Canning Pumpkins at Home

When Canning Pumpkins, follow USDA guidelines

You can, of course, buy pumpkins and use them for canning. Or, you can buy them at the grocery store already in cans. But, the best-tasting pumpkins are always the ones you grew yourself. They are sure a lot better than store-bought, canned pumpkin.

Note: The USDA does not recommend that you puree pumpkin before canning. Canning pumpkins in cubed form is the recommended method.

Quality: When canning, always use sound, healthy fruit. Pumpkins and squash should have a hard rind and stringless, mature pulp of ideal quality, for cooking fresh. Small-size varieties (sugar or pie varieties) are the best varieties for both eating in fresh-made recipes and for storing by canning.

How to Can Cubed Pumpkins

Wash the fruit.
Remove the seeds and pulp.
Cut the pumpkin into 1-inch-wide slices, and peel.
Cut flesh into 1-inch cubes.
Boil for 2 minutes in water.
Fill jars with pumpkin cubes and cooking liquid, leaving a 1-inch headspace.
Put on lids and tighten.
Process the filled canning jars following the recommendations in Table 1 and Table 2.
For making pies, drain jars and strain or sieve cubes. Then mash or puree.

Caution: Do not mash or puree.

Processing Time for Canning Pumpkins

Table 1. Recommended process time for Pumpkin and Winter Squash in a dial-gauge pressure canner.
			Canner Pressure (PSI) at Altitudes of
Style of Pack	Jar Size	Process Time	0 – 2,000 ft	2,001 – 4,000 ft	4,001 – 6,000 ft	6,001 – 8,000 ft
Hot	Pints Quarts	55 min 90	11 lb 11	12 lb 12	13 lb 13	14 lb 14

Table 2. Recommended process time for Pumpkin and Winter Squash in a weighted-gauge pressure canner.
			Canner Pressure (PSI) at Altitudes of
Style of Pack	Jar Size	Process Time	0 – 1,000 ft	Above 1,000 ft
Hot	Pints Quarts	55 min 90	10 lb 10	15 lb 15

Quantity: An average of 16 pounds is needed per canner load of 7 quarts; an average of 10 pounds is needed per canner load of 9 pints–an average of 2-1/4 pounds per quart.

More Information:

Pumpkin Puree

To find information on how to properly and safely can fruits and vegetables, see All About Canning by The Gardener’s Net, one of the best gardening sites online.