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Pumpkin-carving pro Michael Natiello recommends starting with a fresh, stable pumpkin, cutting an opening in the bottom and thinning the carving area to about 1¼ inches. He also suggests sealing cut edges with petroleum jelly and soaking a shriveled pumpkin in cold water, though the advice does not specify how many extra days these steps may add.
A Halloween carving guide featuring advice from Michael Natiello, a pumpkin-carving pro and creative director for The Great Jack-o’-Lantern Blaze, recommends opening a jack-o’-lantern from the bottom, carefully preparing its interior and sealing exposed cuts to help it keep its shape. The steps offer practical ways to improve carving results and slow visible shriveling, though no specific lifespan or guarantee is given.
The advice starts with choosing a pumpkin that is fresh, unbruised and steady, with a sturdy stem and flat base. Natiello recommends cutting the opening from the bottom, a method the guide says can help prevent the pumpkin’s sides from caving in. If the carver prefers a top opening, the lid should be cut at an angle so it does not fall inside when replaced.
After removing seeds and pulp with a scoop or an ice cream scoop, the guide recommends thinning the wall behind the face to about 1¼ inches. A paper design can be taped to the pumpkin and traced by poking holes along its lines. Natiello suggests holding the pumpkin so its face points upward while carving and using a serrated kitchen knife or an X-Acto knife; intricate designs may call for a small saw. The guide advises straight, up-and-down cuts rather than angled slices.
For a cleaner result, the instructions recommend removing larger pieces first, then returning to tidy the edges. Cut scraps can become details such as a tongue or an accessory. To slow drying, Natiello recommends applying petroleum jelly to cut edges. If the pumpkin shrivels, the guide says a facedown soak in cold water for up to eight hours may help restore it. It also suggests battery-operated votives or lights as alternatives to a candle.
Halloween craft guide · Expert advice
How to Carve a Pumpkin That Lasts Longer and Looks Better
A fresh, steady pumpkin and a few careful carving choices can make a cleaner jack-o’-lantern. Pro carver Michael Natiello shares ways to prepare, cut and care for it—with no promised number of extra display days.
Advice attributed to Michael Natiello, creative director of The Great Jack-o’-Lantern Blaze
01 / Start with a strong canvas
Choose, open, prepare
Good preparation can make carving easier and help the finished shape hold together.
Pick
Fresh and stable
Look for a pumpkin that is unbruised, steady on a flat base, and has a sturdy stem.
Open
Cut from below
Natiello recommends a bottom opening, which the guide says can help prevent the sides from caving in. Prefer a top lid? Cut it at an angle so it cannot drop inside.
Thin
Clear the carving area
Scoop out seeds and pulp, then thin the wall behind the face to about 1¼ inches for an easier cut.
02 / From sketch to clean edges
Carve in a controlled sequence
Build the design in stages, then return to refine the details.
Plan the pattern
Tape a paper design on and trace its lines by poking holes.
Set the angle
Point the pumpkin’s face upward while you work.
Choose a tool
Use a serrated kitchen knife or X-Acto knife; small saws suit fine details.
Cut straight
Make up-and-down cuts instead of angled slices.
Refine last
Remove larger pieces first, then tidy the edges. Reuse scraps for details.
03 / Keep it looking presentable
Care tips, with realistic expectations
These are suggestions for appearance and moisture—not measured preservation results.
After carving
Spread petroleum jelly over the cut edges to help seal in moisture and slow visible drying.
If the pumpkin starts to shrivel, try a facedown soak in cold water for up to eight hours. It may help restore its appearance, but recovery is not guaranteed.
The guide does not say how many extra days either method may add.
For illumination
Battery-operated votives or lights offer an alternative to a candle inside the pumpkin.
Use care with flames and blades
Keep hands clear of knife paths and supervise any lit candle. The guide mentions these risks but does not provide a complete safety checklist.
Optional finishing touches
A brief candle burn may blacken the lid; the guide suggests cutting a small chimney opening there. Cinnamon inside the lid is offered for scent, not longer life.
