Fall is the most wonderful time of the year with beautiful pumpkins in different sizes and colors as far as the eye can see. What can we do with pumpkins besides decorate with them, we can EAT them! I will show you how to make, store, and use homemade pumpkin puree.

5 fantasy pumpkins on a wood table how to make, store, and use homemade pumpkin puree.

Use your favorite pumpkins to make your own pumpkin puree by easily roasting them in the oven. Roasting brings out the sweetness of the pumpkin meat. Then turn the pumpkin into a puree by using a hand blender. The beautiful shades of orange pumpkin are as delicious as they smell.

Recycling your pumpkins is a fantastic way to reduce food waste which totals millions of tons every year that end up in landfills. So many discarded pumpkins are edible. Why not roast your pumpkins and make your own homemade puree and roasted pumpkin seeds?

red door with pumpkins for how to make, store, and use homemade pumpkin puree.

The homemade puree is fresh and doesn’t contain additives that its store-bought counterparts have. It is a fantastic food to have on hand to use in a variety of ways. Hooray for pumpkin puree! Read on to learn more.

The History Of Making Pumpkin Puree

The history of homemade pumpkin puree is a wonderful piece of American history. It started with the Native Americans, who were the first to cultivate pumpkins. They used the pumpkins for a variety of purposes, including food, medicine, and decoration.

The first written mention of pumpkin puree was in a cookbook published in 1796. The recipe called for boiling the pumpkin until it was soft, then mashing it with a fork. Pumpkin puree became more popular in the 19th century when it was used to make pies, bread, and other desserts. It was also used as a filling for candied yams and other dishes.

Today, pumpkin puree is a popular ingredient in many different dishes. It is often used in pies, breads, muffins, and other baked goods. It is also used in soups, stews, and sauces.

If you are looking for a healthy and delicious ingredient to add to your cooking, pumpkin puree is a great option. It is easy to make and can be used in a variety of dishes.

Health Benefits Of Pumpkin (Superfood)

It is a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, E, and potassium.
It is a good source of fiber, which can help with digestion.
It is low in calories and fat.
It is a good source of antioxidants, which can help protect the body against damage from free radicals.
It may help improve heart health.
It may help protect against cancer.
It may help improve eye health.
It may help improve skin health.
It may help boost the immune system.
It may help with weight loss.
It is a versatile ingredient that can be enjoyed in many different ways.

What To Use Homemade Pumpkin Puree For

Use your homemade pumpkin puree for any of these ideas (it can easily be substituted for a canned pumpkin puree)

Soups and stews
Pasta sauces

cast iron with pumpkin puree in pasta sauce

Curries
Pumpkin butter
Pies and other desserts
Smoothies and shakes
Pumpkin pie filling

Coffee creamer
Pumpkin spice lattes
Pancakes and waffles
Oatmeal and yogurt
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Baby food
Pumpkin bread and muffins

Pumpkin soup
Dog food
Facial masks
Hand lotion
Natural dye

What Pumpkins Make The Best Puree

There are so many to choose from. Select a giant pumpkin or maybe several smaller pumpkins. Red, orange, yellow, green, and brown are just some of the colors you will find. I love to roast unique fantasy pumpkins after I have enjoyed them as decoration in the fall season.

4 pumpkins on a porch how to make, store, and use homemade pumpkin puree.

You can puree any type of pumpkin, but some pumpkins are better suited for pureeing than others. Some good options include:

Sugar pumpkins: These are small, sweet pumpkins that are perfect for pureeing.
Pie pumpkins: These are larger pumpkins that are also good for pureeing.
Acorn squash and Butternut squash: This type of squash is similar to a pumpkin and can be pureed as well.
Cinderella Pumpkins: They have mildly sweet meat and beautiful colored pumpkin flesh. (This is what I am using for this recipe)

When choosing a pumpkin for pureeing, make sure it is ripe. Avoid pumpkins that are soft or have any bruises.

Acorn
Baby Boo
Casper
Cinderella
Delicata
Fairytale
Gold Rush
Jarrahdale
Lumina
Sugar Pie Pumpkins
Waltham Butternut

These pumpkins are all safe to eat and can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as roasted, mashed, or made into pies.

Where To Buy The Best Pumpkins To Puree to Make Puree

You can buy pumpkins to puree at the following places:

Grocery store
Farmers markets
Online retailers
Specialty food stores
Pumpkin patches

When buying pumpkins to puree, look for ones that are ripe. Check for signs of spoilage and avoid pumpkins that are soft or have bruises.

Equipment Needed To Make Homemade Pumpkin Puree

Oven
Large cooking sheets with a rim
Sharp knife
Large bowl
Immersion Blender
Freezer bag or airtight container

Other options: hand potato masher, food processor, colander, and storage containers.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Puree

Pumpkins!

