Exact Answer: 3 Days To 5 Days
If you are planning to carve some pumpkins for any festivities such as Halloween or any special occasion such as Halloween-themed parties, it becomes an important question so that they do not go bad on a special day.
How Long Do Pumpkins Last After Carving?
| The atmosphere during which pumpkin has been carved | Time |
| Summer season (high temperature) | 2 days to 3 days |
| Winter season (low temperature) | 4 days to 5 days |
| Humid conditions (excess of moisture in the atmosphere) | 1 day to 2 days |
There are a couple of factors on which the time for how long pumpkins last after carving depends such as the amount of carving that is done on the pumpkin, the state of the pumpkin if any extra measures are taken, or not, and other such factors.
Though all these factors are time determining, apart from all these factors, there is one major factor that should be considered while calculating the time for how long a pumpkin would last after it has been carved.
That one major determining factor is the season or weather during which the pumpkin has been carved. For example, if the season during which the pumpkin has been carved is summer, winter, humid, arid, or any other such season.
In most general cases, pumpkins go bad after a minimum of 2 days to a maximum of 3 days on average once they have been carved in the summer season. Though it must be considered that the amount of heat varies from place to place during summer.
On average, pumpkins last for about a minimum of 4 days to a maximum of 5 days for pumpkins to go bad once they have been carved when the temperature of the environment is low.
Lastly, if the atmosphere is humid during the times when a pumpkin is being carved, it takes less time for them to go bad. On average, pumpkins last for about a minimum of 1 day to a maximum of 2 days when they are carved during the atmosphere of humidity.
Why Do Pumpkins Last That Long After Being Carved?
The major reason behind why the season during which the pumpkin is being carved plays a vital role in determining the time for how long a carved pumpkin would last is mainly because of the temperature of the environment.
It is quite obvious that during summers the temperature of the environment is high as compared to the temperature of the environment during other seasons of the year. High temperature results in the disintegration of the cells of the pumpkin.
In other words, it can be said that cells fail to function in high temperatures. The reason behind that is that their walls, which are also known as cell walls rupture in high temperatures. As a result, the pumpkins go bad in a very short duration of time.
While on the other hand, if the season or the weather when a pumpkin has been carved in winters, that is to say, that the temperature is low, then it takes significantly less time for the pumpkin to go bad after being carved.
The reason behind that is that low temperatures are more favorable for cells to function properly. But it must be considered that extremely low temperatures, such as minus 20 degrees Celsius or minus 30 degrees Celciusdisintegrates can make cells fail to function.
Lastly, if the weather during which the pumpkins have been carved is humid, then it takes the least amount of time for pumpkins to go bad as compared to all other cases. The major reason behind that is the moisture present in the atmosphere.
Conclusion
Apart from the heat, moisture is another factor, and the most prominent factor responsible for pumpkins to go bad after being carved. Thus, it is always recommended to carve pumpkins when the atmosphere is not humid and also keep them away from water.
To protect pumpkins from going bad and increase their shelf life after they have been carved, the most prominent way is to wash them once with chlorine to kill all the bacteria present in them which might make the pumpkins rot.
