Do Pumpkins Go Bad?

Pumpkins are one of the most delicious vegetables. It is a giant veggie, and it is found almost in every part of the world. It is not only cooked, but it is also used for many purposes. The shelf life of pumpkins is not too short neither too long. So, it means that a time will come when the pumpkins would get spoiled.

You will have to make sure that you store your pumpkins if you want to keep them fresh. People who love to eat pumpkins buy them in large amounts, and then they are worried about their storage. This article briefly explains some facts related to the storage, going wrong, and shelf life of pumpkins.

How to Store Pumpkins?

Suppose you love a fruit or a vegetable, then who will never want it to go wrong. But it will only happen if you will take excellent care of it. Reasonable care means that you store it in an environment that is always suitable for the pumpkins. If you have bought a pumpkin in significant amount or you have used some amount of it and left with some, then you will have to store it so that it stays fresh for the rest of its life.

Some storage guidelines for storing pumpkins are briefly discussed below. I hope it will help you if you are finding any difficulty in storing the pumpkins.

Store in a calm and dark place

Pumpkins are giant, and they have a hard outermost covering. The covering protects the inner portion of the vegetable. Moreover, it also allows the pumpkin to stay fresh for a long time at room temperature. You can place it at room temperature for a month or two.

But a cool and dark place is more suitable for storing the pumpkins. You can place them in the pantry or on the countertop of your kitchen.

Store in the fridge

The pumpkins also come in cans. They can remain fresh for a long time at room temperature as well until they are opened. Once you will open the can of the pumpkins or cut some amount from the fresh one, you should store it in the fridge to extend shelf life and keep them fresh.

Store the open cans in the refrigerator to make them last for a bit long. The leftovers or the cut portion of the pumpkins can also stay fresh in the refrigerator for months. But before storing them in the fridge, cover the pumpkin with plastic wrap or pack in an airtight container to protect it from the smell of other foods stored in the fridge.

Store in freezer

The best place for the long-term storage of pumpkins is the freezer. The shelf life of pumpkins will extend very much in the freezer.

Can You Freeze Pumpkins?

To extend the shelf life of the pumpkins, either fresh or canned, you can choose a freezer for their storage. Pumpkins can last for so long in the freezer that you cannot ever imagine. You can place the whole fresh pumpkin in the freezer to extend its shelf life.

The canned pumpkins can also retain their peak quality and freshness for a long time. Before placing them in the freezer, pack them in an airtight container or freezer bags to protect them. Whole fresh pumpkin can last in the freezer for an indefinite period. At the same time, the canned pumpkin can last for almost six months in the freezer.

How Long Do Pumpkins Last?

If we talk about the life of the pumpkins, then by reading the above information and storage guidelines, it will be pretty clear to us that pumpkins are shelf-stable. Either they are canned or fresh. The shelf life of canned and fresh pumpkins is different from one another.

At an average temperature, fresh pumpkins can retain their freshness for almost three months. But the leftovers cannot stay fresh for this long. Then you will have to store them in the fridge. The refrigerator will extend the pumpkin’s life up to six months. But unopened canned pumpkins will stay fresh for a couple of years.

Similarly, a freezer will be an excellent option to extend the shelf life of fresh and canned pumpkins up to a couple of years. Defrosted pumpkins can only stay fresh for a couple of days if you do not store them back in the freezer.

How to Tell If Pumpkins Are Bad?

You can tell if the pumpkin is terrible or not by checking the spoilage signs. Fresh pumpkin has a pleasant smell, delicious taste, and bright color. But when the pumpkin starts to spoil, all these characteristics change themselves.

• If the pumpkin becomes soft with time and the liquid starts to leak from the bottom of the pumpkin, then it means that the veggie has gone wrong. Don’t use it.
• The appearance of mold on the surface of the pumpkin gives us a sign of spoilage.
• If it starts to smell bad, then through it immediately before it gets worst.

Sources

• Eat By Date
• Kitchen Sanity
• Leaf Tv