Instructions How To Make, Preserve & Store Homemade Pumpkin Puree

In just a few simple steps, you can make pure pumpkin puree free from additives and preservatives.

1. Select your pumpkins.

2. Slice the pumpkins in half and scoop out the seeds. Then cut in half again twice – into wedges.

halved pumpkin with scooped out seeds for how to make, store, and use homemade pumpkin puree.

3. Place the wedges cut side up onto a baking sheet.

4. Roast the pumpkin wedges in a 400-degree F oven for 30 -45 minutes.

5. The pumpkin is done when the skin has browned and the meat is fork tender.

cooked pumpkin wedges on baking sheet forhow to make, store, and use homemade pumpkin puree.

6. Let the pumpkin wedges cool for about five (5) minutes or until you can handle them.

7. Using a large spoon, scoop out the meat and place it into a large colander inside a large bowl to drain extra water.

pumpkin puree in a colander and in a metal

8. Place the strained pumpkin into a large bowl and blend it with an immersion blender until silky smooth (1-2 minutes)

immersion blender blending pumpkin puree for how to make, store, and use homemade pumpkin puree.

9. Enjoy!

how to make, store, and use homemade pumpkin puree. Big bowl of beautiful pumpkin puree

Notes:

Save the seeds to plant or roast!
Using a hand blender, work in an up-and-down motion to create a smooth texture. This appliance is one of my top 10 kitchen must haves.
Compost the pumpkin skin.
Oven times vary depending on the type of pumpkin and how big the pieces are.
Roasting the wedges cut side up allows some of the moisture to drain away.
Scoop out the meat while the pieces of pumpkin are still hot. At room temperature, the skins stick a little.
Placing the puree in a colander removes some of the liquid making a thicker puree.

Alternative Ways To Cook Pumpkins For Puree

Roast: Arrange wedges of pumpkin on a baking sheet and roast at 400 degrees until soft. (This method yields the best flavor in my opinion)
Boil: Place peeled cubes in water and boil over medium heat until fork tender.
Steam: Place peeled cubes of pumpkin in a steamer until soft.
Sautéed pumpkin: Heat some olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the pumpkin and cook for 5-10 minutes, or until softened.
Deep Fried: Cut into cubes, coat with flour, and place in a deep fryer at 350 degrees for 3-5 minutes.

Roasted pumpkin cubes on a cooking sheet

However you decide to cook a pumpkin, it can be easily stored in freezer-safe bags for later use in pumpkin puree recipes

How To Store Homemade Pumpkin Puree

hand measuring pumpkin puree for freezing

In the refrigerator: Store pumpkin puree in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
In the freezer: Store fresh pumpkin puree in airtight containers, freezer-safe containers, or freezer bags in the freezer for up to 6 months. Portion out amounts to use in your favorite recipes.
Fill ice cube trays with leftover pumpkin puree to quickly add to soups, and sauces, and use for baby food.
Dehydrating: Pumpkin puree can be dehydrated for long-term storage. Follow a safe dehydration recipe to ensure the safety of your dehydrated pumpkin puree.

Tips:

1. Squeeze any air out of the freezer bags to help prevent freezer burn.

2. If freezing, place in the back of the freezer for proper storage. Freezes well for one year.

3. Portion and label your storage containers. I make bags with either one cup of pumpkin or two cups of pumpkin.

There are many ways to use homemade puree from pumpkins that you roasted yourself! Just to name a few, pies, muffins, baby food, hummus, pumpkin spice coffee creamer, and creamy soups.

These muffins are from Sally’s Baking Addiction Blog and they are amazing! I added cardamom and pecans on top and used coconut oil for the fat, and pumpkin spice coffee creamer for the milk.

pumpkin muffins on a wire rack view from above

The pumpkin spice coffee creamer is a delicious recipe shared by Becky from Acre Homestead. I love to flavor my afternoon iced coffee drink with it.

Quart size mason jar with pumpkin spice coffee creamer

Wrapping Up How To Make, Preserve & Store Homemade Pumpkin Puree

Making your own homemade pumpkin puree is fun and rewarding, it is the best way to use pumpkins from decoration to food. It is also a great way to have pumpkin on hand year-round for all your favorite pumpkin recipes.

awesome table-scape with pumpkins and wheat for how to make, store, and use homemade pumpkin puree.

This puree can be used for both sweet and savory recipes! One of our favorite uses of pumpkin in the fall season besides pies and muffins is to add it to pasta sauce. It takes the tomato-based sauce to the next level (richer and thicker) just by adding about a cup of pureed pumpkin right into the sauce. The pumpkin flavor is so mild that no one will ever know they are eating all those extra vitamins.

Having homemade pumpkin puree on hand is a wonderful item not just for Fall baking, but for any time of the year. Inspire me with all the ways you use pumpkins.

Cheers,

Sarah

*Originally posted in November 2022*