While walking into the grocery store on the first day of fall, there is one festive item that is always going to appear in their dedicated corner…pumpkins! Their uses are endless. Baked pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and of course, pumpkin spice lattes. Eugh! Aesthetically, the style of pumpkin can drastically change the vibe of someone’s doorstep, and some are clearly superior. Here are my ratings:
Sugar Pumpkin:
Sugar pumpkins are not only aesthetically pleasing, but are also used to bake goods such as bread, cookies, and pie! They are used for food purposes due to their sweetness, but have bright skin and a smooth texture. These pumpkins are often sold in grocery stores and farmers markets during the fall season. Unfortunately, these pumpkins cannot be carved and their only use is to be eaten. For this reason, I rate these pumpkins a 9/10.
Jack-O-Lantern Pumpkins:
Jack-O-Lantern pumpkins are the most common pumpkins sold in local grocery stores during the fall season. As their name suggests, the main use is to be carved, but the seeds can be baked and eaten, and the flesh can be used to make pies, muffins, and soups as well. Jack-O-Lanterns are very popular, and it’s for a reason! They have a lot of uses and come in many shapes and sizes. These pumpkins deserve a 10/10.
Cotton Candy Pumpkins:
Wow! What beauties! Cotton Candy pumpkins stand out for their captivating color and useful stems. Their main use is for painting and carving since they serve as a blank canvas and their insides light up extremely well when there is a candle placed inside. Ironically, these pumpkins are not used for food purposes and are merely just visually appealing. These pumpkins get an 8/10.
Jack-Be-Little Pumpkins:
When viewing these adorable little pumpkins, it is extremely hard to ignore the happiness they give to us. After all, they are so cute! Sadly, these pumpkins are too small to be carved successfully, but have many other useful attributes. They are an amazing snack and can be painted and decorated according to their purchaser. Even when they are bare, these pumpkins make amazing decorations, so they are a 10/10.
Galeux D’eysines Pumpkins:
Wow…talk about ugly. If I ever see one of these pumpkins lying in the road, there will be no hesitation when I decide to run it over. They look like someone super glued the outside of a normal pumpkin and dropped it on the floor of a Texas Roadhouse. Luckily, they are primarily used to flavor soups or stews and less commonly, pies. Due to their extremely hideous exterior and their sub-par flavoring abilities, I rate these a 3/10.
Overall, pumpkins are such an important staple during the fall season and holidays such as Halloween and Thanksgiving would be far less festive without them. Next time you buy a pumpkin at the store, remember each of their qualities when deciding which pumpkin to buy for a specific purpose. Happy fall!