Stop Cutting the Stem Off Your Pumpkin In Iowa and Illinois

Stop Cutting the Stem Off Your Pumpkin: The Secret to Making Jack-o'-Lanterns Last Longer

Why the Stem Matters

If you’re getting ready to carve pumpkins this Halloween, here’s a helpful tip that could make your jack-o’-lantern last longer—don’t cut off the stem. The stem is more important than you might think. It was once attached to the vine that provided nutrients to the pumpkin, and keeping it intact helps seal the pumpkin and slow down the rotting process.

Cut from the Bottom or Back Instead

Instead of slicing off the top, experts recommend carving a hole from the bottom or back of your pumpkin. This keeps the stem in place and reduces the amount of exposed surface area, which helps prevent bacteria and mold from setting in. If you’ve ever noticed fruit flies gathering around a carved pumpkin, it’s likely because of that exposed top area.

Pumpkins Have a Short Shelf Life

“The typical jack-o’-lantern normally has a three-day life expectancy at best,” said Marc Evan, co-founder of Maniac Pumpkin Carvers in Brooklyn, New York. “With something so highly perishable, it’s a very zen thing, to carve a pumpkin knowing that it might not last as long as it took you to make it.”

Still, Evan and co-founder Chris Soria say there are ways to help extend that lifespan. Avoid using bleach or WD-40 to preserve pumpkins, as these methods can be harmful to wildlife and don’t always work.

The Takeaway

If you want your pumpkin to stay fresh longer, leave the stem where it belongs and carve from the bottom or back. In other words, don’t decapitate your pumpkin. Cut its “butt” off instead. Happy Halloween!

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