A few months back when I was showing pictures of the sugar pumpkins I had grown, a reader commented on them and in passing, mentioned that her dad (I think that’s what she said) had worked in a pumpkin processing plant (at first I typed “pumpkin factory” but for some reason, that made me laugh!) and that a lot of what we buy as canned pumpkin may have varieties of squash added.
Sugar Pumpkins
Within days of her comment, I began seeing articles about this – mostly concerning pumpkin drinks at Starbucks.
I’m not picking on the pumpkin industry. I’ve bought whatever is in those cans for years and I never knew the difference. It’s good stuff. It tastes like pumpkin . . or what I’ve come to think “pumpkin” tastes like. If I didn’t have my own pumpkin, I’d buy it and be happy to have it, even now knowing that it may not be all pumpkin. I just don’t see why we can’t be told the truth . . not just about pumpkin but about everything! There’s nothing wrong with saying “it’s not your business” or “you don’t need to know” or “in the interest of national security, we can’t tell you that right now”. Anything short of 100% truth is no longer truth . . in my opinion.
Pumpkin
As far as pumpkin, yes! I do know what will be in my pies this year!
I planted the seeds, I watched the vines grow, I got all excited when the first tiny little pumpkins appeared. I picked the sugar pumpkins, I peeled them til my fingers ached and canned the chunks. Then I roasted them, scooped out the pulp and froze it. It’s hard work but it’s worth it to know exactly what I’m eating and to know exactly how it was grown and how it was processed.
It kinda makes me wonder now what else we may think is one thing but it’s something else. In the end, I suppose it doesn’t matter . . so long as dessert on Thanksgiving Day tastes like pumpkin pie, we’ll all be happy.
Verna says
I used to eat Strawberries and Cream instant oatmeal–the ‘strawberries’ were actually apples with strawberry flavoring. Your pumpkin pies will be wonderful with your own pumpkin! Now I’m hungry for pumpkin pie!
Were Teddy says
It’s allowed because it’s not exactly easy to define what differentiates a pumpkin from other squash. A pumpkin is a type of squash. There are other varieties that are similar in color and taste. Are they pumpkin? Are they just squash? And so, instead of deciding upon some arbitrary defining line, the FDA allows certain related and similar varieties to be blended together and still called the same thing.
JudyL says
Yes, I read that too.
pattilynn9 says
Olive oil was recently in the news re: dilution of better grades with other inexpensive non-olive oils.
Joyce says
I love fresh pumpkin. I baked a pie pumpkin this weekend, and the last of it is in my lunch today. I like to eat it just like any other winter squash…with butter, salt and lots of black pepper. I think I have several containers of mashed pumpkin in the freezer…I went a little crazy last year…some pumpkin pudding sounds pretty good…
Jean S. says
My farm grandmother used squash at times, even carrots in her pumpkin pie and it was always delicious. Since we don’t have space for a pumpkin patch, we buy Libby’s and it’s always good.
JudyL says
Yes, Libby’s is always good, as are several other brands I use when I run out of home grown but still . . pumpkin is part of the winter squash family but not all winter squash is pumpkin and it doesn’t seem quite right as labeled when there’s a mixture and my understanding is, that depending on how well which types grow each year, there may be different combinations at different times. In the end, it doesn’t matter as far as taste but it bothers me a bit that the labeling is a bit misleading.
Jannette B. says
Here in Canada, I can buy cans labeled 100% pure pumpkin, or cans labeled as pumpkin, which state plainly on the label that it is pumpkin and squash.
Linda in NE says
My mother-in-law always used squash to make her “pumpkin” pies and so do I. I prefer butternut squash but she used all kinds. Pumpkins can be kind of stringy and butternut squash isn’t at all and I like that. Tastes great in pies and no one knows the difference. My grandchildren were amazed that grandma uses squash to make pumpkin pie. 🙂
diana in RR, TX says
I freeze both squash and pumpkin for pies
Like you said, when the spices are added it is hard to tell the difference. I freeze in just the right portions for Mom’s recipe that I use. Need to put done up this year. Never got to it last Fall.