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Today, pumpkin is actively used in cooking. Its pulp is used to prepare first courses, salads, or baked in the oven. Despite the fact that this crop can be stored for quite a long period of time, many housewives prefer to freeze the product. Undoubtedly, you will have to peel the pumpkin in any case if you plan to use it for cooking. Since the peel can be quite hard, the cleaning process can take a lot of effort and time.
Features of cleaning depending on the type and variety of pumpkin
Today you can find a large number of varieties on sale, which may differ not only in shape and size, but also in the thickness of the peel. Conventionally, 3 types can be distinguished:
- Durum varieties – in this case, the peel can be compared in hardness to tree bark, as a result of which cleaning will be quite difficult. A distinctive feature is the late ripening period and sugary taste.
- Large-fruited varieties – include a large number of species. Sometimes the pulp is compared to watermelon.The peel in this case is much softer than the previous version.
- Muscat varieties – the crop is harvested in an unripe state before the onset of the first frost. A distinctive feature is the fairly juicy and crispy flesh. Due to the fact that the peel is thin, the cleaning process does not take much time.
In addition, it is worth taking into account the fact that all existing varieties are divided into summer and winter. Thus, the fruits of summer varieties have thinner skins than winter ones, which are intended for long-term storage.
How to peel a hard pumpkin with a knife
There are a large number of ways to quickly peel a pumpkin. If you need to peel young fruits that have a thin crust, you can get by with a knife or vegetable peeler. If the peel is hard enough, you will have to look for other cleaning methods.
In order to peel the peel using a kitchen knife, it is recommended to adhere to the following work algorithm:
- The first step is to choose a suitable fruit that is not damaged. Rinse thoroughly under running water to remove any existing dust and dirt.
- For work, you should use a fairly long and wide kitchen knife. It is recommended that you first cut off the bottom and lid of the pumpkin, as a result of which it will become stable and the cleaning job will be much easier.
- Then you should cut the fruit in half, moving from the beginning of the lid to the bottom.
- Once the fruit is cut into pieces, you should begin removing the seeds and fibrous pulp. A spoon is perfect for these purposes.
- Each part must be placed cut side down on a cutting board, then remove the peel with a knife, making planing movements.
If the peel is quite thick and the pumpkin is large, then you can cut it into more pieces rather than in half.
How to peel a small pumpkin
Many housewives do not like to peel the pumpkin and this is not surprising, because this process takes not only a lot of time, but also effort. In addition, it is worth taking into account the fact that depending on the variety used, the thickness of the crust may differ, as a result of which you will have to put in a lot of effort to get the desired result.
As practice shows, most small fruits have a fairly soft rind, which, if necessary, can be removed with a vegetable peeler. In addition, the fruit can be placed in a microwave oven for some time, as a result of which you can not cut the vegetable into pieces, but cook it as a whole.
How to Peel a Large Pumpkin
Most often you can find quite large fruits on sale that have a very hard crust. In this case, the cleaning process will take much more time and effort. In such a situation, it is worth first considering what size pieces are required to prepare the dish. The pumpkin is carefully cut in half and then divided into small pieces. As practice shows, removing the peel this way is much easier and simpler. In addition, you can place the fruit in water for some time, as a result of which the skin will become soft, then removing it will not be difficult.
How to Peel a Whole Pumpkin for Cooking
Since this crop is actively used for cooking, housewives are often faced with the need to peel the pumpkin pulp. As practice shows, if you plan to bake the fruit as a whole, then it is not at all necessary to remove the peel. It will be enough to cut off the top part and use a spoon to remove the fibrous pulp and seeds. After cooking, the peel will come off on its own. If you still need to remove the skin, you can use a vegetable peeler. As a rule, it is suitable for small and smooth fruits.
How to quickly and easily peel a hard pumpkin
Before peeling the fruit with a knife, it is worth considering that there is a high probability of damaging your hands if the peel is thick enough. To peel the pumpkin quickly, they often resort to heating.
You can soften the crust using a microwave or oven. If the first option is selected, the algorithm of actions will be as follows:
- The first step is to thoroughly wash the fruit and then wipe it dry with a towel.
- Using a knife, shallow cuts are made in several places on the peel.
- If the pumpkin is large enough and does not fit in the microwave, it is recommended to cut the fruit in half and remove the seeds using a spoon.
- After this, the pumpkin is placed in a plastic bag and sent to the microwave. If the fruit is small in size, then you can send it for heat treatment in its entirety.
- The power should be at the maximum level, the time should be set to about 2-3 minutes. Due to the fact that the vegetable heats up, it will be possible to remove the peel from a fruit of any size quite easily and without much effort.
You can use a sharp knife for cleaning. If necessary, the pumpkin can be pre-cut into small pieces, which will greatly facilitate the work.
Some tips for peeling a pumpkin
To make the work go faster, you can follow some tricks:
- To make the cleaning process as quick and easy as possible, it is recommended to take a large, deep container, put the pumpkin in it and fill it with clean water. The fetus should remain in this form throughout the night. In the morning the skin will be quite soft;
- In order to peel a fairly hard peel, it is recommended to make several small cuts on the pumpkin using a knife and place it in the microwave at maximum temperature for several minutes. If the fruit is large, then it should be cut into several parts;
- You can also make several punctures with a knife and place the fruit in a preheated oven. For small fruits, 10 minutes will be enough; for large ones, the time should be increased to 20 minutes. The most important thing is to prevent the pulp from baking.
By following these recommendations, you can quickly remove peels of any hardness. For work it is best to use a knife-saw.
Conclusion
Peeling a pumpkin at home is quite difficult and problematic, but it is possible. If you follow some recommendations and take into account certain tricks that can significantly facilitate the work process, then this task will not seem so difficult and impossible.