Practical tips are described; no testing conditions, weather comparison or number of added display days is reported.
04 / Quick answers
Before the Halloween display
Choose your opening, prepare the pattern, then carve and monitor the pumpkin.
Top or bottom opening?
A bottom opening may help prevent the sides from caving in. If you cut a top lid, angle it so it does not fall inside.
How thick should the wall be?
Thin the area behind the design to about 1¼ inches.
What may help it last longer?
Apply petroleum jelly to cut edges. The guide does not quantify any change in display life.
Can a shriveled pumpkin recover?
A facedown cold-water soak for up to eight hours may help; the outcome is not guaranteed.
Keeping a Jack-o’-Lantern Presentable
A carved pumpkin can lose moisture and sag before Halloween, making timing and preparation relevant for people displaying one outdoors. The recommendations address two common concerns: making features easier to cut and keeping the finished design from drying out too quickly. Selecting a stable pumpkin, opening it from the bottom and thinning the carving area can make the work more manageable, while sealing exposed edges and trying a cold-water soak may help with appearance.
These are practical suggestions, not a stated preservation guarantee. The guide does not report testing results, quantify how long a treated pumpkin lasts, or compare the methods with untreated pumpkins. Readers can use the steps as advice while keeping expectations realistic about how long a carved pumpkin will stay fresh.
pumpkin carving kit with saw and scoops
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A Step-by-Step Halloween Guide
The guidance appears in a seasonal Good Housekeeping article about carving a jack-o’-lantern, covering the process from choosing a pumpkin to lighting it. It is framed for beginners and experienced carvers alike, with preparation, cutting technique and freshness tips grouped into a single set of instructions.
The article attributes the opening and carving recommendations to Michael Natiello. It also suggests leaving a lid on briefly while a candle burns, then cutting a small opening where the lid has blackened to create a chimney. Cinnamon sprinkled inside the lid is offered as an optional way to add a pie-like scent. The guide does not say that these finishing ideas extend the pumpkin’s life.
How Long the Advice May Help
The guide does not provide a measured estimate for how many days petroleum jelly or a cold-water soak may add to a pumpkin’s display life. It also gives no test conditions, comparison with untreated pumpkins, or details on how outdoor temperature and weather affect the results. The soak is described as a possible way to revive a shriveled pumpkin, not a guarantee that it will recover.
The instructions mention both sharp carving tools and open-flame candles but do not provide a full safety checklist. Carvers should use knives carefully, keep hands clear of cutting paths, and supervise any lit candle; battery-operated lights are offered as an alternative.
Before the Halloween Display
The next step for anyone following the guide is to choose a fresh pumpkin and prepare a design before cutting. Carvers can decide whether to make a bottom opening or an angled top lid, clear out the pulp, and work through the design in rough cuts before refining its edges. Once finished, they can apply petroleum jelly to exposed cuts and monitor the pumpkin for signs of drying.
No follow-up testing or later update is identified. The guide leaves the timing of carving to individual plans and does not establish a best number of days before Halloween to begin.
Source: rss
Key Questions
Should I cut the pumpkin open from the top or bottom?
The guide attributes a bottom opening to Michael Natiello, who says it can help prevent the sides from caving in. If cutting from the top, make the lid at an angle so it does not fall into the pumpkin.
How thick should the pumpkin wall be behind the design?
The recommendation is to thin the wall behind the face to about 1¼ inches, which can make the shell easier to cut.
What can help a carved pumpkin last longer?
Natiello recommends spreading petroleum jelly on the cut edges to help seal in moisture. The guide does not quantify how much longer this may keep a pumpkin fresh.
Can a shriveled pumpkin be revived?
The guide says a pumpkin that has started to shrivel may be soaked facedown in cold water for up to eight hours. It does not promise that the pumpkin will return to its earlier condition.
What can I use instead of a candle?
The guide suggests Christmas lights or battery-operated votives as alternatives to a candle inside the pumpkin.
Source: rss
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