arrive. Before anyone knocks on your door, you start thinking about different ways to use this carved pumpkin after the night’s festivities — pumpkin pie, pumpkin bars, pumpkin soup. Can it be a decorationA carved pumpkin shouldn’t ever be eaten for food safety reasons.Buying a pumpkin, carving it, having it as a decoration and then turning it into food may seem like a good way to avoid food waste, but food safety should be considered to avoid any risks of food-borne illnesses.
ood systems and safety program team director at Clemson University. “The longer the pumpkin is at room temperature, the more pathogens that grow and can make someone sick if they were to eat the pumpkin.” “Often, we are not washing hands before carving, washing the pumpkin, carving them on clean food-safe surfaces or using clean equipment for carving,” Baker said.
Cooking a pumpkin isn’t a solution, either. “Depending on the pathogens, some may not be killed or may leave a toxin behind even if the pumpkin is cooked,” Baker explained.Don’t forget that there are other ways to decorate a pumpkin, whether painting it, using stickers, or other creative methods.