Top, Bottom or Back: Where to Cut a Jack-o'-Lantern

Most of us learned to carve a jack-o-lantern the same way: cut a lid around the stem, pull it off and start scooping. That works fine, but it is not the only choice. Where you cut the opening changes how the pumpkin looks, how easy it is to light and how it holds up.

Option one: the classic lid on top

The top lid is easy to cut and easy to reach into. The Clark County Master Gardeners with Washington State University Extension give one useful tip: do not cut a straight circle, or the lid can fall through when you put it back. Cut the lid at an angle, or in a jagged or six-sided shape, so it rests on a small ledge.

The downside is that the stem comes off with the lid. The stem is part of what makes a pumpkin look finished, and once the lid has shrunk and dried, it can sit crooked.

Option two: an opening in the bottom

The same Master Gardener guide says you can also open a pumpkin from the bottom by cutting a small hole and throwing the cut piece away. The top and stem stay whole, so the pumpkin looks untouched from above. To light it, set the pumpkin down over a battery tea light or flashlight.

Two things to know. A bottom opening is messier, since the inside of a pumpkin is wet, and it can sit on a damp spot. Set it on a dry plate, tray or piece of cardboard rather than straight on the porch boards.

Option three: an opening in the back

A third choice is a round opening in the back, the side that faces the house. You keep the cut piece, reach in to clean and carve, then set the light inside and put the piece back. The top and stem stay whole, and the pumpkin sits on its own solid bottom. It takes a little more care to cut a clean circle on a curved side, so go slowly.

How to make the cut

Whatever opening you choose, use a small serrated pumpkin saw rather than a kitchen knife. Shriners Children's points out that a sharp knife can wedge in the thick skin and slip. Use short, controlled strokes, cut away from yourself, and keep your other hand clear of the blade. Go slowly around the curve so the cut piece fits back neatly.

Which one should you choose?

• Top: easiest for beginners and kids helping scoop

• Bottom: cleanest look from above, but needs a dry base

• Back: keeps the stem and a solid bottom, takes a little more care

Tips for any opening

Make the opening big enough to get your hand and a large spoon inside. The Master Gardener guide suggests scraping the inside walls until they are no more than about one inch thick, so the light shows through and the cutting is easier. It also notes that the light should sit below the design so it shines upward, and that a small chimney hole in the top can help if a lid blackens. Our post on pumpkin carving basics covers the tools and safety rules.

Whichever opening you choose, use a battery tea light or a flashlight. Fire safety groups and doctors recommend battery lights over candles, and they keep the pumpkin from cooking from the inside.

Timing matters as much as the cut. A carved pumpkin usually lasts about a week to ten days, so our post on when to carve can help you plan for Halloween night.

Questions about your pumpkins?

If you have a pumpkin question we did not cover here, we would be glad to help. Call or text us at (513) 409-0005, or send a message through our contact page. We are a family-run business right here in the Springboro, Dayton and Cincinnati area, and we are always happy to talk pumpkins.