Six ways to use your pumpkins after Halloween

LOS ANGELES - Pumpkins make great Jack-o-lanterns and Halloween decorations, but don’t simply throw them out when you’re done. An uncarved, healthy pumpkin can last 8-12 weeks, and your pumpkins have more uses than you realize. 

Sick of washing the dishes? Turn your pumpkins into serving bowls before tossing them. They can also make great vases or planters for flowers. 

Roast the seeds for a scrumptious snack. All you need is some oil and salt. Have them on their own or throw them in a salad or trail mix. If you have more seeds than you know what to do with and have a decent sized garden, plant some for next year. 

If you want to get more involved in the kitchen, try making some pumpkin puree out of the flesh. It’s the key ingredient for pumpkin pie, soup, pancakes, bread, muffins, hummus, and even your very own pumpkin spice latte. You’ll need to have some special equipment to do so, but you can also transform that flesh into pumpkin beer or pumpkin ice cream.

If pumpkin doesn’t tingle your taste buds, why not wear it? Because pumpkins are rich in zinc and vitamins A, C and E --  pumpkin puree makes a great face mask that will exfoliate your skin.

And if you love the smell of pumpkin, add some spices to the lid and throw a candle in it for some pumpkin potpourri. 

Or return your pumpkin to nature. Donate them to local farms for pig feed, or fashion it into a feeder for birds or deer.

Watch the video to see the pumpkin possibilities!