What to Do With Leftover Canned Pumpkin
on Nov 13, 2019, Updated Oct 07, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
So many good things to say about canned pureed pumpkin! It’s a wonderful pantry item with one ingredient and one ingredient only (make sure you don’t buy spiced pumpkin pie filling, which is a different product, containing apices and sometimes sugar!).
Buying canned pumpkin saves a whole lot of work, as cooking and pureeing a fresh pumpkin, while delicious, is a bit of a time commitment. Canned pumpkin lasts for months and months, and it’s super versatile and useful in many delicious pumpkin recipes.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy.
Thank goodness for all of the above because most of us buy an extra can or two for Thanksgiving, just in case, and then have to figure out what to do with it post-pie-baking. And wouldn’t it be a shame to use this awesome product only once a year for one purpose?
FAQs
Canned pumpkin will last for up to a week in the fridge. It will keep better if you transfer it to a sealed container rather than just covering the top of the can.
If it looks or smells off, toss it. Bacteria can start to grow in an open can of pumpkin, so if you have doubt, trust your gut and throw it out.
Yes, you can — put it in a sealed container with as little excess room as possible. You can portion out the pureed pumpkin into 1/2 cup or 1 cup containers, and make sure to label them with the name, contents, date, and amount so you can defrost it and use it without having to measure. It will last for up to a year in the freezer.
One 15-ounce can of pumpkin holds about 1 cup and 14 tablespoons (just shy of 2 cups) of pumpkin puree.
Even though it’s a nice treat to use fresh pumpkin, plain canned pumpkin is really a great product. Unless it’s labeled Pumpkin Pie Filling, canned pumpkin usually just cooked pumpkin with nothing added (check the ingredients – it should just say “Pumpkin”). So when pureed pumpkin is called for either one is fine, though draining pureed fresh pumpkin will give you a texture closer to canned
13 Canned Pumpkin Recipes
Use canned pureed pumpkin in the following recipes.
Easy Pumpkin Pie
Best Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Brownies
Pumpkin Gingerbread
Soft Pumpkin Cookies
Mini Pumpkin Bread Loaves
Pumpkin Streusel Muffins
Pumpkin Curry Soup
Pumpkin Zucchini Bread
Apple Pumpkin Bread
Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
I have read your ideas for canned pumpkin. I always make Pumpkin Butter. It is great on toast for breakfast. Most recipes call for Frest ginger but We don’t care for ginger so use cloves. Great way to treat you family and friends.
sounds delicious!