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Got Pumpkins? What To Do With Your Left-Over Pumpkins

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Realty 179530

GOT PUMPKINS YOU WANT TO DISPOSE OF?

 

PumpkinsMany of us have pumpkins we've been using for fall decorations around our homes that we are ready to dispose of. BUT, did you know that if you throw your left-over pumpkins into the trash when they end up in landfills and decompose they turn into methane, which is a harmful greenhouse gas?

 

“The pumpkin lies yellow, beneath the cold skies, it’s luscious and mellow, and ready for pies.” 

... Walt Mason, The Pumpkin

 

So if you have left-over pumpkins you want to dispose of, do it responsibly. Here are some ideas on how to do it:

 

  1. Cook or bake them. Pumpkins can be used in a variety of dishes, such as pies, cookies, muffins, bread, soups, and stews. You can also roast or grill pumpkin.   Check out 56 pumpkin recipes.

  2. Donate pumpkins to farms to feed them to animals. Pumpkins are a healthy and nutritious treat for animals such as pigs, cows, goats, and chickens. Places to donate your pumpkins to Charlotte area farms.

  3. Compost them. Pumpkins are a great source of nutrients for a compost pile. Cut them up into small pieces and add them to your compost bin. Pumpkins are 90% water and they will break down once you cut them so long as you move the seeds first.

  4. Donate pumpkins to a food bank or soup kitchen. Many food banks and soup kitchens accept donations of pumpkins. It's a great way to help those in need and reduce food waste.

  5. Turn them into seeds. Pumpkin seeds are a healthy and delicious snack. To save pumpkin seeds, simply scoop them out of the pumpkin, wash them, and roast them in the oven. Or scatter the seeds for birds, squirrels, deer that might be visiting you yard.

  6. Make pumpkin puree. Pumpkin puree is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many dishes. To make pumpkin puree, cook the pumpkin until it's tender, then mash it with a fork or potato masher.

  7. Freeze your pumpkins. Pumpkins can be frozen for up to three months. To freeze a pumpkin, simply cut it up into pieces and place it in a freezer-safe bag or container.

 

"When life gives you pumpkins, make pie.”

... Unknown

 

MAKE THE PERFECT PUMPKIN PIE: VIDEO

Posted by

 

 Nina Hollander, RE/MAX Broker, Realtor

 

 

 

Broker, Realtor, MBA, GRI, ABR, SRES, CDPE, SFR, SPS, CMRS
Carolinas Realty Partners with Coldwell Banker Realty
Direct: 704-779-0813
Website: www.GreatHomesInCharlotte.com
Blog: News You Can Use From The Greater Charlotte Area
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Disclaimer:  Nothing in this blog article is to be construed as legal advice, tax advice, or financial advice.  For legal advice see an attorney.   For tax advice or financial advice see a tax attorney, certified public accountant, or other qualified professional.

 

Show All Comments Sort:
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Associate Real Estate Broker

We haven't bought a pumpkin in years and by the time it as reedy to be thrown out it had wilted down to nothing.

Nov 16, 2023 05:48 PM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Those are seven great suggestions on what to do with leftover pumpkins and I have tried most of that Nina 🙂

Nov 16, 2023 07:52 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Nina Hollander, Broker  if this was a question to me the answer is easy I would cook them & bake them :) Endre

Nov 16, 2023 10:04 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty good morning, Pat... that is so cool for your neighbor to do this and I'm sure the farm animals are most appreciative.

Nov 17, 2023 04:25 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Jeff Dowler, CRS good morning, Jeff... the Charlotte Observer did an article on this issue of methane gas but it still wasn't widely distributed.

Nov 17, 2023 04:26 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Ed (Edward) Silva, 203-206-0754 Hi Ed... I've actually never purchased a pumpkin. But all around my neighborhood front porches are full of them come October. And that's true all over Charlotte. Hopefully, this post will reduce some of the incorrect disposal of these pumpkins.

Nov 17, 2023 04:28 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS good morning, Paul... then you are way ahead of the game compared with most people! Good for you!

Nov 17, 2023 04:28 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Endre Barath, Jr. good morning, Endre... of course, I knew what your answer would be!

Nov 17, 2023 04:29 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I have yet to be saddled with having to get rid of a pumpkin, but if I ever have to do so, I am going to come back here and review these suggestions, haha.

Nov 17, 2023 04:40 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Brian England LOL, Brian! Somehow, I don't see you participating in the cooking, baking, seed making activities if you did have a pumpkin to get rid of!

Nov 17, 2023 04:53 AM
Brian England

You are right about that, haha.

Nov 17, 2023 05:03 AM
Patricia Feager
Flower Mound, TX

Nina Hollander, Broker - What happens to pumpkins when they end up in the landfill is terrible! I don't buy or decorate with pumpkins but many people do! I will spread the word. 

Nov 17, 2023 06:05 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP hi Patricia... people just don't know about what happens to pumpkins in landfills. I'm not suggesting they stop buying them... just that they dispose of them in the right way.

Nov 17, 2023 06:18 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Nina, 

I showed a couple of pumpkins in my last post.   Because it gets relatively cool at night,  My pumpkins last as long as I want them around.  

Nov 17, 2023 11:39 AM
Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho
Sandpoint Realty LLC - Sandpoint, ID
North Idaho Real Estate - 208-255.6227

I have gone a different direction with my pumpkins, as with the Christmas Tree.  Plastic pumpkin.  While plastic a 'bad' word I use the same pumpkin year after year with no muss or fuss.  Christmas tree has started with MOM and I have uses for going on 20 years now.  So while 'plasitc' bad...years of use good.  m

Nov 17, 2023 11:53 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Sheri Sperry - MCNE® hi Sheri... we've had some very, very unseasonably warm days here in October and November... at some point those babies just have to "go."

Nov 17, 2023 12:13 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho hi Mark... I haven't had a "real" tree in 30+ years. But I've also had my fake trees "working" for me for decades... so I don't feel guilty about not having the real thing.

Nov 17, 2023 12:14 PM
Steffy Hristova
HomeSmart Elite Group Tempe AZ Tel: 602.710.8161 - Tempe, AZ
Tempe AZ Realtor - Your Home Close to Your Work!

Nina, these are great ideas - pumpkins are delicious in so many desserts and dishes. I didn't know pumpkins produced methane in landfills, now one more reason to find time to cook them.

Nov 17, 2023 02:26 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Steffy Hristova good morning, Steffy. It's not a well known fact...but I'm hoping that the word gets out and people are more careful about how they dispose of pumpkins.

Nov 18, 2023 05:03 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Nina, thanks for the call today, and hope Chris is better SOON!   Haven't bought a pumpkin for years, but did love to bake the seeds.

Nov 22, 2023 01:19 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Joan Cox thanks, Joan... and it was good to catch up. I can't see myself buying a pumpkin to bake the seeds. I'd rather just buy them. :)

Nov 22, 2023 01:51 PM