Tools & TechniquesNo. 1563 · The 2026 edition
To Carve Pumpkins Safely, You Only Need These Two Tools
For safe pumpkin carving, you really need just two simple tools—a serrated vegetable knife and a hacked soup ladle.
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Carving pumpkins safely is easy with just a serrated vegetable knife (thin blade for best control) and a soup ladle with the handle broken off for better access. Use the knife with a gentle sawing motion for features, then scoop out seeds and guts with the ladle. For an even better look, cut a hole in the pumpkin's bottom to hide the electric cord and maintain its shape.
You'll need
Directions
- Take a serrated vegetable knife—one with a thin blade works best—and slowly saw back and forth to cut out the eyes, nose, and mouth of your jack-o'-lantern.
- Snap the handle off a soup ladle for better maneuverability, then use the ladle to scrape out all the seeds and stringy pumpkin insides.
- For a cleaner look, you can cut an opening in the bottom of the pumpkin instead of the top. This hides the power cord and helps the pumpkin hold its shape; scoop from that bottom opening.
More photos
Photos hosted by thekitchn.com.
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