How to cut a pumpkin for cooking – step-by-step

Step 1: Cut the pumpkin into wedges

1. Place your pumpkin on a large chopping board. Push the tip of a large knife into the centre of the pumpkin, just next to the stem, and cut straight down, right through the pumpkin.
2. Move the knife about 1/8 of the way round (depending on the size of your pumpkin) and repeat, so that you have a large wedge.
3. Repeat until you have 8 large wedges of roughly equal size. (If your pumpkin is very big, you may wish to cut it into 10 or even 12 large wedges).

Step 2: Remove the seeds

1. Use a large metal spoon to remove the seeds and stringy bits from each wedge.
2. If any of the stringy bits are particularly tough, use a sharp knife to cut them off.
3. You now have large wedges which you can roast in the oven to make roasted pumpkin wedges.
4. Or, if you need pumpkin slices or cubes, continue on to the next step.

Step 3: Cut the wedges into slices

1. Take one pumpkin wedge at a time, place it on the chopping board and cut into thick slices.
2. You now have large slices which you can also roast in the oven.
3. Or, if you need pumpkin cubes, continue on to the next step.

Step 4: Cut off the skin

1. Take one pumpkin slice at a time, place it flat-side down on the chopping board and use your knife to cut off the skin.

Step 5: Cut into cubes

1. Finally, take one pumpkin slice at a time and cut it into cubes.
2. You now have pumpkin cubes which you can use in pumpkin soups, stews, curries and pasta dishes.