Here’s How To Keep Your Pumpkin Fresh For The Longest Time

We love Halloween here at 95.9 The Rat!  All parts of the holiday are just fantastic, including the family tradition of carving a spooky Jack-o-Lantern and lighting it up for the neighbors to enjoy every evening leading up to the big day of trick-or-treating.  But, how do you keep your pumpkin fresh and keep the squirrels away?  And is there a way to do it that is safe for animals if they do decide to take a nibble?

Good question!  Not using anything to preserve your Jack-o-Lantern is certainly an option.  To be honest with you, that's pretty much what I do.  I carve the pumpkin, save some seeds for roasting and let it sit out for the neighbors to enjoy.  But after a while it starts to decay, just like any kind of vegetable left outside for any amount of time.  Not protecting it surely is an option, but maybe you want to keep your pumpkin fresh.

The process of protecting your Jack is basically trying to keep the bacteria and fungus that exists in a natural environment away from your pumpkin creation.  If you're hoping to carve your pumpkin before you turn the calendar from September to October, you may want to consider protecting it.

The old way we knew of was to use bleach.  You'd just spray the pumpkin on the inside and outside with bleach/water solution and it would keep the Jack-o-Lantern fresh and keep the animals away.  Using straight bleach?  Yeah, that's gonna be bad for Sydney Squirrel.

Despite all this, if they did eat the pumpkin treated with bleach, they might get an upset tummy or worse.  There's conflicting reports on just how bad bleach is for the little animals of the forest who see your carving as dinner, not a scary Halloween decoration.  Some experts clearly think it's ok.

What's a Spooky Season fan to do to keep the pumpkin fresh and not possibly hurt the little animals in the forest?  Use vinegar.

The video below will take you through how to use vinegar to keep your pumpkin fresh looking.  In a nutshell just use a mixture of white vinegar and water.

According to the video, fill your sink with water and add one cup of white vinegar.  You can use your bathtub or a big plastic tub for a larger pumpkin.  Soak the pumpkin for at least ten minutes.  Once the pumpkin is soaked for ten minutes, let it air dry. They even add a tip to keep it fresh even longer:  That tip is, rub the pumpkin with Vaseline.

Halloween is the time of year when spookiness takes center stage, and creative costumes rule the streets. It’s also the day of the beloved tradition, trick-or-treating. Whether you're a kid dreaming of a candy jackpot or an adult admiring the neighborhood's costume creativity while handing out treats, it's a highlight of the year.

However, you'll always find that one neighbor who likes to shake things up by handing out something other than candy. It's not always a bad thing, though. Some people do it for a good reason, like considering kids with dietary restrictions. But if you're considering going outside the box, you should avoid certain trick-or-treat handouts.

Let's talk about the Halloween horrors, the stuff no one wants in their trick-or-treat bag. First on the list are those infamous toothbrushes or dental floss packs. Halloween is the one night a year when kids can indulge in a sugar frenzy, and suddenly, you're handed a dental hygiene product. It's like being told to eat your veggies at a birthday party. Then there are the homemade treats. While some homemade goodies can be delicious, receiving unlabeled, homemade treats can make even the bravest trick-or-treater think twice; also, most parent's won't feel comfortable with that and may dispose of them. All of your hard work will go to waste! Safety is paramount on Halloween, and unwrapped or unlabeled edibles can raise concerns.

Another item to avoid is pennies. They're not even worth the trip to the store, and they make you question if you've accidentally stumbled into a time machine back to the 1950s. If you’re going to give out money on Halloween, make it worthwhile if you can swing it. While Halloween is all about surprises, pennies are definitely not the kind of surprises anyone hopes for.

Take a look at some of the worst trick-or-treat handouts for Halloween.

Keychains are handy, but they're not exactly the kind of treasure kids hope to find in their candy haul. They want stuff that's sweet, not stuff for keys they don't have. Save yourself some money and pass on key chains.

We all know cleanliness is important, but getting soap, shampoo, or hand sanitizer in your treat bag on Halloween is not what kids look forward to. It's a treat, not a trip to the pharmacy. It's like getting socks for Christmas. While practical, it's not exactly exciting.

Coins may have been an acceptable treat decades ago, but nowadays, they're seen as disappointing. Kids prefer candy. Or maybe small toys (if they're exciting/cool enough). Unless, you're giving away the big bucks, steer clear of this one.

Healthy snacks are great, but Halloween is all about the sugar rush. Kids aren't exactly thrilled to find a mix of fruit and nuts in their bag. They're hoping for chocolates and gummies, not something they associate with after-school snacks.

Adults may appreciate coupons for discounts at local businesses, but they don't make for a fun Halloween treat for kids. Saving money is cool, but Halloween is all about instant gratification. And coupons for discounts don't really make the cut.

Halloween is not the time to distribute religious or informational materials. Kids are looking for fun and treats, not pamphlets. Consider giving those away another day that's not Halloween.

Halloween is all about the candy, right? So, if you toss a toothbrush or dental floss into a kid's stash of treats, you're basically inviting disappointment. Plus, it's safe to assume that the trick-or-treater already has a toothbrush. Do they truly need another one?

Throwing unwrapped candy into a plastic pumpkin? That's just asking for a sticky mess. Plus, it's not the cleanest option. And given the concerns these days, it's just another worry for parents who fear someone might mess with their child's candy.

Those fancy homemade snacks that look like they came straight from Pinterest can be cute, but if you don't really know the kids or their parents, they might wonder about your intentions. Sticking to pre-packaged treats is your best bet on Halloween, especially if you're trying to keep trick-or-treating simple and sanitary.