In The Kitchen with Laura McKenna: Use This To Keep Your Jack-O’-Lantern Fresh
October 23, 2025 12:06 PM CDT
By: Laura McKenna
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Keep your Jack-O’-Lantern from getting too gummy too soon with lemon juice! It also works to keep the bugs from feasting on your artwork.
Use a generous amount of lemon juice and brush it inside the carved pumpkin. The lemon juice slows the oxidation process (which causes the pumpkin to rot and get nasty).
Bugs generally don’t like the smell of citrus so they’ll leave your carved pumpkin be and move on to other things to feast upon.
Repeat brushing on the lemon juice every few days for maximum freshness and prolonged life of your Jack-O’-Lantern.
Happy Halloween!
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