Make sure you save this post on eco-friendly and creative ways to use leftover Halloween pumpkins this season!

When Halloween is over,  your once-vibrant jack-o’-lantern is now a sad, shriveled husk. But don’t toss it in the trash just yet! Pumpkins are surprisingly versatile and can be repurposed in countless eco-friendly and creative ways. From DIY crafts to delicious recipes, there’s a pumpkin project for everyone.

Let’s explore some unique ideas to give your leftover pumpkins a second life. Even if you didn’t carve your pumpkins and just want to use them up before Christmas, these ideas are perfect for any pumpkin!

Eco-Friendly & Creative Ways to Use Leftover Halloween Pumpkins

Not only are these tips so creative and eco-friendly, they are also scientific! The science behind pumpkins is so fascinating. They are nutritious for humans, wild life, great for your skin, fun in the autumn, and the quintessential Halloween decor for your porch.

Why Should You Use Leftover Halloween Pumpkins?

Each season, we buy pumpkins to decorate our porches and homes. Once Halloween is over, they just sit there and rot. Especially if you have carved them.

I have been blessed that we can throw our pumpkins to the cows who eat them up! But if you don’t want to just throw them out, here is how you can reuse leftover pumpkins too.

The Chemistry Inside of Pumpkins

Pumpkins have a unique composition making them fantastic for many things. Pumpkin pulp is primarily composed of water, carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamins and minerals. Pumpkins are rich in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as minerals like potassium and iron. The bright orange color of pumpkins is due to the presence of beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage.

Pumpkin seeds are packed with essential fatty acids, protein, fiber, and minerals, so roasting them and eating them is a great snack!

Scientific Ways to Reuse Leftover Halloween Pumpkins

Don’t forget to join Chemistry Cachet on Instagram for great tips, videos, and stories. Be sure you turn on post notifications for us too so you don’t miss any content.

Now let’s check out these ideas:

Composting

Pumpkins are rich in organic matter and can significantly boost your compost pile.   Their high water content accelerates the decomposition process, so it is a quick compost addition. Don’t forget to remove seeds and strings before you add the pumpkin to your compost pile.  

Cows or Wildlife

If you have cows, they love pumpkins! We have fed them to our cows for decades. If you don’t have cows or livestock that like pumpkins, you can feed them to other wildlife.  Remember, don’t throw out pumpkins to animals if you have sprayed them with anything or painted them. 

Bird Food

Birds love pumpkin seeds and flesh, plus they provide essential vitamins and minerals for birds.   To prepare them for birds to eat, just cut the pumpkin into smaller pieces and place it in your bird feeder or yard. This article had some great tips for feeding leftover pumpkins to the birds!

Science Experiments

After you have used your carved pumpkins, you can also use them for a great science experiment. Create a classic experiment by filling a carved pumpkin with baking soda and vinegar.   You can also make Pumpkin oobleck which is a non-Newtonian fluid using pumpkin pulp, cornstarch, and water.   You can even make some slime by combining pumpkin puree, glue, and liquid starch to create a gooey, stretchy substance. This would require you to puree the inside, but worth it for a fun project! This tutorial is a good one for pumpkin slime. 

Gardening

Pumpkin pulp can be used as a natural soil amendment to improve soil structure and fertility. Pumpkins are comprised of 90% water and contain great nutrients for soil, but it also has a unique texture making it very helpful to the soil. If your pumpkin still has seeds in it, save the seeds and plant the next year! Make sure you lay them out on wax paper and let them dry over night before storing.

Food

Another fun project with leftover pumpkins is making your own puree. Make your own pumpkin puree for use in pies, breads, soups, and other recipes.   It is easy to do!

You can remove the seeds and roast them as well if you don’t want to save them for planting. Roasted pumpkin seeds are a healthy and delicious snack that can be seasoned with your favorite spices.   

By following these science-based methods, you can reduce waste and find creative ways to enjoy your leftover Halloween pumpkins.

Follow on Facebook | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Hometalk