How To Make Pumpkin Puree

This Homemade Pumpkin puree is so easy to make and so much better than the store-bought one. Effortlessly cook moist, fork-tender pumpkin in your Instant Pot, no need to peel or cut the pumpkin. Enjoy fresh pumpkin puree in your favorite pie, cake, soups, and so much more. Post also includes Oven, slow cooker, and microwave options.

Jump to:

• About Pumpkin
• Winter Squash vs Summer Squash
• Ingredient To Make Pumpkin Puree
• How To Make Pumpkin Puree
• Tips For Delicious Pumpkin Puree
• Storage
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Fall Favorites
• Homemade Pumpkin Puree

About Pumpkin

Pumpkin is an absolute favorite during this time of the year especially during the holidays. A variety of winter squash is round with smooth, slightly ribbed skin, and is a mostly deep yellow to orange in color.

Pumpkin typically weighs around three to eighteen pounds. It has mild, nutty, yellow-orange flesh. Pumpkin is a good source of dietary fiber, potassium, and smaller amounts of Vitamins C and B, magnesium, and manganese. See more health benefits at healthline.com

Pumpkins can be baked, sautéed, microwaved, or even steamed. Pumpkin has a mild and nutty flavor, it can be used in sweet or savory dish. I like to use pumpkin in curries, stir fry, desserts, and soups.

You may also like this recipe - How to cook Acorn Squash perfectly.

Winter Squash vs Summer Squash

Summer squash is harvested when young, while the outer skin (rind) is still tender and edible (most varieties). Winter squash are harvested in autumn when they are fully mature, the skin(rind) is hard and ripe.

Summer squash grows in bushes, unlike winter squash which grows on vines.

Summer squash has a short storage span, unlike winter squash can be stored for a longer period, and can be enjoyed over the winters.

Pic Shown: Homemade Pumpkin Puree

Ingredient To Make Pumpkin Puree

1. 1 pie pumpkin or sugar pumpkin
2. ½ cup water
3. 1-2 tablespoons water, for blending (Optional)

How To Make Pumpkin Puree

Autumn reminds me of this wonderful pumpkin, that has a mild and nutty flavor, and is so versatile. Use it in your favorite sweet or savory dishes throughout the year.

You can roast the pumpkin in an oven, steam it, or sauté it. I have shared different ways of cooking pumpkins in this post. Whichever method you pick, the result is going to be just amazing.

Step 1: Prep The Pumpkin

Clean Pumpkin - Wash and dry the pumpkin. You can use one of the methods described below to make homemade pumpkin puree.

Cut The Pumpkin In Half (optional) – Depending upon the size of the pumpkin and the size of the Instant Pot, you may have to cut the pumpkin.

Cut the stem off and place it cut side down on the cutting board. This helps secure the pumpkin from rolling over the board. Cut the pumpkin in half lengthwise.

Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds from the squash. Save the seeds for later use. I clean the seeds and roast them with olive oil, salt, and pepper. They make a perfect munching in between the meals.

Step 2: Cook The Pumpkin

You can use Instant Pot, oven, microwave, or slow cooker for this recipe. Sharing all 4 methods below:

Method 1: Using Instant Pot

1. Add ½ cup of water into the inner pot and place a trivet.
2. Place the pumpkin on the trivet, stem side up. Close the lid, vent sealed. Note: For pumpkin halves, place the cut side up.
3. Turn ON MANUAL / PRESSURE COOK (high), for 20 minutes. Allow 10 minutes of natural pressure release. NOTE: For small to medium (around 2 ½ – 3 lbs.) pumpkin, cooking time is 20 minutes. For large (around 4 lbs.) pumpkin cooking time is 25-30 minutes.
4. Carefully remove the trivet. Transfer the pumpkin to a plate. Discard the stem, and cut the pumpkin in half. Using a spoon, remove the seeds and scoop out the pumpkin pulp. Note: Save the seeds for later use.

Pic Shown: Homemade pumpkin puree using Instant Pot

Pic Shown: Homemade Pumpkin Puree

Method 2: How To Roast Pumpkin In An Oven

This method comes in handy especially if you are cooking big. You can easily cook 4-5 pie pumpkins at the same time, use some, and freeze the rest for later use. Here’s how I prepare pumpkin puree using an oven.

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
2. Cut the stem off and place it cut side down on the cutting board. This helps secure the pumpkin from rolling over the board. Cut the pumpkin in half lengthwise.
3. Place the pumpkin on a baking sheet or dish, cut side up.
4. Roast the pumpkin for 55-60 minutes, or until fork-tender. Transfer the pumpkin to a plate. Using a spoon, remove the seeds and scoop out the pumpkin pulp. Note: Save the seeds for later use.

Method 3: Microwave The Pumpkin

Yes, you can also cook pumpkin in a microwave. Here’s how to do it.

1. On a microwave-safe plate, place the pumpkin halves, and cut side up. Add 3-4 tablespoons of water to the plate.
2. Cover the pumpkin with a microwave-safe dish. Note: I like to use this Microwave Splatter Cover, to cover the pumpkin.
3. Cook the pumpkin for 15-20 minutes or until fork-tender. Carefully, remove the plate from the microwave. Using a spoon, remove the seeds and scoop out the pumpkin pulp. Note: Save the seeds for later use.

