For some people, Halloween is a state of mind. If they could, they would have their Halloween decorations up all year round. Of course, you can’t have Halloween without the traditional jack o’lanterns. The simple shapes of the traditional jack-o’-lanterns might seem easy at first glance, but if you’ve ever tried to carve one, then you probably know that it’s a lot harder than it looks. Luckily, if you follow the instructions below, you’ll finally be able to carve a perfect jack o’ lantern.
How to Carve a Perfect Jack-O’-Lantern
Creating the perfect jack-o’-lantern takes more than just a pumpkin. You’ll also need the right tools to carve that perfectly ghoulish, grinning face. Luckily, we have easy to follow steps that will turn you into an expert pumpkin carver.
Materials
You can’t carve a jack-o’-lantern without the proper tools. To create the perfect jack-o’-lantern, you will need:
- A pumpkin
- Large spoon or ice cream scooper
- A medium knife
- A small serrated knife
- A medium bowl
- Newspaper or tarp
- Dry erase marker
- Candle
- Masking tape
Finding the Perfect Pumpkin
The first step in creating a perfect jack-o’-lantern is to choose the perfect pumpkin. Though technically any pumpkin will do, it’s best to be a bit picky and find one that is high-quality. Below are a few tips to help you find the perfect pumpkin:
- Look for soft spots and cuts. Make sure to check all parts of the pumpkin as these are signs that the fruit is rotten.
- Check out the stem and make sure that it is at least two inches wide and nice and green. Both are good indicators that the pumpkin is fresh.
- Get a pumpkin that is orange throughout. Avoid green or brown spots as this indicates that the pumpkin is either under- or over-ripe. This will make the pumpkin harder to carve.
- Carefully inspect the area around the stem for discoloration. Discoloration and dull spots are signs of frostbite.
- Don’t avoid odd-shaped pumpkins. While it’s always nice to get that perfectly round pumpkin, sometimes the strange shapes can give your jack-o’-lantern more character.
- Don’t carry the pumpkin by the stem! It might seem sturdy, but it’s not a handle. The last thing you want to do is find the perfect pumpkin and then accidentally drop it.
These tips will not only help you find a high-quality pumpkin that will last longer throughout the season but also ensure that your carvings look great.
Preparing Your Pumpkin
Once you have your pumpkin, it’s time to prepare it. However, you don’t want to carve it too early. Wait a few days before you plan on displaying it. Otherwise, your pumpkin will start rotting and caving in. If you want to keep your house festive for as long as possible, buy several backup pumpkins to carve later in the month.
Now onto the preparation! If your pumpkin is dirty, wash it with some warm water and soap. Next, lay down newspaper or some tarp in the room you plan on carving. You should choose a room with linoleum or concrete flooring as it will be easier to clean than carpet. Better yet, carve outdoors! Make sure to set all of the materials out in one place so you can finish carving in one sitting.
Carving the Pumpkin
Once you have your workstation set up, it’s time to start carving! The most important thing is to take it slow. Not only will you get better results, but you’ll also avoid accidents. Follow these steps to get a great jack-o’-lantern:
- With your medium knife, cut around the pumpkin's stem at a 45-degree angle or cut a hole at the bottom.
- Scrape out the insides with a spoon or ice cream scooper. Set aside the pumpkin seeds as you can cook them up into tasty snacks.
- Draw your own design on paper or find a template online that you can print out. Once you’ve found the design you like, tape it to the pumpkin.
- Use your small serrated knife to cut out the design. Position your knife at a perpendicular angle along the chosen design and use a sawing motion to carve out each shape. Remove any loose pieces of pumpkin and throw them out.
- Clean up your edges
- Insert a candle inside your newly minted jack-o’-lantern and then proudly display it on your porch or windowsill!
Conclusion
Making the perfect jack-o’-lantern doesn’t require amazing artistic abilities, but it does require a bit of time and some planning. With that said, it’s getting much easier to make awesome carved pumpkins as there are dozens of different design templates you can download and print online. If you don’t want to use your cooking knives, there are dedicated pumpkin carving sets available to buy. These specific sets are safe for kids so the whole family can make their own jack-o’-lanterns. No matter what you use, carving jack o’lanterns is a timeless and fun way to celebrate the spooky Halloween season.