Pumpkin rotting, need to process it now - any ideas with a long shelf life?
I bought 7 huge pumpkins from a gardener two weeks ago. The idea was to store them in the basement, and eat them as soup during the winter.
However, sadly, they have started to rot. (I asked a related gardening question here, it seems to be a fungus from the field.) I need to cut them up, remove the rotting parts, and do something with the good parts right now, otherwise they will be lost. I know no pumpkin-lovers to give them away to, so I would like to continue to store them somehow.
I have the possibility of putting them into cold storage at about 7°C (ca. 44°F). However, I fear that even there, they will go stale relatively quickly if I just cut them into pieces and do nothing further. I have very little space in the freezer, not nearly enough to take them all.
Is there anything I can do with the good pieces that lasts a long time either in cold storage, or (ideally) at room temperature? I'm open to everything, any kind of processing into whatever.
One thing I thought about was pesto - I've seen some very oily pumpkin pesto recipes that actually work with the pulp itself, not only the seeds like most recipes. I'm not sure about the resulting product's shelf life, though. Would the oil make it last longer?
Suggestions would be very welcome, as it would be a shame to let these beautiful vegetables go to waste.
Best Answer
I think once the outer skin is compromised, your room temperature storage options go out the window.
Your best bet is to puree the pumpkin pieces, and freeze it. Not ideal, I know, but if you don't want the pumpkin to go to waste, that's probably your option.
Pictures about "Pumpkin rotting, need to process it now - any ideas with a long shelf life?"
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After you've found the perfect pumpkin, keep these tips in mind:How do you keep the bottom of a pumpkin from rotting?
How to Prevent Pumpkin Rot on the VineWhat to do with old rotting pumpkins?
If your pumpkin is rotting, opt for just throwing it in your compost bin. Any sign of mold indicates that your pumpkin should be composted rather than repurposed, and the mold may be harmful to animals or plants if left outside in a garden.How do you store a rotten pumpkin?
Method 1Soak It in a Bleach Solution (The Winner!) A dunk in bleach is an easy and effective way to keep your carved pumpkins from molding for up to seven days. The sodium hypochlorite kills microorganisms that make pumpkins rot and dries out the pumpkin.This Pumpkin Decomposes in Epic Timelapse
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Answer 2
Other ideas instead of freezing:
- Do some pumpkin jam: I usually use 300-400g of sugar for 1Kg of pumpkin. Procede as for a normal jam, add the juice of a lemon (and zest if you wish) and a pinch of nutmeg.
- Candied pumpkin. This is a classic recipe from Southern Italy, used in many cakes (e.g. cassata siciliana). 1:1 pumpkin:sugar, and you procede as you would normally do for any candied fruit.
- Pumpkin chutney. I've done pumpkin/apple/vinegar and pumpkin/ginger/raisins (plus various spices of course, be creative!)
- I've seen recipes for pumpkin hummus, but never tried it myself.
Answer 3
I know this is late, but in case anyone else has the same problem in the future : pumpkin pickles.
There are plenty of recipies out there, but the important thing is that you want to make sure that the slices are thin enough that the heat during canning process will penetrate sufficiently into the pumpkin. The vinegar in the brine will allow them to be shelf stable.
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