How To Skin A Pie Pumpkin
Fall is here and it is time to purchase some of the best fresh pumpkins so that you can make pies, breads, and soups to fulfill our appetites. The one problem with buying and cooking with pumpkins is that the touch outer skin is so tough - which makes it difficult to skin it. Yet, there is a good technique that is always sure to work.
Purchase a pie pumpkin. This is a pumpkin that is smaller and has more meat then the larger kind. They are much easier to use for cooking and will provide more of the fruit.
You will need to wash the outside of the pumpkin because they grow on vines on the ground and can pick up lots of dirt. Make sure to wash it even if it looks clean.
Slice the pumpkin into quarters using a sharp knife or cleaver. The knife might get stuck on it - which might force you to slam the pumpkin on the floor or very hard on the counter. Pumpkins are tough so don’t be afraid of bruising it.
Scoop out all of the seeds. It is easy to do this if you use a heavy metal spoon to scrape out the inside of the pumpkin.
Place the pieces of the pumpkin face down in a casserole dish and cover it. Microwave the pumpkin for 15 minutes. The cover will help the steam to build up and that will cook the pumpkin without drying it out. The pumpkin is finished when you are able to easily poke it with a fork.
Hold the shell in one hand and use a large spoon to scoop out the inside of the pumpkin into a bowl. The microwave softened the pumpkin and hardened its shell, so it should slide out easily in one piece.