Tips for Pumpkin Carving
Whether they're spooky or friendly, jack-o-lanterns are a Halloween tradition. They're not as easy to carve as you might think—and young children really need guidance. Here are some suggestions for a safe and fun carving experience.
Carve in a clean, dry, well-lit area. If your tools, hands or cutting table are wet, this can cause slipping and lead to injuries.
Always have adult supervision (without alcohol use). Children under age five should never carve. Instead, allow kids to draw a pattern or face on the pumpkin and have an adult carve. Allow the child to be responsible for cleaning out the inside pulp and seeds. They can use their hands or a spoon for this. Children, ages five to ten can carve but only with adult supervision.
Cut correctly. You should always cut away from yourself in small, controlled strokes. A sharp knife is not necessarily the best tool because it often becomes wedged in the thicker part of the pumpkin, requiring force to remove it. An injury can occur if your hand is placed incorrectly when the knife dislodges from the thicker part or slips.
Use a pumpkin carving kit. Special pumpkin carving kits are available for purchase and include small serrated saws that are less likely to get stuck in the thick pumpkin. If the saw does get stuck and then becomes free, it is not sharp enough to cause a major cut. Fewer injuries occur with use of carving kits.
Consider drawing on the outside of the pumpkin rather than carving it. Pumpkins look cute in wigs.
Choose a pumpkin that is flat on the bottom and less likely to roll. That way it displays well and doesn't slip out of your hands as much when carving.
Scoop out the pumpkin so that the edge of the walls is about 1 inch thick. Thinner edges are easier to carve - so you don't cut yourself trying to dislodge a sharp tool.
Use a pattern to make a great expression for your pumpkin. Start at the center of the design and work outwards, each time you remove a piece of the design, the pumpkin gets weaker.
Cut an opening in the bottom of the pumpkin, not the top. It's much easier to place a candle on a plate and then lower the jack-o-lantern over it, than it is to reach inside the pumpkin to light the candle. Cut a small vent in the back of the pumpkin, too, so that air circulates more freely. This will keep the candle lit.
Published 09/12/08
