Most hard-shelled pumpkins in good condition (without blemishes or broken stems) will last three to six months, left whole and at room temperature in your home. But how long does a pumpkin last in the fridge?
Whole uncooked, undamaged pumpkins will last about 1-3 months in the fridge. That’s about half as long refrigerated, as it will last when stored at optimal dry storage temperatures.
3 Reasons to NOT Refrigerate Fresh Pumpkin
DETERIORATION: Unlike most cooked foods, fresh, whole pumpkins do not last as long when refrigerated. In fact, refrigeration accelerates the decomposition of winter squash and pumpkins.
SPACE: Pumpkins and other winter squash are generally large and would take up lots of expensive refrigerated space. So it’s good news that fresh pumpkins last longer in cool dry storage than in refrigeration.
BOTULISM: Pumpkins are highly prone to causing botulism, which is why many sources do not recommend home canning because the risk is so high. Questionable pumpkin should not be eaten because botulism cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted.[1]https://nchfp.uga.edu/questions/FAQ_canning.html#36
See also, harvesting, freezing and storing winter squash.
Refrigeration increases pumpkin ethylene (which accelerates pumpkin aging) by 3-5 times the rate of room temperature, which accelerates pumpkin ripening (or decay).
SOURCE: University of California, Davis, Postharvest Center[2]https://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/Commodity_Resources/Fact_Sheets/Datastores/Vegetables_English/?uid=28&ds=799
So How Long Does a Pumpkin Last in the Fridge?
A general rule of thumb is that a refrigerated pumpkin will — on average — only last half as long as a pumpkin stored at an average 50°F / 10°C.
Pumpkins and squash will start to go bad faster when they are exposed to temperatures under 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The optimal temperature range for pumpkin longevity and freshness is 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit / 10 degrees Celsius.[3]https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/preserving_pumpkin_safely
If you have a root cellar, or cool basement that’s above 45°F / 7°C, you should utilize it for optimal pumpkin and squash storage.
Unblemished whole pumpkins, may last up to three months in the fridge, but most deteriorate more quickly, depending on the variety, and whether cut or whole, cooked or raw.
For example, a Table Queen pumpkin lasts one to two months at optimal conditions, (optimal = healthy pumpkin stored between 45-50°F / 7-10°C). So it may only keep edible for two to four weeks if refrigerated versus at room temperature.
Refrigerated pumpkins deteriorate faster than if placed in a cool storage area of your home.
How Long Does a Pumpkin Last in the Fridge Cut and Raw
Fresh cut pumpkins tend to deteriorate much faster than whole pumpkins.
Some varieties of pumpkin and squash, like buttercups and sweet meat pumpkins, will stay fresh whole, for up to six months stored at a cool room temperature or root cellar above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. And can you prolong that shelf life? Let’s look into it!
Pumpkins should only be stored near pears, apples, or other ripening fruits if you wish to accelerate the ripening process. But beware, because placement near these other fruits will speed up the decaying process in the pumpkins as well.
For the above reasons, we don’t recommend cutting and storing pumpkins in your fridge. They will go bad faster than pumpkins that are left whole and stored at an average cool room temperature of 60°F/15°C
With pumpkins and other winter squash, the harder the shell, the longer the shelf-life.
How Long Does Cooked Pumpkin Last in the Fridge
Cooked pumpkin and pumpkin dishes will last 3-7 days properly sealed and refrigerated.
While we found no official studies that determined how long cooked pumpkin lasts in the fridge, the USDA says that low-acid canned goods like pureed pumpkin, will only last three to four days in the refrigerator. However, refrigerated fresh homemade pumpkin puree may last a little longer.
In our experience, most cooked food store well in the refrigerator for up to a week, including squash and pumpkin dishes. We’ve kept pumpkin dishes like this roasted butternut squash soup, pumpkin spice ravioli, and homemade pumpkin pie from scratch, for up to a week and they were still good.
So cooked pumpkins, whether roasted, baked whole, boiled in soup, or baked into a pumpkin pie, will typically last 3-7 days covered, in the refrigerator. This is the same for most cooked foods and as confirmed by the FDA guidelines.[4]https://www.statefoodsafety.com/Resources/Resources/when-to-throw-it-out-leftovers#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20FDA%20Food,before%20the%207%20day%20mark.
