19 of the Best Pumpkins for Eating

by Erin Marissa Russell

Nothing compares to the sweetheart of a flourishing pumpkin patch in the garden — and in the kitchen , nothing compare to sweet , velvety autumn pumpkin . In addition to the traditional pie , you may supply gold pumpkin cubes to roasted veggie medleys , whir pumpkin vine into odorous soup , or add the build to hearty stews . But when it come to choosing a miscellany of pumpkin vine to grow , thing get more complicated . Not all pumpkins are engender to be good for eating . That ’s where we number in . This list of pumpkin assortment will assist you choose from the respectable pumpkins to develop for pie or for eating in savoury beauty . Seeour pet pumpkin formula here .

Black Futsu

This Japanese variety has a unique black color tinct with a bit of orange . Their shape is also unequalled , with deep lob department . Black Futsu pumpkins are best used in zesty sweetheart , because the flesh has a batty , earthy flavor .

Casper

Casper is often used as a decorative pumpkin because of its unique white pelt . But do n’t leave this autumn pumpkin by the roadside when you study the best Cucurbita pepo for cookery . In 115 days , it produce 15 - pound fruits that are pure to habituate in cookery , whether you ’re name something mellisonant or not .

Cherokee Bush

This variety get lots of classic orange tree pumpkins . But do n’t use these tasty specimens for jack - o’-lanterns . ( Because then you would n’t be able to misrepresent them . ) Give your pumpkin patch plenty of way . Cherokee Bush needs four or five fundament for the vines to spread out . If you embed Cherokee Bush , you ’ll be glean lots of five- to eight - pound fruits with tasty golden flesh .

Cheese Pumpkin

You often see these low - slung heirloom in displays of decline veg , where their sick skin supply contrast for the traditional orange tree and sensationalistic of other yield . But in the kitchen , that low - slung shape works corking for dishes where the whole autumn pumpkin is used and ingurgitate .

Cinderella

You ’ve probably seen these notional pumpkins in whimsical drop presentation . The diddly-shit , cerise - orange fruits resemble the equipage Cinderella ’s fairy godmother sent to take her to the ball . In just 110 days , you ’ll be harvesting a bumper harvest of these pumpkins , which spring up to around 15 column inch across .

Connecticut Field

These pumpkin vine mature to calculate just like the traditional jack - o’-lantern pumpkin vine . They are corking for carving , but we ca n’t recommend using them in this way . Connecticut Field is also a traditional pie Cucurbita pepo , and the flesh is so tasty in pie , why would you cut up any up ?

Cushaw Green-Striped

These unequalled pumpkin resemble a gourd or mash more than your standard pumpkin . The fruits are green and white divest with curved neck . Each one can produce to strive around 20 inches long . The flesh has a lightsome color and delicious taste .

Dill’s Atlantic

You may have view a Dill ’s Atlantic pumpkin vine taking the blue-blooded ribbon in a competition for the tumid autumn pumpkin at your state reasonable . These pumpkin vine can grow to seriously huge sizes . A 1,500 - pound Dill ’s Atlantic holds the populace record book for tumid pumpkin . But if you take to spring up Dill ’s Atlantic , be advise you will need to give the pumpkins some special time and care , as well as some surplus outer space in the garden . The vines need around eight feet of room to propagate out . And because the pumpkins grow so turgid , they need a heavy hired hand with hydration . However , this variety will reward your investment of time and muscularity . This pumpkin vine has some seriously tasty flesh , and with the big yield size , you do n’t have to grow many to fill your freezer .

Fairytale

This is another Cucurbita pepo that ’s often liken to Cinderella ’s carriage . Fairytale is a dusty suntan with a stumpy shape and well - define sections . The black orange flesh is a boon in the kitchen . Because of the pretty human body of Fairytale pumpkins , they contribute themselves well to recipes that use the whole yield , like a stuffed pumpkin , for example .

Flat White Boer Ford

What realise these pumpkin so great for make with is that they ’re seedless . you may just cut the messy , annoying step of remove their seeded player . As the name suggests , they have white peel and a minuscule , flat shape . The flesh is dense and delightful .

Jarrahdale

Jarrahdale is a quick - growing pumpkin , taking just 100 days to bring on its harvest . The pretty pumpkins have an strange blue - greenish hue and a drop shape . you’re able to utilize the flesh for sweet app , but Jarrahdale is especially well suitable to savory lulu . That ’s because it has a stringless form that hold its figure well when cube for roasted veggie dish , stews , and other uses .

Kabocha

Often confused for a squash vine , these Nipponese pumpkins are dark-green and may be sold under the names “ Delica , ” “ Ebisu , ” “ Hoka , ” “ Hokkaido Pumpkin , ” and “ Japanese Pumpkin . ” The yellow flesh is firm and sustain its shape when cubed for fret or roasted smasher . The flavor is mellifluous and tasty .

Kakai

While this pumpkin vine is n’t a good choice for cooking the anatomy , we have it on this lean for another reasonableness . Kakai is known for its unusual blue seed . jest at them up for a unique collation .

Lakota

These pear tree - shaped pumpkins are red with mottled marking in unripe and black . At harvesting clock time , you ’ll have stacks of five- to seven - pound heirloom fruits breed in the Midwest . The flesh is unadulterated for preparation and is very exchangeable to that of a butternut squash .

Lumina

These pretty white pumpkins are prized both for their appearing and for their flavor . The smooth texture also makes them skillful for carve , although we would n’t advocate sacrifice the delicious flesh of any of these pumpkins to a diddly - o’-lantern . The shining yellow figure is specially perfect for baking .

Musquee de Provence

You may also find these pumpkins sell under the name “ Muscade de Provence . ” The shell are deeply lobed and an understated chocolate-brown tint with a green slope . They have a musky aroma , for which they got their name . After 120 days of growth , you ’ll be reward with a crop of 10- to 20 - pound Cucurbita pepo .

Pepitas Hybrid

You wo n’t want to eat the flesh of this assortment , but we ’ve included it on our list for beneficial reason . Pepitas Hybrid farm plate - free , or “ naked , ” seed that you could slow down roast for snacks or as a topping for other smasher . The nine- to 10 - pound fruit are pretty , with orange eggshell brush with coloured green . you could hold launch the shells to use in adorn after you ’ve removed the cum . Although the fruits are n’t that huge , these vines call for up to 13 feet of room in the garden .

Red Warty Thing

As the name suggests , these pumpkin vine are blaze orange - cherry and covered in warts . The pumpkins arise up to 20 pounds , soften lots of the toothsome fruit . However , you should love that the warty rind can be a small bit unmanageable to remove . Since they get so giving , though , your hard work will pay off .

Rouge Vif d’Etampes

These pumpkins resemble Cinderella in shape , although their color is more ruby-red . You may also see these betray under the name “ Red Etampes , ” as a issue of fact . They ’re prized for the tasty , dense chassis .

One tip for when you ’re shopping is that Cucurbita pepo sold as “ pie pumpkins ” have been bred to be salutary for eating . Even if the variety is n’t on this list , a Proto-Indo European pumpkin should be a good bet for a pumpkin kind that is dependable for eating . A “ loot autumn pumpkin ” is another name for the same category of pumpkin .