11 Pumpkin Carving Mistakes That Are Shortening the Lifespan of Your Jack-o'-Lantern

As soon as the leaves start to fall and that pumpkin spice aroma starts to drift through the air, it’s hard to resist the temptation to rush ahead and carve your pumpkin. But jack-o'-lanterns don’t last forever, and, if you carve your pumpkin too early, you could end up with a mushy, moldy mess by the time trick-or-treaters show up on your doorstep.

And while you can’t carve your pumpkin a month ahead of time, there are tips and tricks you can use to avoid the pumpkin carving mistakes that will send your masterpiece to an early—and not so festive—graveyard. We spoke with pumpkin carving experts to figure out which things you shouldn't do.

Storing Your Uncarved Pumpkin in the Sun

Suzy Mink, a fundraiser by day who moonlights as an expert pumpkin carver, has tackled everything from political figures to celebrities. This year, she says, "I’ll create a line-up of wonderful people we have lost recently, and I might try a carving from Notre Dame in Paris." That means she buys pumpkins in bulk, and she’s discovered there’s a method to keep the pre-carved pumpkins from going bad before a cut is made.

"Uncarved pumpkins left on hard and unbreathable surfaces, like stone or brick, may rot faster when exposed to the elements," says Mink. "I keep the pumpkins outdoors in the shade on an old open-ironwork table."

Selecting the Wrong Pumpkin

If you buy a pumpkin that’s already on its way out, then it won’t be long before it meets an untimely fate. "The pumpkins you select also have a lot to do with how your jack-o'-lantern will turn out. Steer clear of pumpkins with bruises or soft spots," says Will Hunt Lewis, founder of Hunt & Bloom. "Intact stems are a surefire sign your pumpkin is fresh and will last until Halloween."

Forgetting to Clean Your Pumpkin

"Clean the pumpkins once you bring them home! This will help make them last longer and they will be prettier as well," says Chantelle Malarkey, lifestyle expert and interior designer. If you don’t clean it, you could leave harmful bacteria on the surface that will speed up the decomposition process once you begin carving.

Ideally, wash your pumpkin with soap and water. Let it dry before you grab the knife.

Skipping the Bleach Soak

This sounds like a commitment, but it’s a quick step that will make a huge impact on your jack-o'-lantern’s lifespan. Once you’ve washed your pumpkin, fill a bucket with water and a few teaspoons of bleach. Put on rubber gloves and dunk your pumpkin completely. Hold it there for two minutes. Take it out, let it dry, and you’ve now given it an extra boost in fighting off the bacteria and microorganisms that will try to take it down once it’s carved.

Going In Without a Plan

The more cuts, the more likely your pumpkin will rot faster. That’s why it’s critical to know what ghastly ghoul or clever character you plan on carving into your pumpkin. 

Malarkey warns carvers to go in with a precise map of how they’re going to wield their carving tools to create the perfect pumpkins. "Start with a plan of attack! The cuts of carving a pumpkin have to be so intentional that if you just wing it there is much more room for error," says Malarkey. 

Getting Too Ambitious

If you attempt an overly complicated design or pattern, then you could end up with a flurry of unsuccessful cuts that will weaken the pumpkin and lead it to rot faster. "We all would love to perfectly carve out Dolly Parton's face into this year's jack-o'-lantern, having her aglow to greet swarms of trick-or-treaters, but for the vast majority, this is an unachievable feat," says Lewis.

Instead, he advises using a simple stencil or opting for the iconic jack-o'-lantern smile. 

Not Making Cuts at an Angle

"If you make the top of a pumpkin’s cut straight on, the top will fall in the hole. To avoid this, cut at an inward angle so the top has more pumpkin surface to rest on," says Malarkey. This will give your pumpkin top a snug fit, which will help the pumpkin stay fresh for longer.

If you can, avoiding cutting off the top completely can help your carved pumpkin last even longer.

Leaving Seeds and Flesh Inside the Pumpkin

Don’t put away that scooper just yet. You want to clean out the pumpkin’s insides entirely, leaving only its shell and hard flesh behind. This sounds like a direction out of a horror movie, but it’s necessary to prevent bacteria from growing and taking down your carefully carved pumpkin.

Neglecting to Petroleum Jelly Your Pumpkin

Think about caring for your pumpkin as you would a baby or a pet, and that means making sure it stays hydrated and healthy. How do you do that? By rubbing petroleum jelly wherever you made cuts. That keeps the pumpkin from drying out and wrinkling and helps it maintain its strong, solid appearance.

Leaving Them Out Until Halloween

This is a tip for those who take their jack-o'-lanterns seriously. "Space permitting, I will cover a carved pumpkin in a wet paper towel and a plastic bag and refrigerate. If left untouched, the pumpkin will last a week or more," Mink says.

If your pumpkin-carving party is a few days ahead of Halloween, try this tip to have the freshest pumpkin when trick-or-treaters show up.

Using Real Candles

There’s nothing more festive than a lit pumpkin greeting children and friends alike as they make their way down your spooky sidewalk. But in reality, that candle is the enemy of the jack-o'-lantern. It creates heat, which will expedite decomposition and turn your pumpkin into a shadow of its former self. "LED lights are better for the pumpkin as they create less heat than candles, thus preserving the pumpkin," says Mink.