There’s no denying canned pumpkin purée is more convenient than making it yourself, but let’s be real: you’re sacrificing how tasty your pumpkin pies can really be. But there’s good news: you can turn to the convenient canned stuff without skimping on flavor, so long as you use these make-it-better tricks.
1. CookIt on the Stove
Why ItWorks
Briefly cooking your canned pumpkin purée on the stove can help improve both the flavor and texture. This method helps reduce excess moisture, which gives the pumpkin a superior texture. It also releases the natural pumpkin flavor and helps reduce the metallic taste from the can.
How to Do It
Simply transfer the purée into a saucepan or large skillet and cook for about five minutes on medium-low heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching and sticking. You don’t want to cook or reduce thepumpkintoo much — you’re just releasing its flavor a bit. Once it’s steamy and fragrant, you’re done. Let the pumpkin cool to room temperature before proceeding with your recipe.
2. (Briefly) Roast It
WhyIt Works
The overall idea is similar to cooking it on the stove, but some find that roasting the pumpkin yields a superior, slightly toasty and nutty flavor to finished baked goods.
How to Do It
Spread the purée on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat and roast in an oven heated to 400 F for several minutes. Keep a close eye on it — you don’t want the pumpkin to burn or even to “set.” Once fragrant, remove the pumpkin and let it cool to room temperature before proceeding with your recipe.
3. Add a DIYSpice Mix
Why It Works
Pumpkin loves spice. But if your canned pumpkin ispre-mixed with spices, theywon’t do much to combat the meh flavor. You can use store-bough pumpkin pie spice mix, but these pre-mixed spices can lose thier luster if they’ve been sitting on a shelf for months. Your best bet is to DIY a fresh mixture yourself.
How to Do It
Pumpkin Spice Mix Recipe
- ⅓ cup ground cinnamon
- 1½ tablespoons ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
- 1½ teaspoons ground cloves
- 1½ teaspoons ground allspice
Mix the above together until completely combined, then place in an airtight jar until you’re ready to use.
4. Infuse It With Flavor
Why ItWorks
Combining your canned pumpkin with other flavorings found in your recipe and letting them sit for an hour or twowill infuse the pumpkin with said flavor, elevatingthe pumpkin from its straight-from-the-can taste.
How to Do It
Before baking or cooking, mix the pumpkin with any spices or flavorings called for in the recipe. For example, if you’re making a simple pumpkin pie, mix the filling ingredients and let it sit in the fridge for an hour or so before filling the pie shell and baking.
This works for savory recipes, too. Ifyou’remaking, say, a pumpkin ravioli, mix the pumpkin, cheese and any other needed spices together. Let the mixture sit in the fridge while you cut out your pasta, then assemble.
5. Use Quality Ingredients
How It Works
Regardless of how you’reusing canned pumpkin, combining it with the highest quality ingredients helpsimprove the overall flavor. For instance, say you’re making a class pumpkin pie. Combining canned pumpkin with apre-madepie crust and canned whipped cream canyield “blah” results.
How to Do It
It’s simple! Opt for fresh and homemade whenever you can. Making your own pie crust and DIYing your own whipped cream will take your pie to an entirely new level.
FAQs
When you're taking the canned pumpkin purée shortcut, it's a good idea to use fresh spices to liven up the flavor. Instead of using premixed pumpkin pie spice (which has probably been sitting around for months on a grocery store shelf), make your own by combining cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice.
What can you add to canned pumpkin to make it taste better? ›
When you're taking the canned pumpkin purée shortcut, it's a good idea to use fresh spices to liven up the flavor. Instead of using premixed pumpkin pie spice (which has probably been sitting around for months on a grocery store shelf), make your own by combining cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice.
What enhances pumpkin flavor? ›
Popular blends of pumpkin spice include warming flavors that are often found in baking, like ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and cinnamon. While different blends vary in proportions and some other spices may be be included in smaller quantities, those spices tend to be the most popular.
