Pumpkins are fresh at the market this season. And while we are all tired of hearing about pumpkin spice lattes, we may be wondering if it's worth the effort of hacking through a fresh pumpkin's thick skin, when all you need is a can opener for canned pumpkin puree. If you're like me and  have a sudden urge to bake with pumpkin, which frequently happens during the fall, it seems so easy to resort to cans.

However, I find that depending on how it is used, canned and fresh pumpkin tastes similar. So here’s my cheat sheet for when to use canned or fresh pumpkin, plus I wanted to share a few of my favorite pumpkin recipes. We’d love to hear how you are using pumpkin!

Canned

Fresh

  • Chunks in soups or stews
  • Use as a vessel to serve as an “edible bowl”

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. (center) is flanked by GOP whip Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (left) and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as Thune speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Earlier Tuesday, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

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