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A Good Housekeeping report outlines pumpkin-carving advice from Michael Natiello, creative director of The Great Jack-o’-Lantern Blaze. His tips include selecting a firm pumpkin, cutting an opening in the bottom, thinning the carving area and applying petroleum jelly to cut edges to help retain moisture.
Pumpkin-carving pro Michael Natiello recommends starting with a fresh, stable pumpkin and cutting its opening from the bottom to make a jack-o’-lantern easier to carve and less likely to cave in. The advice, published by Good Housekeeping, also includes practical steps for slowing shriveling, such as coating cut edges with petroleum jelly.
Natiello, the creative director of The Great Jack-o’-Lantern Blaze, advises choosing a pumpkin with a sturdy stem, no bruises and a flat base that will not roll during carving. Good Housekeeping’s instructions say to cut an opening in the bottom rather than removing a lid at the top; the report says this can help prevent the pumpkin’s sides from caving in. If carving from the top, cut the lid at an angle so it does not fall inside when replaced.
After opening the pumpkin, remove the pulp and seeds, using an ice cream scoop if a specialized tool is not available. The report recommends thinning the wall behind the design area to about 1¼ inches, which can make the shell easier to pierce. For more controlled carving, sketch a design on paper first and tape it to the pumpkin, then mark its lines with a fork or pencil.
Natiello suggests using a serrated kitchen knife or an X-Acto knife, and making straight, up-and-down cuts rather than angled ones. The report advises removing larger pieces first and refining the edges afterward. To help a carved pumpkin retain moisture, Natiello recommends spreading petroleum jelly over cut edges. If it begins to shrivel, the report says a facedown soak in cold water for up to eight hours may revive it.
Practical Steps for a Better Display
The advice addresses two common Halloween frustrations: a design that is difficult to execute and a carved pumpkin that deteriorates before the holiday. Choosing a pumpkin that sits securely can make cutting more manageable, while planning the pattern and clearing the larger sections first can help carvers work through details in stages.
For anyone displaying a jack-o’-lantern outdoors, the suggested moisture-retention steps may help it look presentable longer. The report presents these as expert tips, not as a guarantee of a particular shelf life. It gives no measured estimate for how many extra days petroleum jelly or a cold-water soak might add.
The lighting advice also affects how a carved pumpkin is used. Good Housekeeping suggests battery-operated votives or Christmas lights as alternatives to candles. Anyone using an open flame should place the candle inside before lighting it and keep the pumpkin away from anything that could catch fire.
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From Pumpkin Choice to Final Light
The Good Housekeeping report organizes the process into a sequence, beginning with pumpkin selection and ending with lighting and optional finishing touches. Its central message is to take time at each stage: a stable pumpkin, a cleared interior and a planned design can reduce avoidable problems once cutting begins.
For a top opening, an angled cut helps keep the lid from dropping through. The report also suggests saving pieces of shell for details such as a tongue or hair accessories. After a candle has burned briefly with the lid on, it recommends cutting a small hole where the lid has blackened to create a chimney. Cinnamon sprinkled inside the lid is offered as a way to add a pumpkin-pie scent when the candle is lit.
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How Long the Tips May Help
The report does not provide controlled tests, a comparison with untreated pumpkins or a specific estimate of how much longer a carved pumpkin will last. Results may vary with the pumpkin’s freshness and the conditions in which it is kept. The cold-water soak is described as a way to revive a shriveled pumpkin, but the source does not say how long that effect lasts or how often the soak can be repeated.
The instructions also do not give a detailed outdoor-storage plan or candle-safety guidance beyond the suggested chimney hole and alternative lights. Readers should not treat the tips as a guarantee that a pumpkin will remain fresh through Halloween.
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Carving Steps Before Halloween
The next steps for readers are to select a firm pumpkin, prepare a design and gather tools before cutting. After carving, they can coat the cut edges and monitor the pumpkin for signs of drying; the report suggests a cold-water soak if it begins to shrivel. No further announcement or follow-up testing is specified in the source.
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Key Questions
Should I cut the opening in the top or bottom of a pumpkin?
Natiello recommends cutting from the bottom, which the report says can help keep the sides from caving in. If you prefer a top lid, cut it at an angle so it is less likely to fall inside.
How thick should the pumpkin wall be behind the design?
Good Housekeeping recommends thinning the wall behind the face or other design area to about 1¼ inches so the shell is easier to pierce.
How can I slow a carved pumpkin from shriveling?
Natiello recommends spreading petroleum jelly on cut edges to help seal in moisture. The report does not say how many additional days this may add.
Can a shriveled pumpkin be revived?
The report says to try soaking it facedown in cold water for up to eight hours. It does not specify how long the pumpkin may look refreshed afterward.
What can I use instead of a candle?
Good Housekeeping suggests battery-operated votives or Christmas lights. These options avoid using an open flame inside the pumpkin.
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