Carving a Pumpkin? You Need Petroleum Jelly

Spooky season is here, and if you’re a big fan of Halloween, there’s a high likelihood that you’ll be carving a pumpkin this year. If you do, there’s an unexpected pantry staple that you must have.

Petroleum jelly can help keep your carved pumpkin looking perfect longer.

If you’ve used petroleum jelly on your skin, you already know it’s great for sealing in moisture. That’s why many people use it for slugging (aka sealing moisturizer into your skin overnight). It does the same thing for your pumpkin.

You’ll apply petroleum jelly to the carved edges. This will seal in the pumpkin’s moisture and prevent it from drying out and shriveling up. No one wants a wrinkled jack o’lantern. But there are some things to keep in mind before going in with the jelly.

First, you’ll want to want to sterilize your pumpkin to prevent bacterial growth. Mix a teaspoon of bleach with a quart of water and rinse both the carved inside and the outside of your pumpkin. You can place the mixture in a spray bottle to make it easier. Then, once dry, you can apply the jelly.

When you do, though, keep in mind that petroleum jelly is actually flammable. You should only use battery-operated votives inside, never an actual candle.

If you’re planning to carve a pumpkin this year, be sure you’ve got your petroleum jelly on hand, and hey, after you are done, go ahead and try slugging to keep your skin moisturized.