The pumpkin season in Spain runs from the beginning of summer to the end of autumn. It is in these months when we can find the freshest pumpkin specimens.
However, out of season we can also find pumpkins of national origin and quality if they have been stored and, therefore, properly preserved. But beware, it is easy to stumble upon some old pumpkins that have lost their flavor, texture, aesthetics and organoleptic qualities.
In this article we are going to teach you how to distinguish a quality pumpkin from an old pumpkin . And to help you we have recorded a video that you will find below. For now, we invite you to keep reading because we have a lot of interesting things to tell you.
In-season vs. out-of-season pumpkins
Pumpkin is a fruit that can be found throughout the year in greengrocers and supermarkets. When in season, the origin is national. In our case, our pumpkin plantations in Spain are mainly in the Huerta de Valencia, as well as in Castilla La Mancha, Catalonia and Murcia.
Out of season, that is, during the winter and spring, the pumpkins you find in supermarkets have two origins:
- Domestically grown pumpkins that have been stored for market release when fresh pumpkins are no longer available.
- Imported pumpkins, grown in other countries.
And here, in these two origins, is where the crux of this article lies.
1. Out-of-season domestically grown pumpkins: the secret is in storage
Depending on the variety, pumpkins can be stored for a maximum of 8 months without losing their organoleptic characteristics, i.e., their texture, flavor, aroma, nutritional qualities, natural coloring, etc.
If a pumpkin has been properly stored, it will not be easy to differentiate it from a fresh pumpkin in season, since its properties will remain practically intact.
Preserving pumpkins has its particularities and not all companies do it in the same way, and this is noticeable in the quality and durability of the product.
At Peris we only store pumpkins of the peanut and carruecano variety for a maximum of 7 months, because we know that they are the ones that best withstand this process and, in addition, we have a very perfected and careful storage system.
> How to keep pumpkins all year round so that they do not lose their properties <
- Preferably, they should remain elevated off the ground, on a surface that allows air to enter underneath.
- They must be kept in a cool, dry place, with controlled temperature and light.
- Constant vigilance must be maintained to eliminate those that deteriorate.
Plants and foods always keep some secret, but we know many of the secrets of the pumpkin, since we are experts in the cultivation and commercialization of this wonderful food.
we are experts in the cultivation and commercialization of this wonderful food.
In fact, we have been growing pumpkins of the peanut and carruecano varieties for more than 20 years. Among them, a high percentage are of traditional
traditional varieties, with manual selection of the best seeds, as our grandparents did.
as our grandparents used to do.
This experience has led us to perfect our pumpkin storage system, which allows us to have quality domestic pumpkin available for several months of the year, even when it is out of season.
2. Imported pumpkins, grown in other countries.
In Vicente Peris we are marketers and distributors of pumpkin throughout the year. That is why in the months when we cannot have domestic pumpkin, we grow it in South America and Africa, with the same requirements and quality controls as if we were growing it in our fields in Valencia.
Imported squash is usually the only squash you’ll find in the market from March through April and into July or August.
Fresh, quality pumpkin vs. old pumpkin
It is out of season when you see some pumpkins whose quality is not optimal. The most common reason is because they are pumpkins of national origin that have not been stored properly, or have been stored for a longer than optimal period. They are known as old pumpkins.
How to choose a pumpkin out of season
If the pumpkin is found in halves, detecting it is much easier. An old pumpkin will meet one or more of these characteristics:
- The seminal cavity is wide, with hardly any traces of pulp, only seeds scattered or attached to the walls and even germinated.
- The area of the pulp that connects the seminal cavity to the nipple is not uniform and presents an area with strands.
- Its color is not intense orange, it is pale or even yellowish.
If you find the pumpkin whole, it will be more complicated, but try to follow these tips.
- Weight is relevant. Take the pumpkin and analyze if its weight corresponds to its size. If it weighs less than it should according to its volume, it may be dehydrated inside.
- Choose pieces whose outer skin is consistent, uniform, without blemishes or wounds.
In case you have any doubts, here we leave you this video where we give you all the keys to avoid getting old pumpkin for a quality pumpkin.
Benefits of eating pumpkin all year round
Pumpkin is a super versatile food. If you have not used it much in the kitchen or you always tend to cook it to make creams, we are going to tell you a secret: pumpkin can be cooked in many ways. Here we tell you
3 ways to cook pumpkin
to incorporate it into a multitude of recipes.
Consuming it throughout the year will provide you with an adequate source of Potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C.
If you feel like trying original pumpkin recipes that are also easy and quick to make, we recommend you to try these five recipes created by Martín Sánchez, chef of the Mosaic Restaurant in Meliana.
- Recipe for pumpkin tartar with lentils and quinoa.
- Thai pumpkin cream.
- Roasted pumpkin flan.
- Pumpkin fritters.
- Pumpkin tempura and honey.
We hope you enjoy them very much!