Creative Ways to Use Leftover Pumpkins

Pumpkins are not just a scary face, they are delicious and good for us. Let’s all reduce our food waste this spooky season, by using up all the leftover pumpkins we have in this autumn with our recipes below. Be careful where you dispose of your pumpkins as they can make wildlife ill.

According to environmental charity Hubbub, a staggering 22.2 million leftover pumpkins are left uneaten and are expected go to waste on Halloween. That’s approximately £32.6 million worth of edible food.

As shocking as this seems, there’s plenty of ways you can put this nutritious veg to good use even after you’ve had some spooky fun – one of which is by eating it! Toasted, fried, pureed, the possibilities are endless. We can all do our part to cut down on food waste and what better way to save your pumpkin from the bins than by getting creative in the kitchen to use up your leftovers.

Pumpkin Recipes

Pumpkins are rich in vital vitamins and minerals and count as one of our five a day. An 80g portion of pumpkin (roughly 3 heaped tablespoons, diced and cooked) counts as one portion of your five-a-day. 

Pumpkin puree: The base of many recipes, doing it in the microwave is as simple as cutting the pumpkin it in half (no need to peel it) and sit cut-side up in the microwave. Cook for 20 mins, then check the flesh is soft by poking it with a fork. Keep cooking if you’d like it softer. Scoop the flesh into a bowl, then mash (or sieve if you want a consistent texture) and leave to cool.

Here are some delicious recipes for inspiration, check out some of our top leftover pumpkin recipe picks below:

• Pumpkin spiced latte
• Pumpkin hummus
• Pumpkin pancakes
• Pumpkin biryani
• Pumpkin pie
• Roasted pumpkin seeds

We’d love to see what you manage to cook up with your pumpkins. So please share your own pumpkin recipes or storage tips in the comments.

Composting Leftover Pumpkins

If you left with unappetising pumpkins, remember to dispose of them responsibly. Be careful as pumpkins can harm wildlife, including hedgehogs, and disturb woodland soils. Let’s protect nature this spooky season.

So despite popular online advice suggesting pumpkins are a treat for wildlife, experts say this well-meaning gesture can actually do more harm than good.

Pumpkins are not natural to the woodland and while some wildlife may enjoy a tasty snack it can make others, such as hedgehogs, very poorly. Kate Wollen, at Forestry England

Lets make the most of our pumpkins as many pumpkins end up in landfill, releasing the harmful greenhouse gas methane. Share your waste busting tips in the comments.

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