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
Other tips for leveling up your canned pumpkin
Whether it's a stick of cinnamon for a sweet dish or a sprig of fresh herbs for a savory dish, it'll allow you to bring in a very subtle hint of added flavor.
What can I add to canned pumpkin to make it taste better? ›
Other tips for leveling up your canned pumpkin
Whether it's a stick of cinnamon for a sweet dish or a sprig of fresh herbs for a savory dish, it'll allow you to bring in a very subtle hint of added flavor.
How to improve the taste of pumpkin? ›
Seasoning canned pumpkin purée with spices is a surefire way to improve the flavor. But don't stop at a teaspoon of cinnamon powder or a dash of nutmeg there. To really take advantage of spices' power, you've got to let them infuse into the veggie mash.
How to eat pumpkin from a can? ›
We eat it steamed or baked. Much smoother than trying to puree it at home. Soups are much smoother and creamier made with canned puree. The same goes for baked goods-no stringy, fibrous bits or chunks in pumpkin pie, bread, or cheesecake!
What brings out pumpkin Flavour? ›
Pumpkin is notorious for pairing well with warm winter spices – as found in a variety of Moroccan-inspired cuisines. Try incorporating cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cumin and chilli with your pumpkin dishes for flavour-packed feasts.
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.
To complement pumpkin with sweet flavor pairings, consider using spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and vanilla, or sweet ingredients like chocolate, maple, honey, cranberries or brown sugar. Create savory dishes by pairing pumpkin with spices like chilies, cajun, cayenne or pepper.
Can you eat pumpkin straight out of the can? ›
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.
What does milk do for pumpkins? ›
Milk has calcium in it, pumpkins like calcium as it allows them to uptake various nutrients. Maybe that's where the connection is for people.
What is canned pumpkin supposed to taste like? ›
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.
Canned pumpkin is just as nutritious as purée made from scratch, and it's much easier and more convenient, Ms. Lynett said. Just be sure to buy plain pumpkin purée and not pumpkin pie filling, which can have added sugar and sodium and may not provide as much fiber, she added.
Why is canned pumpkin better than fresh? ›
The canned option had a more powerful pumpkin flavor and a silkier texture. While some of my colleagues preferred the apple sauce-like texture of the fresh, I can't say all that extra work of cleaning, roasting and pureeing a whole pumpkin is worth it, especially during a busy holiday season.
Is canned pumpkin good for dogs? ›
Pumpkin is a delicious addition to a human diet, but it also has a number of health benefits for your dog. Mineral and vitamin-packed. Pumpkin contains vitamins like A, C, and E, as well as minerals like iron and potassium. Feeding plain canned pumpkin gives a great boost to your dog's nutrition.
How do you intensify pumpkin flavor? ›
Ruth Reichl's Tip: Roast Your Pumpkin Purée
Not only does roasting deepen the flavor of the pumpkin, but it bakes off some of the moisture in the purée, ensuring a more custard-like pie with less risk of a soggy crust.
What is the most flavorful pumpkin? ›
Butternut pumpkin (called butternut squash in the US) tends to be the top choice when it comes to roasting. Butternut pumpkin has dense, slightly sweet flesh and is by far one of the most versatile varieties in the kitchen.
How do you elevate a store bought pumpkin pie? ›
7 Ways to Upgrade Store-Bought Pumpkin Pie
- Pile it high with a meringue topping. ...
- Add a brûléed topping. ...
- Drizzle it with warm caramel sauce. ...
- Give it a streusel topping. ...
- Top with Greek yogurt. ...
- Give it a chocolate magic shell topping. ...
- Spoon cranberry sauce over the top.
Keep leftover pumpkin puree and canned pumpkin in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It'll keep there for a week. If you don't think you can use up your pumpkin within that time, you can freeze it for up to a year. Seal it up in a zip-top freezer bag (be sure to label it) and toss it into the freezer.
Is Libby's Pure pumpkin actually pumpkin? ›
Libby's, the quintessential canned pumpkin brand, uses a proprietary strain of the Dickinson pumpkin variety in their product, which is also often called a Dickinson squash. On Libby's website, it states that their product is 100 percent pumpkin.
Why does my pumpkin soup taste bland? ›
If it tastes bland, add more salt. The salt definitely brings out all the flavors from that long list of spices. Stir in maple syrup. Divide into four bowls and top with 1/2 tablespoon of pepitas and 1 tablespoon of heavy cream (optional).
