Cook Fast, Live Young: Tips for Picking Out the Perfect Halloween Pumpkin

It's at the top of your Halloween shopping list: getting a pumpkin! But what size is best? What type? Finding the perfect pumpkin doesn't have to be hard, but the first step is deciding what you will use the pumpkin for. Once you've decided that, it's easy to narrow it down.

No matter what variety, you'll want to look for a pumpkin that feels firm and heavy for its size. To see if the pumpkin is fresh, turn it over and place pressure on the bottom with your thumb. Does it flex or give at all? Look for another one. Any soft spots, mold, wrinkles, or open cuts are also best avoided.

Carving pumpkins with the kids - If your goal is to make a lasting holiday memory, it can be a lot more fun to go the pumpkin patch so your child can learn first-hand where these brightly-colored vegetables come from. Many farms make it an experience, allowing you to pet farm animals, climb on haystacks, and drink some apple cider. What could be better for a cheap afternoon with the kids?

The pumpkin variety you want to look for is the Jack-O-Lantern which is bred for the purpose of carving. You want a firmly attached stem. If it's a green stem, it means the pumpkin was freshly harvested. And don't forget to put the pumpkin on a flat surface to make sure it will sit well after you've carved it up!

Painting pumpkins - Are you changing it up this year by painting your pumpkin instead of carving it? Then you'll want to find varieties that have smooth skin and shallow ribbing, such as Orange Smoothie, Cotton Candy and Lumina. If you use non-toxic paint, you can often eat them later, too!

Creating autumn decorations - If you're looking to create some fall décor for your home, it's easy to do with a few well-chosen pumpkins. Be sure to select different colors: orange-red, orange, white, yellow, dark green, blue, green, tan, mahogany and striped. Select different sizes--and consider purchasing some gourds and Indian corn for additional variety.

Making pumpkin pie - If you want to eat your pumpkin, then looks are secondary. You want to look for certain varieties that are known to be tasty, such as the Cinderella, Pink Banana, Sugar Pie and Blue Hubbard.

Toasting pumpkin seeds - Of course, any pumpkin will work. They all have seeds, but if you want seeds that don't have a hull, you can try the Kakai pumpkin. With their bright orange and green stripes, they also make for a beautiful decoration!

Baking breads, cakes or cookies - If you want for a rich, sweet, and buttery pumpkin, try the Sweet Meat variety. It's not attractive on the outside with a color that's almost gray, but the inside is a brilliant orange that tastes just as good as it looks. Unfortunately, it's not usually available on the West Coast, but the rest of the country can enjoy!

Juliana Weiss-Roessler has ten years of professional writing and editing experience. For four years, she managed the web content for the star of an Emmy-nominated reality series. Currently, she is an editor for the geek girl e-zine PinkRaygun.com, a contributor to the career blog at Resumark.com, and owner of the food blog CookFastLiveYoung.blogspot.com. Follow her @cookfast on Twitter and learn more about her work at WeissRoessler.com.