Fresh Cooked Pumpkin Puree Versus Canned Pumpkin Puree Refrigerated Shelf Life
If you use commercially canned pumpkin puree that has just been opened, it can be safely stored in your refrigerator for up to a week. Just remove the unused portion of pureed pumpkin from the can and place in an airtight container in order to maintain optimum freshness.
Some experts say that canned pumpkin lasts longer than fresh pureed pumpkin, and yet most FDA related content indicates the same 3-5 days storage (some say 5-7 days), for low-acid foods like pumpkin puree.
The Iowa State University extension service states that:
If you are using commercially canned pumpkin puree, you can refrigerate and use any leftovers within 5-7 days. If you have made your own pumpkin puree you will want to refrigerate and use it within 3-5 days.
SOURCE: Iowa State University
The bottom line? Use your own good judgement and discernment. If it looks good, smells good and tastes good, it’s probably still good, so use it up! 👩🏻🍳👨🏽✈️ This pumpkin cheesecake recipe is a winner!
How Long Does Cooked Pumpkin Last in the Freezer
Pumpkins that have been baked into a pie will last for one or two months in the freezer. The issue here isn’t the pumpkin though; it’s the eggs used to make the pie.
For a cooked pumpkin that has not been incorporated into a pie, the pumpkin lasts much longer. Bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for thirty to forty-five minutes, preferably on the middle rack of your oven. Iowa State University recommends that you use up your frozen pumpkin in three months or less.
If you thaw frozen pumpkin in the refrigerator, it will be safe to use for three to four days. If you choose to thaw the pumpkin on the counter, it should be used within two hours. To thaw it with hot water, such as for making soup, you should go ahead and cook it immediately to prevent spoilage.
See our favorite winter squash soup recipe
How Long Do Pumpkins Last in the Fridge Whole
Different varieties of pumpkins will last for different lengths when kept in the refrigerator. Some thinner-skinned pumpkin varieties may only last a week or two in the fridge, while thicker pumpkins and squash typically make it to a few months.
Regardless, we know that pumpkins last much longer if they are NOT stored in the refrigerator, Because of that — and the space they take up — it’s far better to store pumpkins in a cool dry storage area for longevity and quality.
How to Properly Refrigerate Pumpkin (and other foods) for Optimal Longevity
Food Danger Zone for Spoilage
The key to refrigerating foods for longevity is to keep foods away from the temperature danger zone of 40°F to 140°F (5°C to 60°C).
Refrigerated Foods – Safe Temperatures
The term “food safe zones” means to refrigerate foods from between 33-40°Fahrenheit / .5 to 4°Celsius.
Frozen Foods – Safe Temperatures
The safest freezers temperature is 0° Fahrenheit (-18° Celsius).
Conclusion on Refrigerating Pumpkins
Hopefully this answers all your questions on how long pumpkins last in the fridge, and more! If not, please let us know, and also we’d love to hear from your experience on what works and what doesn’t.
Speaking of wisdom from experience, our writer and researcher, Sarah Hamelman, who’s also a homesteaders in the mountains of Montana said this:
I was just on the phone with my grandmother the other night as I was prepping to write this article, and she said the same thing about the fridge “killing the pumpkin in a week”! 🤣
I’m LeAura Alderson, a garden, herb and plant enthusiast with a passion for discovering the many edible and medicinal benefits of the plants all around us, including the weeds! I’m a writer, editor and media publisher for our family of websites.
While I was certified in fitness and life coaching, I am NOT a health practitioner. However, I’m a lifelong health enthusiast, with a keen interest in healthy, organic foods and making home remedies and the content we share is from our own experience and usage as well as that extracted from scientific research so that you can explore further on your own.
Always seek the advice and guidance of your health practitioners first and foremost.
As a family we’re steadily expanding our gardening, experimentation and knowledge around all things gardening, edible landscaping, fresh organic foods and self sustainability with farming in our future. I also own and manage iCreateDaily.com, a site all about transformation through creation, and the power of positivity, optimism and mindset.
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