11 Recipes to Use Up Leftover Pumpkin Purée (2024)

FAQs

Can pumpkin puree be frozen for later use? ›

Pumpkin puree freezes beautifully without any change in texture or flavor after thawing. Stash the leftovers in an airtight freezer bag, or, if you'd like to pre-portion it, ladle ½ cup scoops into a muffin tin or 1 tablespoon mounds into an ice cube tray.

If you have already opened the can of pumpkin puree, it will last three to four days in the refrigerator, per the USDA's guidelines. Before refrigerating any leftover pumpkin puree, transfer it to an airtight container. You can also freeze the pumpkin puree if you're looking to use it later.

Yes, you can use that stringy slimy stuff in the middle of the pumpkin: put it in a pan with plenty of water, and boil it to make a thin broth. Strain the broth, then mix it with apple or orange juice and mulling spices for an aromatic autumnal warmer.

Make chili, pumpkin plays really well with spicy heat so add some pureé to your chili base. Same for stews, brings earthy sweetness. Combine it with batter and make bread, or muffins, or pancakes. Whip it with some kind of dairy like yoghurt or cream and make a whipped topping for deserts.

Keep leftover pumpkin puree and canned pumpkin in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It'll keep there for a week. If you don't think you can use up your pumpkin within that time, you can freeze it for up to a year. Seal it up in a zip-top freezer bag (be sure to label it) and toss it into the freezer.

Yes, unopened canned pumpkin puree does go bad eventually.

It should be stored in a cool, dry place.

Pumpkin contains vitamins like A, C, and E, as well as minerals like iron and potassium. Feeding plain canned pumpkin gives a great boost to your dog's nutrition. Great for digestion. Due to its high soluble fiber content, pumpkin is very good for your dog's digestion.

Usually, it is recommended that you give your dog about one to four tablespoons of canned pumpkin a day. This amount of pumpkin varies with the size of dog. Therefore, small dogs usually need less than big dogs. It also can depend on why you are giving your dog canned pumpkin.

Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.

If the purée is a bit watery, cook in a saucepan over medium heat until some of the moisture has evaporated. Let cool, then portion into freezer bags or containers and freeze. The purée can be defrosted quickly in the microwave or by placing the frozen bag or container into a bowl of hot (but not boiling) water.

Can you freeze pumpkin puree in mason jars? ›

Freezing pumpkin puree in mason jars. You may be concerned about freezing in jars that are not labeled as freezer safe but I assure you that it can be done. The key to avoiding breakage is it to be sure to leave enough headspace in the jar (at least an inch) to allow the liquid to expand as it freezes.

Spoiler alert – it's a trick question! The correct answer is that ALL parts of the pumpkin are edible (although you wouldn't want to eat the dried stem – yuck!). Pumpkins are in the squash family, called “Cucurbits,” and all parts of all squash are edible – leaves, vines, fruit, seeds, skin and roots!

Illinois harvests the largest share of pumpkin acreage among all States and an even larger share of processing acres.

While all pumpkins are edible, some are great as food, and some are better suited for other purposes. The jack-o'-lantern pumpkin is a great example.

Fresh pumpkin puree stored in an airtight container can last for about a week. Canned puree leftovers should be put into an airtight container and will last for about 5 days. To extend the shelf life, the easiest way is to have the puree in an airtight container and frozen.

If you are unable to put the pumpkin in your own backyard or a wooden area, check your local farm or wildlife preserves to see if you can donate the pumpkin. Forbes says that you can donate the leftover gourd to a local community garden, zoo, or farm as a compost ingredient or animal feed.

Pumpkin puree is made from the cooked insides of the squash—the good, soft, sweet parts—that can be used in a wide range of recipes, sweet, savory, baked, boiled, and more.