Create the perfect jack-o’-lantern

This article is brought to you by Reed’s Dairy, your local family dairy farm that offers milk, ice cream and cheese. Click here to find out more.

They’re spooky, funny, sad, happy, angry, gross and sometimes mean. We’re talking about jack-o’-lanterns, and carving them can be the best (and scariest) part about Halloween.

To take the fear out of picking and carving the perfect pumpkins, here are some tips that will show the neighbors who’s the best carver on the block.

Picking the perfect pumpkin

When picking the perfect pumpkin, check for a hollow sound when tapped. Make sure the pumpkin is a good color and doesn’t have any scratches, bruises or dark spots. Most importantly, make sure it sits flat when you set on the ground.

Carving tools

All-in-one pumpkin carving kits don’t generally cost much and are readily available this time of year. However, here a couple other tools to help up the carving game:

• A sharp 4-inch paring knife can help remove the top and carve out larger pieces.
• A linoleum cutting set is great for etching. The deepest cut only goes about a quarter of an inch into the pumpkin’s skin.
• A curved peeling knife is used to finish off those fiddly, yet extremely important details that will make everyone at the neighborhood “trunk-or-treat” jealous.

Carving tips

Only time and practice can make one into a master pumpkin carver, but work your way there by drawing your own design onto a piece of tracing paper. Place the paper with the design onto the pumpkin – tracing with pin pricks. Follow the pricks with your carving tool and voilà! — you’ll be an expert in no time!

Making the jack-o’-lantern last

One easy way to keep your perfectly carved pumpkin from rotting overnight is to spread petroleum jelly along the edges of your cuts.

Now to really wow your neighbors, sprinkle some cinnamon inside of the pumpkin’s lid. Once the candle heats up, it will smell like pumpkin pie.

Happy carving!