This is the best way to cut into a pumpkin before carving a jack-o-lantern for Halloween. It’s the easiest way to clean out a pumpkin AND the safest way to place a candle inside your jack-o-lantern. You won’t have to worry about the candle tipping over, and you won’t burn your wrist trying to light your pumpkin on Halloween night!
This pumpkin carving tip is so simple, but it will seriously change the way you carve your jack-o-lantern forever! The funny thing is, it’s so easy and obvious, you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of this awesome pumpkin carving hack sooner.
I’m all for taking short-cuts with my jack-o-lanterns. Take for example my favourite way to decorate a pumpkin when you don’t have time to carve one.
Check out my favourite Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipe too!
As for cutting into your pumpkin:
Let me ask you a question. When you carve your pumpkin, do you cut off the top of the pumpkin to get to the guts? Most people do, and it’s how I always did it until a few years ago, but there’s a much easier way!
A few years ago, it occurred to me to try something different, and it really is the best pumpkin carving tip ever!
For starters, it’s the easiest way to gut a pumpkin. It’s also the least messy way to carve a pumpkin because the guts pretty much come out in one fell swoop, but BEST of all, when you carve your pumpkin this way, it makes lighting the candle SO much easier.
Best Carving Tip Ever:
I cut off the BOTTOM of the pumpkin instead of the top!
That’s right, you cut off the BOTTOM. Seriously. Don’t you wish you’d thought of this years ago?
No more wrestling to get a lit candle down into the bottom of the pumpkin or struggling to light a candle that you’ve already placed inside!
Simply cut a hole in the bottom of your pumpkin, and remove that piece for good. Most of the guts will be pulled out with it, so you’ll only have to give your pumpkin a quick scrape on the inside.
Save your pumpkin seeds for roasting!
Don’t forget to save the seeds so you can make our delicious roasted pumpkin seeds with olive oil and sea salt!
Now, go ahead and carve your jack-o-lantern like you usually would.
And when it’s time to light your pumpkin:
Simply set your pumpkin over top of a lit candle!
Check out how we decorated our pumpkin this year! No scary faces here! I pulled out he power drill and a large bit, and riddled our pumpkin with holes. It was so fun and easy to do, and the results are so pretty!
What do you think?
This sure makes the whole pumpkin carving business a lot easier doesn’t it?
However, if you prefer a more traditional jack-o-lantern, Spaceships and Laser Beams has over 700 FREE carving stencils for you to get creative with! More than enough to get you and your entire family through a life-time of pumpkin carving!
More Helpful Home Hacks:
Homemade 3-Ingredient Laundry Detergent
30 Time-saving Hacks for the House and Home
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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
BaptismalGownsPlus
I love this idea! It looks like you don’t use the bottom of the pumpkin once it’s carved. Do you find that the pumpkin rots a little quicker since it’s sitting right on the ground? I am definitely doing this, but heard that ‘rinsing’ the inside of a pumpkin with a bleach/water solution preserved them a little longer. I look forward to your other posts!
happyhooligans
I didn’t notice a difference in how long the pumpkin lasted. I think it sat out front for quite a while after hallowe’en, and it was ok. I’ve heard about the bleach trick, but I’ve never tried it. I only ever carve mine the night before Hallowe’en, and I just figure once it starts to go soft, it’s time to pitch it in the compost bin.
JoD
Thanks for the idea. I did get this off google (where I unfortunately saw many more cut the bottom off tutorials). But if it makes you feel better, you’re right up there w/ Martha Stewart on the search results!
happyhooligans
Woot! Look out, Martha! Heehee!
carolinedeeley@hotmail.com
oooo I’m liking the spots! I’m not keen on monster faces (it scares my kiddies), but the spots are a fab idea!! Yeay 🙂
Theresa-Capri + 3
That is a great idea! It would make it so much easier to get the seeds and stuff out.
Denise McCullough
Years ago I read somewhere to coat your cuts and the inside of the pumpkin with Vaseline. With much skepticism I tried it and you know what, my pumpkins lasted from about 2 weeks before Halloween to January.
Jae
ok, THAT is genius… I’m gonna try that 🙂
Jenn
Love this idea! And, it allows you to still carry it by the stem (vs having to carry it by picking it up with both hands if you cut the top off to scoop out seeds), so little ones might still be able to carry it.
nogard0
i think the bottom could be used as a candle holder and not have light leaking out the bottom.
happyhooligans
Good thinking!
Cynthia
Another great add on to your polka dots is to fill the holes with different colored glass rocks or marbles. The colors light up and have an amazing effect.
happyhooligans
Oh, that’s a terrific idea, Cynthia! I have a bucket full of clear and coloured glass rocks! I’m on it!
Allison B
OK that is border line genius. I always mess up the top and can’t get it back on perfectly.
happyhooligans
Yep. It’s the simple things, isn’t it? 🙂
cassy
You have to cut the top at an angle in order to get it.on correctly, don’t cut just straight thru or the top will just fall in 😉
happyhooligans
I think you’ve misunderstood the article, Cassy. We’re cutting the bottom out of the pumpkin here. No falling in to worry about. 🙂
Sarah Yurga
My dad used to do this through the 80’s. In addition to being easier to get a candle in, if you have a pumpkin that doesn’t sit straight, you can take pieces off the bottom to straighten it out.
Jae
hey cool!
frannavaldez9399
Shut up!!! I’m so doing this this year!!
Sarah
Such an awesome simple solution! 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃
Lin Collins
simply excellent
Amber
I just use spaghetti to light from the top down, i like my pumpkin to stand while i get and carve. That looks a bit rolly….
Ruby Little
If you use a hacksaw or long knife you could cut it “flat” at the bottom, so that it doesn’t wobble and the light doesn’t peek out as easily. 🙂 You could also use a terracotta pot bottom to set it in, so that if it gets “nasty” at the bottom, it doesn’t get on your steps or porch (or other places) and still looks nice with the “holiday” theme.
Maz
Stabbing your pumpkin with a big Phillips screwdriver makes lovely twinkly star patterns 🙂 Samhain blessings to you all.
Joan
I have cut my pumpkins like for this years. It does work wonderfully and the pumpkin sits niece and even without rolling around.
Kim
I am so not a fan of gutting pumpkins…any method to make it easier is a winner in my book!
Ashley
Thank you so much. I never carved a pumpkin before in my life.. Am trying this! Next yr..
c
pushing a string of mini-lights into the pumpkin and plugging it into my porch outlet solves re-lighting wind blown candles. So much more effective with the opening in the bottom, no cord trailing down the outside of the pumpkin
Florafauna718
Are you just using an electric tea light? If you actually burn a candle, doesn’t it smoke and/or burn the top surface of the pumpkin? I’m smelling it already…
happyhooligans
We’ve never had a problem that way, Flora, but we use tea lights and not votives, so they’re really short. If you were going to use a taller candle, and were worried that it might be a problem, I would just cut a small triangle in the top of the pumpkin.
Jazmine Rae Canfield
Aloha, we just use the candle that has a battery so there is no flame to worry about.
I once saw a pumpkin carved like a coach. Big pretzels were used for wheels. What I don’t recall is what supported the pumpkin, maybe some metal rod through the lower part of the pumpkin? Any ideas? Jaz
Brandie
This is a great idea! It keeps the top looking nice. Only thing is, the inside doesn’t fall right out, you still have to scrape it