How do you get moisture out of canned pumpkin? ›
The easiest is to spread your puree out on a cookie sheet and blot it with a paper towel. If you have a little more time on your hands, you can put your pumpkin puree either on the stove or in the oven to cook off a bit of moisture.
What to do with tasteless pumpkin? ›
- slice it up thinly and put it on pizza.
- dice it up and add it to couscous, rice, or pasta sauce (a cream-based sauce with paprika and garlic is nice, maybe sauteed sliced onions, spinach, bacon, chicken)
- make some pumpkin pie spice and use it and the pumpkin for baking: cupcakes, brownies, whatever.
Pumpkin Puree Taste Comparison:
Fresh: Squashy/pumpkiny, subtle almost herbaceous flavor. Regular Canned: Deep, slightly intense unique flavor. Organic Canned: More similar to the fresh stuff than the regular canned, but with more flavor than homemade.
What does cinnamon do for pumpkins? ›
Covering the inside of your pumpkin with cinnamon can help inhibit mold growth. The ingredients that make the spice flammable, cinnamaldehyde and eugenol, also have antifungal and antibacterial properties that prevent mold and bacteria growth. Cinnamon is also a great pest repellent, as bugs can't stand the scent.
What cheese pairs with pumpkin? ›
Blue cheeses like gorgonzola team up well with the notes of dried fruit typical of pumpkin. Another excellent pairing is with a nice fresh goat's cheese since its acidulous notes offset the sweetness of pumpkin.
What scent compliments pumpkin? ›
Pumpkin Vanilla Scent
Both notes complement each other perfectly. Vanilla carries the proverbial mouth-watering aroma while pumpkin adds a hint of freshness and spiciness. This is the reason why many skincare products like lotions and shower gels come in the pumpkin vanilla fragrance.
How to fix a bland pumpkin pie? ›
The trick is to substitute cream cheese for the condensed milk that's typically added. This not only creates a drier filling that doesn't dampen the bottom crust, but also gives the filling a tangy flavor that boosts its pumpkin-iness without masking it.
The store-bought options are slightly cheaper. I spent about $8 on the ingredients for Libby's Easy Pumpkin Pie and Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie, and around $10 to make a pie entirely from scratch.
Should you cook canned pumpkin? ›
Pumpkin puree is made by steaming and pureeing squash so there are no added ingredients. Is canned pumpkin cooked? Yes, it's already been cooked via steaming. It's safe to eat canned pumpkin straight from the can, but it's infinitely better baked into a pan of pumpkin bars.
Why did my pumpkin turn to mush? ›
When fruit is in contact with moist soil for long periods of time, rot organisms such as phytophthora blight can cause problems. Soft sunken spots form where the fruit touches the soil, and if the conditions are good for the fungus, it can cause complete collapse of the fruit.
How to wring out pumpkin puree? ›
Put a fine mesh strainer over a bowl, and then line it with a double layer of cheesecloth. Wrap the puree in cheesecloth and gently squeeze to release the liquid.
How can I eat pumpkin from the can? ›
Some canned pumpkin is just pumpkin. It has been cooked- that's part of the canning process. You could eat it from the can, but you would probably like it better with a little spice and butter as a side dish. Some canned pumpkin is 'pumpkin pie filling' and has had spices and perhaps egg or cream added.
Why does my pumpkin soup taste bland? ›
If you think the soup is bland, try adding salt to make all the flavors pop. Use All The Spices Listed. I know it might seem like a long list, but they are all delicious and important for giving the soup a warm and spicy quality: Thyme, Cumin, Ginger, Poultry Seasoning and Cinnamon.
What is the difference between pumpkin puree and canned pumpkin? ›
Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing, and you'll often see the terms used interchangeably in recipes and cookbooks. Unlike pumpkin pie mix, canned pumpkin does not have any spices, sugars, or other additives. In many cases, the only ingredient is pumpkin.