Method 4: Using Slow Cooker

Love cooking in a slow cooker? Here’s how to make pumpkin puree in a slow cooker.

1. Add ½ cup of water to the slow cooker.
2. Place the pumpkin halves, and cut side up.
3. Cook the pumpkin for 3 hours, or until fork-tender. Transfer the pumpkin to a plate. Using a spoon, remove the seeds and scoop out the pumpkin pulp. Note: Save the seeds for later use.

Step 3: Puree The Cooked Pumpkin

Place the pumpkin pulp into a food processor or a blender. Carefully blend it into a fine puree.

Pic Shown: Homemade Pumpkin Puree

Tips For Delicious Pumpkin Puree

Choose The Right Pumpkin

Pick the pie or sugar pumpkins for this recipe. They are smaller in size, around 3-4 pounds, are more flavorful, and have less water content. During fall, around August-end, beginning of September, you will see them in supermarkets. They are not the same as the large pumpkin, which is typically used for carving Jack-O-Lanterns.

For Instant Pot Pumpkin Puree

Depending upon the size of the pumpkin, adjust the cooking time. For small to medium pumpkin (around 2 ½ - 3 lbs.), the cooking time is 20 minutes. For a large pumpkin (around 4 lbs.) cooking time is 25-30 minutes.

I used the whole pumpkin for this recipe, and it easily fits into my 8-quarts IP. If the pumpkin is too large to fit in the IP, cut it into half vertically, place it cut side up, and follow the recipe.

Allow natural pressure release for 10 minutes, and then release the remaining pressure manually. Carefully remove the pumpkin and place it on a plate. Remove the stem, and cut the pumpkin in half. Scoop out the seeds, and save them for later use. Peel slides off easily, discard the peel and use the pulp.

For The Smooth Consistency Puree

Puree the pulp to a smooth consistency using a high-speed blender or in a food processor. I found blender works great to achieve smooth consistency puree.

Use minimum water to blend it into the puree. Add 1 tablespoon at a time or as required to blend it to a smooth consistency. Add a small amount of pulp to the blender and puree it. And then add the rest, this way you will not require any additional water for blending.

If there is a lot of moisture in the puree, strain the puree through a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer. In a clean bowl, place a strainer and line it with a cheesecloth. Add the puree to the cheesecloth, and let it sit for 30-60 minutes. This will help remove any access moisture from the puree.

Storage

Pumpkin puree will stay fresh for up to a week in the refrigerator. Store the puree in an airtight container.

You can also freeze the puree for up to 3 months. Store it in a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag. Remove any access air, and lay flat in the freezer. Defrost in the refrigerator or on your kitchen counter, and use it as suggested in the recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why make pumpkin puree at home?

Homemade pumpkin puree is so easy to make. You can effortlessly make fresh pumpkin puree at home in no time.

I love to bake pies and bread using fresh homemade puree. These fresh baked goods turn out to be very light and have a pleasant flavor, as compared to the store-bought pumpkin puree.

How to buy a pumpkin?

For the pumpkin puree, pie pumpkin or sugar pumpkin are the best picks. Pie pumpkins are small in size and weigh around 3-4 pounds. These are less in water content and are more flavorful than the large pumpkins, which are typically used for carving Jack-o-lantern.

After cooking the pumpkin, and discarding the seeds and the peel, you end up with about a pound of puree. To make one 9-inch pumpkin pie, you will need about one pound of pumpkin puree.

During the fall, you can find pumpkins in most grocery stores, in the produce department. At the farmers market, or your local pumpkin patch. Look for pie or sugar pumpkin to make homemade pumpkin puree.

Substitute for pumpkin?

I find sweet potato, butternut squash, and acorn squash, make a great alternative to pumpkin. You can use these winter squash interchangeably in the recipe, and they all taste amazing.

Canned Pumpkin vs Pumpkin Puree

Pumpkin puree is pure pumpkin blended to a smooth consistency. However, canned pumpkin is not always 100% pumpkin. It is a blend of mixed winter squashes such as acorn, butternut squash, and pumpkin. Depending upon the brand, the canned pumpkin will be different in taste and flavor.

Pumpkin Puree vs Pumpkin Pie Filling

Pumpkin puree is pure pumpkin blended to a smooth consistency. Pumpkin pie filling is a blend of pumpkin puree with some warm aromatic spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and is sweetened.

How much water is required for pressure-cooking pumpkin?

For Instant Pot cooking, I add only ½ cup of water to the inner pot. This helps the Instant pot build the pressure and to cook the pumpkin.

Can I double this recipe in an Instant Pot?

Yes, you can double this recipe depending upon the size of the Instant Pot. Cut the pumpkin in half so that you can fit the pumpkin in the Instant Pot.

How to cut the pumpkin?

I find this very helpful when cutting any kind of squash. I simply microwave the squash for a minute, and using a sharp knife cut the squash. Microwaving the squash helps soften the outer skin, thus making it easier to cut. Try this tip and let me know.

How to use pumpkin puree?

Pumpkin puree can be used in sweet as well as savory dishes. Some of my family favorites are pumpkin pie, Pumpkin Banana Nut Bread, pumpkin pancakes, Pumpkin Cheesecake, pumpkin spice latte, Pumpkin Chocolate Babka, and the list goes on. Enjoy this homemade, fresh, pumpkin puree in your favorite dish.

Pic Shown: Homemade Pumpkin Puree

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