Pumpkin Growers

[BeckyJane]

I grew pumpkins this year, and had a question about freezing them. Should I freeze them raw or is it better to cook them and run them through a blender.?I would like to save them for pumpkin pies this winter for hubby. Thanks

[Denninmi]

You definitely need to cook them first. I cut mine in half and bake in the oven or microwave, then scoop out the flesh into a collander and let it drain for a while to remove as much of the liquid as possible. Then, I freeze in bags or containers. When using, I let it thaw in the bags or microwave to thaw, then drain again -- I don't like all of that liquid, except in soups.

You can definitely blenderize then first if you wish for smoothness -- an immersion blender works best. I personally don't do it this way, because when I make pumpkin pie, I use an immersion blender to beat the filling -- same effect, just at a different stage.

Dennis
SE Michigan

[Pharmerphil]

we do like Dennis..sometimes, others (tima being a factor) we cut them into chunks (sometimes a hatchet is handy) Peel, blanch and freeze, leaving the final prep for a more convenient time

[Dramaqueen]

I grew pumpkins this year, and had a question about freezing them. Should I freeze them raw or is it better to cook them and run them through a blender.?I would like to save them for pumpkin pies this winter for hubby. Thanks



No, I have frozen all varieties of them and they are just fine once out of the fridge. Summer squashes are not tho, but wintersquashes or hard skin pumpkins freeze very well NON COOKED.

Denni I disagree. The winter squashes are very good when frozen raw peeled and deeseeded. I would chop them tho.

[Dramaqueen]

You definitely need to cook them first. I cut mine in half and bake in the oven or microwave, then scoop out the flesh into a collander and let it drain for a while to remove as much of the liquid as possible. Then, I freeze in bags or containers. When using, I let it thaw in the bags or microwave to thaw, then drain again -- I don't like all of that liquid, except in soups.

You can definitely blenderize then first if you wish for smoothness -- an immersion blender works best. I personally don't do it this way, because when I make pumpkin pie, I use an immersion blender to beat the filling -- same effect, just at a different stage.

Dennis
SE Michigan


What variety are you talking about? The pumpkins I have grown are hard tuff pumpkins with firm thick flesh and they freeze very well raw. ARe you freezing the halloween pumpkins? If so, those need some cooking as they are very water based

[BeckyJane]

They were called Connecticut Field.

[Longtail]

After discovering the Japanese pumkin, Tetsukabutu, which keeps for months, the heck with orange pumpkins for pie. The small sugar pie pumpkins are ok for pie as well as eating as any winter squash but those big thangs just dont cut it for me.