Is Canned Pumpkin Real Pumpkin?

Canned pumpkin has been around for years and has become a fall staple in many households. It’s an easy way to prepare recipes that call for pumpkin puree, like pumpkin pie or cheesecake, without needing time to pick out and carve your own pumpkin. Plus, canned pumpkin makes for great weeknight dinner when you don’t have time to pick out and carve one yourself!

When purchasing canned pumpkin, it’s important to remember that it is not actually pumpkin. Instead, this product is composed of various squash types that don’t look quite as vibrant orange and jack-o-lantern-shaped as fresh-picked pumpkins from a patch.

According to Kitchn, it’s likely that the pumpkin in a can is actually an amalgamation of several winter squashes such as butternut or Hubbard. This legal practice allows companies to produce more consistent, sweeter and flavorful products which they can then market under the label “pumpkin.”

But if you’re trying to recreate your beloved pumpkin pie recipe using only pumpkin puree, well, don’t expect much success!

Canning pumpkin isn’t usually true pumpkin at all; rather, most canned pumpkin sold in America is actually Dickinson squash, which looks almost identical to butternut and is the variety Libby’s (the company responsible for most canned pumpkin sold here) uses.

Since the 1920s, Libby’s has been using this variety of pumpkin for their canned pumpkin products – so much so that 85% of their canned pumpkin is called Dickinson! While not as pretty as some of their other varieties at farm stands or grocery stores, Dickinson pumpkins boast a more delicate flavor than their field pumpkin cousins.

However, to truly get your hands on that pumpkin you’re used to seeing in fall, you’ll need to make your own puree from fresh pumpkins. This process requires patience and time but the reward is immense once completed.

If you’re a serious pumpkin pie fanatic, give this healthy treat a try. Not only is it packed with fiber and antioxidants, but it’s much cheaper than purchasing an entire pumpkin or buying pre-made pie filling.

The great thing about pumpkin? You can buy it year-round in most stores, making it a very accessible and budget-friendly way to add it into your diet.

If you’re after something more authentic, organic in-season pumpkins could be worth investing in. Not only are these usually more flavorful and healthier for you as well, they often come with additional health benefits too.

In the past, I’ve been a big fan of Loblaws’ No Name brand and Bonduelle’s Stokely. Both products state “100% pumpkin,” yet neither responded to a HuffPost Canada request for information regarding what kind of pumpkin is in their product.

For true pumpkin pie lovers, picking fresh pumpkins from your garden will bring out the best flavors in every pie. Plus, the extra effort will pay off when making homemade pumpkin pies!