In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleThe Best Canned PumpkinOur Taste TestFrequently Asked QuestionsOur Trusted Expertise
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
The Best Canned Pumpkin
Our Taste Test
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Trusted Expertise
Photo:Courtesy of Brand. EatingWell Design.
Courtesy of Brand. EatingWell Design.
If there is one flavor synonymous with fall baking and cooking, it’s pumpkin (sorry, apple!). From sweet treats likeHigh-Protein Pumpkin BreadandPumpkin Spice Energy Ballsto savory appetizers likePumpkin-Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Rolls, the squash is bound to end up on your table during the fall season. And there’s one ingredient you’ll need on hand to make your dreams come true: canned pumpkin—a convenient, shelf-stable shortcut.
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Courtesy of Brand
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Alex Loh
Frequently Asked QuestionsPumpkin puree is mashed cooked pumpkin. The majority of canned pumpkin comes from Dickinson pumpkins, which are also called Dickinson squash. A Dickinson pumpkin is tan with uniform, smooth skin, not like the pumpkins you might carve. If the label on your canned pumpkin says 100% pumpkin, then it’s all pumpkin. However, some companies may be using a mix of pumpkin and winter squash in their puree. The FDA does not have a distinct definition between what it calls a pumpkin and what it calls a squash, so companies can use a blend of squash to create the perfect puree.Although pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling can be found in the same aisle of the grocery store, they have one key difference: the seasoning. Pumpkin puree doesn’t have any added seasonings or flavors, whereas pumpkin pie filling does. Typically, pumpkin pie filling will have sugar andpumpkin spice, which is a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and ginger. Pumpkin pie filling is handy if you’re baking, as it already includes ingredients you’re likely to add, but you wouldn’t want to use it in a savory dish like ourGnocchi with Bacon & Creamy Pumpkin Sauce. That’s why pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling are not interchangeable.Yes, canned pumpkin is healthy because pumpkin is packed withnutritional benefits. Pumpkin contains beta carotene, an antioxidant that not only gives pumpkin its orange color but also helps reduce inflammation. The squash also contains vitamins A and C, which support eye health and immune health. Pumpkin also has fiber and potassium, two nutrients that help our digestive system and blood pressure, respectively.
Pumpkin puree is mashed cooked pumpkin. The majority of canned pumpkin comes from Dickinson pumpkins, which are also called Dickinson squash. A Dickinson pumpkin is tan with uniform, smooth skin, not like the pumpkins you might carve. If the label on your canned pumpkin says 100% pumpkin, then it’s all pumpkin. However, some companies may be using a mix of pumpkin and winter squash in their puree. The FDA does not have a distinct definition between what it calls a pumpkin and what it calls a squash, so companies can use a blend of squash to create the perfect puree.
Although pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling can be found in the same aisle of the grocery store, they have one key difference: the seasoning. Pumpkin puree doesn’t have any added seasonings or flavors, whereas pumpkin pie filling does. Typically, pumpkin pie filling will have sugar andpumpkin spice, which is a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and ginger. Pumpkin pie filling is handy if you’re baking, as it already includes ingredients you’re likely to add, but you wouldn’t want to use it in a savory dish like ourGnocchi with Bacon & Creamy Pumpkin Sauce. That’s why pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling are not interchangeable.
Yes, canned pumpkin is healthy because pumpkin is packed withnutritional benefits. Pumpkin contains beta carotene, an antioxidant that not only gives pumpkin its orange color but also helps reduce inflammation. The squash also contains vitamins A and C, which support eye health and immune health. Pumpkin also has fiber and potassium, two nutrients that help our digestive system and blood pressure, respectively.
Alex Lohis the associate food editor atEatingWelland has more than four years of experience with the brand. She has tested hundreds of products, from kitchen tools to foods like canned tuna and hot dogs. For this article, testers included a registered dietitian and food editors.
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