# Jack-o-lantern... keep it fresh

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-o-lantern-keep-it-fresh/89820>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 26, 2001, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-o-lantern-keep-it-fresh/89820 "2001-10-26T17:56:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-o-lantern-keep-it-fresh/89820/1 "2001-10-26T17:56:47Z")

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I always hated the fact that 2 days after I carved my pumpkins for Halloween they started going soft and getting spongy. I was told that if you put a Clorox/Water mixture over the “meat” of the pumpkin after you carve it, the pumpkin will last 2-3 days longer. I’m going to try it this year and see if it works. Anyone got any other suggestions?

I also found some really cool [stencils](http://www.jack-o-lantern.com/patterns/patterns.html) for pumpkin carvings. I’m going to try a couple of them. I hope they turn out alright. We bought a giant pumpkin (weighs about 75 pounds!!) and we’re thinking about carving “Happy Halloween” in it. I’m just not looking forward to trying to scoop out the insides.

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**Author:** ![Sunglasses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5fc32e/32.png) [@Sunglasses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunglasses)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-o-lantern-keep-it-fresh/89820/2 "2001-10-26T18:26:53Z")

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I have read that submerging carved pumpkins in cold water (between lightings) will help prolong their freshness. Can’t provide a site (Better Homes & Gardens, maybe). I’ve been too lazy to try it. 🙂

BTW, we do the intricate pumpkin carving every year. It’s a lot of hard work and I say every year that I won’t do it again next year but, every year we do one (or two!). They just look so awesome.

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**Author:** ![spheric\_thor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@spheric\_thor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spheric_thor)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-o-lantern-keep-it-fresh/89820/3 "2001-10-26T22:07:34Z")

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I used the dunking in cold water once a day last year.And i could have kept that sucker on the windowsill till Thanksgiving if i wasn’t so lazy.Those stencils are cool but do take some time.

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**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-o-lantern-keep-it-fresh/89820/4 "2001-10-26T22:56:00Z")

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Moving this to MPSIMS.

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-o-lantern-keep-it-fresh/89820/5 "2001-10-26T23:09:17Z")

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See the GQ thread [Fresh jack o’ lanterns](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=95193)