How to Make Pumpkin Puree + Pumpkin Puree Recipes

Have you ever wondered how to cook pumpkin for pumpkin pie? Here’s all you need to know about cooking pumpkin and making pumpkin puree. Plus, you’ll find plenty of pumpkin puree recipes to use up any extra. 

Tis the season for all things pumpkin! If I didn’t have a calendar I’d know it was mid October just by the volume of visitors to our top pumpkin recipes. Mini Pumpkin Pies are perfect for classroom parties while Vegan Pumpkin Pie was a big hit last Thanksgiving. 

I’ve always used canned pumpkin puree in the past, but this year, I wanted to experiment with making it from scratch. And I was pleasantly surprised by how easy and tasty it is. After cooking at least 5 pie pumpkins this week, I’m happy to share two of the best ways to cook pumpkin: roasting in the oven, and steaming whole in the Instant Pot. 

What Type of Pumpkin is Best for Pumpkin Puree

Have you noticed those cute little round pumpkins at the grocery store and wondered what to do with them? Pie or Sugar Pumpkins are easy to cook. Either bake or roast in the oven or steam in the Instant Pot – we’ll go over both methods here and talk about which works best vs. which is fastest. 

Sugar pie pumpkins are perfect for making homemade DIY pumpkin puree to use in pumpkin pie or other recipes, like pumpkin soups, curries, baby food, and even dog treats. I have found perfect sized pie pumpkins at Trader Joe’s lately. 1 pie pumpkin yields about 1 1/2 cups of pumpkin puree, similar to 1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin. 

How to Cook Pumpkin

There are several different ways to cook fresh pumpkin. If you’re using larger cubes in something like a curry, you could peel and then roast the chunks. If you’re wanting to stuff a whole pumpkin, you’d roast it, but not until it’s as soft as you’d want it for puree.

While some people like to steam chunks of pumpkin for puree, the methods I like best are baking/roasting in the oven or pressure cooking whole in the Instant Pot. These two methods keep excess water out of the pumpkin puree. 

How to Roast or Bake Pumpkin in the Oven 

Baking or roasting pumpkin in the oven results in the deepest pumpkin flavor, in my opinion. Roasting pumpkin in the oven is also the most fool-proof way to cook pumpkin, as it’s easy to check for doneness. The only downside is that it takes over an hour to cook. 

Step 1: How to Cut Pumpkin 

Cut the stem off the pumpkin, then carefully cut in half. A serrated knife works best here. Scoop out the seeds and any stringy pieces from the center. Keep those seeds for roasting later! 

Step 2: Roast the Pumpkin Halves

Place the pumpkin halves, cut-side-down, on a parchment lined baking sheet. If you’re making a savory dish it’s okay to season with salt and pepper, but for pumpkin puree I don’t add anything. Cover the pumpkins with a sheet of foil and roast at 350 degrees F. until very tender, about 1 1/2 hours. 

Step 3: Cool and Peel 

Let the pumpkin cool. The skin should slip right off. 

How to Cook Pumpkin in the Instant Pot

Instant pot pumpkin is quick and easy! If you don’t want to wait the hour and half it takes to roast a pumpkin, the Instant Pot works very well, just like Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash. I like to cook the pumpkin whole to so it doesn’t get too wet, but you can cook halved pieces as well. Be sure to buy a pumpkin that will fit into your pot. All of the standard-sized pie pumpkins I’ve found fit nicely in my 6-quart Instant Pot. You’ll also need a steamer basket. I found the tall trivet made the pumpkin sit too high to close the lid, but a steamer basket was perfect. 

1. Pierce the pumpkin with a sharp knife so that steam can escape. 
2. Pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot and fit with a steamer basket. 
3. Place the whole pumpkin into the steamer basket. 
4. Lock the lid, with the valve set to sealing, and set to pressure cook (high) for 13 minutes. Naturally release the pressure for 10 minutes before releasing any remaining pressure. 

How to Make Pumpkin Puree

• Cook and peel the pumpkin. 
• Discard any seeds, but save for roasting, if you’d like. 
• Cooked pumpkin flesh can be stringy. To make it smooth, blend in a food processor. 
• For soup, stews, curries, and dog food, thicker pumpkin puree is fine. For pie, it’s best to blend in a food processor. 
• Transfer pumpkin puree to a glass storage conatiner and refrigerate for up to 5 days. 

Pumpkin Puree for Dogs

If you have a dog and extra pumpkin puree, consider sharing. When one of our dogs had an upset stomach, I learned that pumpkin can help canine digestion. Our vet recommended mixing about 1/2 cup into his regular dog food. I’ve since noticed that even Whole Foods and some pet stores carry canned pumpkin puree next to the dog food. 

Pumpkin Puree Recipes

Pumpkin puree is perfect for pumpkin pie, of course, but there are many other ways to use it. Here are some of my favorite pumpkin puree recipes. 

• Curried Butternut Squash Pumpkin Soup
• Pumpkin Pie Dessert Hummus
• Vegan Pumpkin Pie
• Vegan Pumpkin Bread
• Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins
• Coconut Milk Pumpkin Ice Cream
• Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake
• Curried Pumpkin Lentil Soup
• Homemade dog treats
• Vegan Pumpkin Chili
• Vegan Pumpkin Donuts
• Add to dog food

Common Questions about Pumpkin Puree

• How do you cook pumpkin for pie? Follow the instructions here to roast or pressure cook a pie pumpkin. Make sure it’s very very tender and puree in a food processor so it’s silky smooth. 
• Can you freeze pumpkin puree? Yes! You can freeze pumpkin in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Freeze in an ice cube tray, then transfer to a freezer bag for small portions to add to smoothies. 
• How do you can pumpkin? Here‘s an article about how to can pumpkin chunks. I haven’t found any information about canning pumpkin puree. 

More How-To Cooking Resources

• How to Cook Lentils + Best Lentil Recipes
• How to Cook Quinoa + Best Quinoa Recipes
• How to Cook Chickpeas + Best Chickpea Recipes
• How to Cook Spaghetti Squash – 4 Ways! 
• How to Cook Tofu + Best Tofu Recipes
• How to Cook Tempeh + Best Tempeh Recipes
• How to Cut a Pineapple