5 tips and recipes on using pumpkins
Let's give them pumpkin to talk about
Today, we are talking all things PUMPKIN. Because when we think of autumn, we think of Halloween and pumpkins. A quick side note, did you know that pumpkins are actually fruits? Neither did we. Nonetheless, an iconic fruit of the season, we couldn't help but want to uncover how to use this produce up fully and sustainably.
Pumpkin spice, but not everything nice…
Did you know that there are over 1.3 BILLION pounds of pumpkin that end up in landfills each year? More than 15.8 million pumpkins go to waste over the Halloween period, uneaten and carved. That's equivalent to make at least 95 million meals. Although a fruit that's meant to be eaten, this waste is due to its role as a Jack o'Lantern that overshadows its consumption. But here's a glimpse of hope: carving pumpkins are edible! And this is our inspiration for today's Tuesday Tips.
Spreading some gourd news!
After learning about the sobering and wasteful facts about pumpkins, we were inspired to share some tips and zero-waste recipes to avoid discarding the fruit after the spooky season.
1. The smaller, the sweeter
Our first tip is probably the most crucial one since we want to avoid the single-use mentality regarding our beloved pumpkin. We thought it would be important to highlight how to pick your pumpkin because this will influence its taste when you eventually cook it instead of discarding it. Carving pumpkins are actually grown for size and not taste. So make sure when you are looking to purchase the fruit, you select smaller pumpkins as they are tastier and sweeter.
2. Pimp it out
Carving out a pumpkin is actually so difficult. We personally have definitely lost a few spoons trying to dig out the flesh and seeds. So save yourself the mess and avoid the stress, decorate it to skip the waste! Plus this way you get to keep your pumpkin fresher for longer.
3. Eat it
Following from the previous tips, it makes sense that our final tip goes without saying to encourage you to eat the pumpkin. Simple, right? You can eat everything from the pumpkin except the stalk. Keep reading to find out more about how to make zero-waste recipes with this delicious gourd.
Without further a do, here are 2 zero-waste pumpkin recipes:
1. Zero-waste roast pumpkin with chilli, thyme & garlic
If you are looking for a delicious and aromatic filled dish, then this one is for you. Combining textures and flavours, follow this recipe to provide the best company for your meals.
2. Zero-waste pumpkin soup
It's almost soup season. When the temperatures are starting to fall like the season, why not make a hearty (and zero-waste) pumpkin soup to keep you feeling warm and fuzzy on the inside?
For more zero-waste pumpkin recipes, check out this amazing blog that walks you through each parts of the pumpkin and how you can be creative with them.
