORE FALL FUN FOR KIDS ACTIVITIES:
Fun Autumn Sensory Activity for Preschool
Use pumpkins that are leftover from Halloween for Thanksgiving decorations.
If you’re wondering what to do with big pumpkin that isn’t carved or you have a ton of leftover mini pumpkins, repurpose pumpkins for your Thanksgiving decor and Thanksgiving centerpieces.
As long as they’re not carved, poked, or cut, they’ll easily last through the Thanksgiving holiday.
Feed wildlife pumpkins.
This is one of my favorite ways to reuse pumpkins or gourds that haven’t been painted or sprayed and are still mold-free pumpkins!
Place your pumpkins under some trees where you see wildlife.
Squirrels, deer, fox, birds and more will enjoy the fall treat you’ve left for them!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Check your state laws for feeding wildlife. It is illegal to feed wildlife in some states. And, definitely only feed wildlife on your own property unless you have permission from the property owner.
Can squirrels eat pumpkin guts?
Yes, squirrels will eat pumpkin guts, seeds, and even pumpkin flesh and pumpkin rind.
Do deer eat pumpkin?
Yes. Some deer will eat pumpkin if you leave it in an area that you frequently see them.
You may be wondering do deer eat pumpkin seeds…
Will deer eat pumpkin seeds?
Yes, some deer will eat all of the pumpkin and especially seem to love the pumpkin guts filled with pumpkin seeds.
Can deer eat white pumpkins?
Yes, deer can eat white pumpkins the same that they can eat orange pumpkins.
Make pumpkins candles crafts.
Leftover mini pumpkins make fantastic candle holders!
This is even a fun fall craft for kids!
Cut a lid off the mini pumpkin and pour melted beeswax or candle wax into the pumpkin bowl.
Add a wick like this and allow to set.
Once set, light mini pumpkin as a candle!
(And, if you’re lucky, you’ll get a nice pumpkin smell!)
IMPORTANT: Do NOT feed to animals once your pumpkin candle is gone and/or starts to rot.
If you’re wondering what to do with small decorative pumpkins, these are fun ideas (and will bring a smile to people’s face!).
Make mini pumpkin vases.
If you have mini pumpkins that haven’t been cut, poke some holes in the top and place fall flowers in them.
Then, let kids give them to their favorite teachers, friends, or family members.
These also make great pumpkin place settings for Thanksgiving dinner.
Add a tag with the person’s name on the stem and let them know that they can take the pumpkin vase home after the event!
If you’re wondering what to do with decorative pumpkins, this is a good idea for them!
Make Thanksgiving Gratitude Pumpkins.
Ditch carving pumpkins for Thanksgiving. Instead, use any left over pumpkin to make a grateful pumpkin!
Provide a permanent marker and have everyone write something they are grateful for this year.
Then, use the pumpkin gratitudes as a centerpiece for your dinner at Thanksgiving!
Give pumpkins to farmers.
If you live in a rural area or near farmers or have an animal sanctuary near year, stop in and see if they can use your leftover pumpkins!
Farmers often feed pumpkins to pigs, chickens, goats, or cows for a sweet treat.
They sometimes also spread them over the fields as natural fertilizers.
Many farms and sanctuaries would be happy to have your healthy (non moldy) leftover pumpkins!
Can goats eat pumpkin seeds?
Yes, goats can eat pumpkins, and especially like the pumpkin pulp and seeds. Be sure to cut open your pumpkins so they can easily get to the guts.
Freeze pumpkin.
If you have pumpkins but don’t want to use them yet, freeze them!
Turn your whole pumpkins into pumpkin puree or bake the pumpkins and freeze the meat to use for dishes later.
Can I cut up fresh pumpkin and freeze it?
Yes! You can freeze fresh pumpkin, cooked pumpkin, and pumpkin puree. Peel and cut pumpkin into bite-sized pieces and place in a freezer bag or freezer safe container in a single layer to freeze.
Compost leftover pumpkin.
If you compost at your house, composting pumpkin is a great way to get rid of it in a way that will help you reuse it later in a different way.
This is also a great project to do with kids and talk to them about the environment, recycling, and reusing things.
Want to get into composting, but start slow? TRY ONE OF THESE.
Grow pumpkins for next year with them!
Do you have a yard or an overgrown area?
We have an area in our backyard under trees that doesn’t get mowed.
Since it has a ton of wildlife (especially bunnies and squirrels), we always put our leftover jackolanterns out there (and the seeds we don’t roast and the guts from the pumpkins).
The wildlife eats pumpkins out there, but some of it just decomposes and composts naturally.
This year we had pumpkin plants back there, just from leaving our pumpkins and seeds out there.
Donate pumpkins to your community.
Zoos, farmers, and more often put out a call for leftover pumpkins after Halloween or after Thanksgiving.
As long as your pumpkin doesn’t have paint, mold, or other items (like craft spray or glue), you may be able to donate pumpkins!
Search online for pumpkin donation near me or pumpkin drop off near me.
TIP: You can also search how to dispose of carved pumpkins [your city] or where to take pumpkins after Halloween in [your city]. Your area may have a special way to discard pumpkins.
If you’re wondering what happens to leftover pumpkins from pumpkin farms, many give them to these organizations! It’s one of the uses for leftover Halloween pumpkins that gives back to others!
As you can see, there’s no need to trash Halloween pumpkins carved!
We hoped this helped with what to do with Halloween pumpkin uncarved and what to do with jack o lantern after Halloween!
Did we miss something? Let us know your ideas for leftover Halloween pumpkins and gourds and we’ll add them to the list!
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