# Where is the pumpkin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 26, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513 "2010-02-26T13:50:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/61 "2010-03-05T20:26:13Z")
Just a note: I have been in the same situation, also having a dog who needs some extra fiber in his diet. I’ve tried the organic pumpkin found in **RealityChuck’s** link and it isn’t very good quality. It’s watery and my grocery store (which is stocking it in place of the Libby’s) wants about twice as much per can for it. I find it doesn’t work as well either - I suspect it’s a different kind of pumpkin than Libby’s uses and it doesn’t seem to have as much fiber in it. I don’t plan on buying any more of it. The Trader Joe’s canned pumpkin is also watery and weird - maybe it is made by the same manufacturer? - dunno. I ended up buying food-service size cans from this place: > **[FoodServiceDirect.com – Widest Variety in Food Service!](https://www.foodservicedirect.com/)** > > FoodServiceDirect is your source for restaurant supplies, dry foods, refrigerated & frozen foods, paper products, and all other restaurant needs including disposable & janitorial products. It is a LOT of pumpkin but it freezes well and I’ll have enough to last me until October at least! ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/62 "2010-03-05T21:12:42Z")
> [@redtail23](#): > > [I Has a Sweet Potato](http://littera-abactor.livejournal.com/7748.html) Damn you, **restail** ; my sides are aching. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/63 "2010-03-05T23:10:37Z")
Oh, good lord. My hoarder relatives have cans of pumpkin that may be 30 years old. Well, maybe 20. Seems like we never use it up… ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/64 "2010-03-07T17:43:51Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Oh, good lord. My hoarder relatives have cans of pumpkin that may be 30 years old. Well, maybe 20. Seems like we never use it up… Does it really last that long in the can? ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/65 "2010-03-07T20:19:12Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > Does it really last that long in the can? I don’t know. Hasn’t exploded yet. ---
**Author:** ![Blisters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Blisters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blisters)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/66 "2010-03-07T23:12:19Z")
so…I need closure. Did the squash work? ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/67 "2010-03-08T14:00:05Z")
Oh! Yeah, the dogs cannot tell the difference between squash and pumpkin. It comes in a frozen block o’ squash and by the time it’s thawed out, looks exactly like the pumpkin. I couldn’t tell you if taste is a concern, but the pups gobble it right down. So I have alternatives to pumpkin, including plain yogurt, which the dogs also love. I will still trade blueberry-habanero jam for pumpkin if anyone else is interested. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/68 "2010-03-08T15:24:16Z")
Funny - I was just at one of my local grocery stores last weekend and found myself in the baking aisle. And I checked - lo, 6 or 7 Libby’s canned pumpkin sat right there. I shoulda picked some up. Have you checked the baking aisle, like where the flour and graham cracker crusts and pie filling is? Maybe you’ll have some joy there. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/69 "2010-03-08T16:02:13Z")
Usually, the baking aisle is where I find it. Careful to distinguish between pumpkin pie mix (which is plentiful and full of spices and extra crap the dogs don’t need) and plain old pumpkin. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/70 "2010-03-08T23:01:10Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > Does it really last that long in the can? OK, I looked, & I suspect all the extant pumpkin tops out at 5-10 years old. Still, some of it is past expiration. I think I may experiment with it before throwing it on the compost. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/71 "2010-03-09T19:26:01Z")
It may be regional thing. In Hawaii, there is nary a one school PT meeting without p[umpkin crunch bars](http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1810,156172-248201,00.html). ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/72 "2010-03-09T20:38:14Z")
Thanks to this thread I decided to see if my dogs would like squash, just as a fresh healthy supplement to their dry dog food. I picked up some butternut squash, quartered it and cooked it in the microwave. They loved it! I didn’t add any seasoning, just gave it to them plain. I am gonna cook them up some ground turkey and brown rice as well, just to balance out their diet. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/73 "2010-03-09T20:39:56Z")
Just wanted to let you know that I went looking for pumpkin this morning too, because of this thread, and no luck. I did find canned pumpkin pie filling, and got some anyway. It’s fiber that tastes great spread on my english muffins…happy gal! Thanks for the idea. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/74 "2010-03-09T20:43:12Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > It may be regional thing. In Hawaii, there is nary a one school PT meeting without p[umpkin crunch bars](http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1810,156172-248201,00.html). This recipe sounds awesome! I printed it out. I was wondering if that’s plain pumpkin or the pie filling? I’m going to assume plain, I see there’s cinnamon added later in the recipe. Can’t wait to try it. ---
**Author:** ![kelew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c4cdca/32.png) [@kelew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelew)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/75 "2010-09-17T02:42:11Z")
I have been to almost every store in Pittsburgh and they told me that since the pumpkin shortage last season, they have not been unable to get pumpkin from anywhere. They said no one has it and if you do see it to grab it. Although they said they may get it this fall, they will get very little. Canned pumpkin lasts for a couple years so if you see it grab it up and store it. I think you may be able to freeze unused portions but I am not certain. Sorry and I hope you find some for your dogs sake. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/76 "2010-09-17T03:28:32Z")
Could you buy some pumpkins when they start rolling into the stores for Halloween and decoration, cut 'em up, and bake them in the oven? I did this last year when I couldn’t find any canned, had to have some for pumpkin bread . I drained/mashed/froze the pulp to use later. They weren’t pie pumpkins and kind of stringy, but I put the pulp through a colander to get rid of most of the strings. Tonight I cooked two enormous sweet potatoes - pricked a few holes and put in the microwave for about 10 minutes. Great stuff, good as pumpkin! Though very sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/77 "2010-09-17T13:20:04Z")
UPDATE: I’m sorry to say, the dog died back in May, but not from lack of pumpkin. Poor little guy had lots of medical issues, but in the end, he died from brachycephalic syndrome – got overheated and his little windpipe swelled shut. I wasn’t home to save him or get him to the vet. So, I don’t need the pumpkin anymore. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/78 "2010-09-17T19:12:27Z")
Awwww… I’m so sorry about your dog. That’s very sad…☹ ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/79 "2010-09-17T19:17:53Z")
Thanks. I miss my widdle smooshy face. I still have frozen squash in the freezer that eventually, I’ll just feed to the other dog, who is 14, but does not have IBD. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/80 "2010-09-22T13:19:40Z")
After reading this thread, I decided to keep an eye out for pumpkin in the grocery store. Walked into Publix in Atlanta yesterday, and they had about 200 cans in a sale bin. I bought a few, just to be safe, but it looked as though they were making room for the 2010 batch to come in for the holiday season. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513.md?page=5)