I have a dumb question about making pumpkin pie...

[Disneyland1084]

Yesterday I made pumpkin pie from scratch, dough and everything for the first time. It was SO delicious! I'm a natural, what can I say? Anyway, I want to make it again for Thanksgiving from fresh pumpkins. With Halloween on the 31st, if I buy pumpkins then, will they still be fresh enough by Thanksgiving?

 

[tiggergal15]

Maybe...but you could always cook the pumpkins and freeze the mixture until you are ready to make the pies. Just make sure you purchase pie pumpkins. They are small and grown for cooking down to make pies. Jack o lanturn pumpkins are not for pies. - just in case you didn't know that already.....they are delicious fresh and worth the effort...enjoy!

 

[Disneyland1084]

Maybe...but you could always cook the pumpkins and freeze the mixture until you are ready to make the pies. Just make sure you purchase pie pumpkins. They are small and grown for cooking down to make pies. Jack o lanturn pumpkins are not for pies. - just in case you didn't know that already.....they are delicious fresh and worth the effort...enjoy!

I wasn't aware, thanks for the info.

 

[Malibustyle23]

Aren't they available in November still fresh or is there another reason you want to buy them so far ahead of time?

 

[Disneyland1084]

Aren't they available in November still fresh or is there another reason you want to buy them so far ahead of time?

I'm really not aware how far into November stores sell pumpkins. I thought they stopped selling them the day after Halloween, at least until they got rid of the inventory of them.

 

[ronandannette]

Maybe...but you could always cook the pumpkins and freeze the mixture until you are ready to make the pies. Just make sure you purchase pie pumpkins. They are small and grown for cooking down to make pies. Jack o lanturn pumpkins are not for pies. - just in case you didn't know that already.....they are delicious fresh and worth the effort...enjoy!

Well, I actually disagree - not that it's a bad thing to make your own puree from scratch, but honestly, your pie will NOT taste one bit different from a pie made with canned pumpkin. I'm not sure it would be any cheaper either. The last time I bought a pumpkin to carve it was about $.35/lb. Pie pumpkins cost many times that.

 

[Gigi22]

I'm really not aware how far into November stores sell pumpkins. I thought they stopped selling them the day after Halloween, at least until they got rid of the inventory of them.

Not sure how late in the year pie pumpkins would be available in your area. I am farther north than you are so I rarely see pie pumpkins as late as Halloween. I am going to buy one to cook in the microwave, purée it and freeze the pulp for pies.

 

[POOHsie]

Halloween pumpkins are NOT pie pumpkins. If you have a good farmer's market, you can find pie pumpkins. I agree that canned pumpkin is good to use. I would read the can labels and select the best reputable brand.

 

[GaryDis]

I agree that it's not worth the trouble to use fresh pumpkin. If you do buy canned, pay attention because there's a difference between canned pumpkin (which should be pure pumpkin, or possibly a bit of salt added) and canned pumpkin pie mix (which will have spices already added).

 

[ronandannette]

I agree that it's not worth the trouble to use fresh pumpkin. If you do buy canned, pay attention because there's a difference between canned pumpkin (which should be pure pumpkin, or possibly a bit of salt added) and canned pumpkin pie mix (which will have spices already added).

Good catch Gary - I guess probably not everybody already knows that! The pumpkin pie filling is disgusting.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I do this every year. I wait till the last week of October and buy my sugar pumpkins for thanksgiving.mine stay fresh till I use it

 

[tvguy]

Allegedly the growing season for pumpkins is September to March. I've never paid attention, but if they are in season, they should be available fresh at a well stocked grocery store. They are a Christmas staple, both as a food and a decoration.
http://seasonalrecipes.com/season/pumpkins.php

And they should be good in the fridge for 4 months.
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/in-season/in-season-pumpkin

 

[usnuzuloose]

Allegedly the growing season for pumpkins is September to March. I've never paid attention, but if they are in season, they should be available fresh at a well stocked grocery store. They are a Christmas staple, both as a food and a decoration.
http://seasonalrecipes.com/season/pumpkins.php

And they should be good in the fridge for 4 months.
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/in-season/in-season-pumpkin

I get mine from Apple Hill.

 

[mombrontrent]

If you can't find pie pumpkins try using a butternut or kabocha squash, these actally taste better then pumpkin

 

[tvguy]

I get mine from Apple Hill.

Great option, other than all the traffic to get there.

 

[tvguy]

If you can't find pie pumpkins try using a butternut or kabocha squash, these actally taste better then pumpkin

Or sweet potatoes. The cook at our Fraternity made the best pumpkin pie any of us ever ate.....then we noticed we never purchased pumpkin but sure bought a lot of sweet potatoes.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Or sweet potatoes. The cook at our Fraternity made the best pumpkin pie any of us ever ate.....then we noticed we never purchased pumpkin but sure bought a lot of sweet potatoes.

I have never tried sweet potato pie. Maybe one day.

 

[mombrontrent]

Or sweet potatoes. The cook at our Fraternity made the best pumpkin pie any of us ever ate.....then we noticed we never purchased pumpkin but sure bought a lot of sweet potatoes.

Kabocha squash tastes very similar to sweet potatoes, I love it!

 

[SmallWorld71]

My mom uses the 'sugar' pumpkins. She has no problems getting them after Halloween here. (MA) And, I disagree with PP. Soooo much better than canned pumpkin.

 

[mefordis]

Or sweet potatoes. The cook at our Fraternity made the best pumpkin pie any of us ever ate.....then we noticed we never purchased pumpkin but sure bought a lot of sweet potatoes.

My mom used to make sweet potato pie every year and IMO it tastes very little like pumpkin. The texture is thick and it just doesn't have the pumpkin taste.