Canned pumpkin is a convenient ingredient that can save lots of time and effort when making a recipe, but the pumpkin section of the canned goods aisle can be a little confusing. While the labels look almost identical, there are some differences between pumpkin pie filling and pumpkin puree.
Pumpkin Puree
Commonly called for in pumpkin recipes, puree is the cooked and mashed flesh of any number of different varieties of squash—yes, squash. There are soft-skinned summer squash, like zucchini and yellow squash, and there are hard-skinned winter varieties like acorn squash, butternut squash, and the various orange ones we lump together as pumpkins.
Canned pumpkin puree is a blend of winter squashes, some of them proprietary (such as the Dickinson squash, which is owned by the Libby's brand). The one type of squash you won't find in a can is the standard field pumpkin that's used for making Halloween jack-o'-lanterns. While edible, this type of squash isn't particularly good for eating no matter how it's cooked or pureed.
Pumpkin puree can be labeled as 100% pure pumpkin, pumpkin puree, solid pack pumpkin, or simply "pumpkin." Regardless of what it's called, one thing pumpkin puree won't contain is any sort of seasonings or sugar—it's just cooked and mashed squash. Most recipes call for pumpkin puree and also call for adding seasonings to flavor the dish.
Pumpkin puree can be used to make pies, cakes, muffins, breads, soups, and much more. You can also make your own puree at home.
Pumpkin Pie Filling
Pumpkin pie filling is a mixture of cooked, mashed winter squash that is blended with sweetener and spices. It's a convenient ingredient to use if you're planning to make a pumpkin pie and you're short on time. Instead of measuring sugar and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, the pie filling is already preseasoned and ready to go.
While pumpkin pie filling is a time-saver, it's also not as customizable as pumpkin puree. You may find a brand too sweet for your taste or too heavy on a spice. Cooking with plain pumpkin puree allows you to adjust the seasonings to your liking.
What to Do If You Buy the Wrong Kind
Because both products come in cans and both have the word "pumpkin" on the label, it's possible to buy the wrong kind by accident.
If you meant to purchase pumpkin pie filling but accidentally grabbed a can of plain pumpkin, it's easy to sweeten and season the puree. Follow a good pumpkin pie recipe (there's usually a recipe printed right on the label) and add sugar and spices to the puree along with other ingredients like eggs before baking.
If you erred in the opposite direction—you bought pumpkin pie filling instead of plain pumpkin puree—you may want to return to the store for an exchange. Pumpkin pie filling shouldn't be used in place of pumpkin puree since the finished dish will be too sweet. You can always set the can aside to make a quick pumpkin pie another day.
Although they both come in cans and the packaging looks almost identical, they can't be used interchangeably. Pumpkin puree doesn't have anything added to it, but pumpkin pie filling comes with pumpkin spice and sugar already mixed in.
Don't use pumpkin pie filling in place of pumpkin purée.
Not exactly! Every can of pumpkin pie filling has a different amount of sugar and spices and if you add it to a bread or muffin recipe you might get a very sweet and not-spiced-enough loaf. Try this instead: Buy pumpkin purée!
Ingredients - Pumpkin puree made from scratch contains only pumpkin, but canned puree may contain a preservative like salt. Pumpkin pie filling contains additional ingredients like sugar, spices, and thickeners. Flavor - Pure pumpkin puree has a slightly sweet, earthy taste.
Pumpkin purée is simply cooked and mashed pumpkin.
Pumpkin purée can be homemade with whole pumpkin or canned and sold in grocery stores. Canned pumpkin purée that says “100% pumpkin” on the label may also contain one or more types of winter squash, like butternut, Hubbard, Boston Marrow, and Golden Delicious.
No, pumpkin spice does not contain any pumpkin. Pumpkin spice is usually made from an assortment of spices. That being said, you can add ingredients such as pumpkin puree to your pumpkin spice mixture.
Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing. These terms are often used interchangeably in recipes, though you may also see the term solid-pack pumpkin. All these terms mean 100% steamed and pureed pumpkin—no extras, no add-ins—not even in the canned variety.
While a wobbly, runny pie is a telltale sign that a pumpkin pie is undercooked, an overcooked pumpkin pie is a bit harder to spot. When you've overcooked a pumpkin pie, you may see: The filling separating from the crust. The filling has visible cracks.
Pumpkin contains immune-promoting nutrients like vitamins A, E, and C, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, selenium, iron, magnesium, and beta-carotene. Consuming pumpkin may help manage immune-related diseases, reduce how often you fall sick, and help you recover faster from infections.
Pumpkin is a delicious addition to a human diet, but it also has a number of health benefits for your dog. Mineral and vitamin-packed. Pumpkin contains vitamins like A, C, and E, as well as minerals like iron and potassium. Feeding plain canned pumpkin gives a great boost to your dog's nutrition.
Canned pumpkin (labeled as "100% pure pumpkin") is a purée of pumpkin that is sometimes mixed with other kinds of winter squash. It is unsweetened and does not contain any added spices. Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing, and you'll often see the terms used interchangeably in recipes and cookbooks.
How to Eat More Pumpkin. Canned pumpkin is just as nutritious as purée made from scratch, and it's much easier and more convenient, Ms. Lynett said. Just be sure to buy plain pumpkin purée and not pumpkin pie filling, which can have added sugar and sodium and may not provide as much fiber, she added.
Pumpkin pie filling shouldn't be used in place of pumpkin puree since the finished dish will be too sweet. You can always set the can aside to make a quick pumpkin pie another day.
Allspice is a warm and cozy spice that tastes like a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, but pumpkin pie spice is a bit more robust and flavorful with all those spices plus ginger. Allspice alone, while delicious, won't give you that signature pumpkin spice flavor that you're looking for.
How Many Cups in a Can of Pumpkin, Really? Fifteen ounces of canned pumpkin is just shy of 2 cups (16 ounces would be 2 cups). By comparison, a 3-pound pie pumpkin will likely give you enough puree for a recipe that calls for a can of pumpkin.
Canned pumpkin is simply cooked pumpkin. To substitute fresh pumpkin, all you do is cook your pumpkin and scoop out 15 ounces (about two cups) of pumpkin flesh. You open it up and scoop out the seeds (which can themselves be roasted for a tasty snack).
The pumpkins we eat, often labeled pie or sweet pumpkins, are smaller and less watery than the ones used for decorating. Heritage varieties that are good for cooking include Baby Pam, Autumn Gold, Fairytale and Cinderella pumpkins.
And the ratio between them is the same: one tablespoon arrowroot for every tablespoon of cornstarch. If you don't have either thickener at home, but you do have tapioca flour, then you can use four tablespoons of tapioca flour instead.
Introduction: My name is Mr. See Jast, I am a open, jolly, gorgeous, courageous, inexpensive, friendly, homely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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