We Tried 8: This is the Best Canned Pumpkin (2024)

FAQs

What is the best canned pumpkin to buy? ›

In this taste test, our Test Kitchen pros found that the biggest name in the pumpkin game does, in fact, make the best canned pumpkin on the market. Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin is a favorite among our culinary crew. Libby's canned pumpkin has a really rich orange color that is quintessential fall.

Best Pumpkins for Canning

Small sugar or pie pumpkins give better results than field (jack-o-lantern) pumpkins because they are sweeter and less stringy. Make sure your pumpkins are fully ripe and cured for the best flavor (read more about how to cure pumpkins here).

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.

Libby's, the quintessential canned pumpkin brand, uses a proprietary strain of the Dickinson pumpkin variety in their product, which is also often called a Dickinson squash. On Libby's website, it states that their product is 100 percent pumpkin.

One cup of canned pumpkin, for example, contains 137 calories but provides more than 200 percent of the daily value for vitamin A, 36 percent of vitamin K, 25 percent of fiber and 22 percent of vitamin E. It's also a good source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, magnesium, riboflavin, iron and potassium.

The Trader Joe's canned pumpkin stood out for several reasons. It's texture was the thinnest, the color the lightest, and the flavor the sweetest and least squash-tasting.

Shopping and storing for pumpkins

Look for pumpkins with firm and smooth orange skin and that feel heavy for their size. Avoid pumpkins with cracks and bruises. Whole pumpkins can be kept in a cool, dry place for several months.

Briefly cooking your canned pumpkin purée on the stove can help improve both the flavor and texture. This method helps reduce excess moisture, which gives the pumpkin a superior texture. It also releases the natural pumpkin flavor and helps reduce the metallic taste from the can.

We eat it steamed or baked. Much smoother than trying to puree it at home. Soups are much smoother and creamier made with canned puree. The same goes for baked goods-no stringy, fibrous bits or chunks in pumpkin pie, bread, or cheesecake!

Once opened, a can of pumpkin lasts five to seven days in the fridge. It is best to move the leftover purée from the can to an airtight container with a date and label.

What is the shelf life of Libby's canned pumpkin? ›

Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin has a shelf life of 900 days.

The Best Overall: Libby's 100% Pure Canned Pumpkin

There is a reason that Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin has been the go-to brand for so many people for so long.

Pumpkin puree is made by steaming and pureeing squash so there are no added ingredients. Is canned pumpkin cooked? Yes, it's already been cooked via steaming. It's safe to eat canned pumpkin straight from the can, but it's infinitely better baked into a pan of pumpkin bars.

"Around this time, there was, what was referred to as, an abundance of Midwestern agriculture. As a result, the company did purchase Dickinson & Co." The purchase included the pumpkin-packing plant in Morton, which is where Libby's Pumpkin is still produced to this day.

Did you know more than 75% of the country's canned pumpkin comes from Libby's farm in Morton, Illinois? That's a lot of pumpkins. Libby's plants a variety of squash called Dickinson pumpkins, which farmers begin harvesting as early as August to start canning for the fall season.

Great Value

This option is from Walmart's store brand Great Value, and according to the can's label, it was the only canned pumpkin brand that's also a product of China.

For cooking, you'll want to use sugar pumpkins (also called pie or sweet pumpkins), which are small and round. Long Island Cheese pumpkins, which are more oblong and can look like a wheel of cheese, are also good to eat. Field pumpkin types are larger, have watery, stringy flesh, and are best for decorating.

Mold: If you notice any signs of mold, toss it out immediately. The puree should have an even color and texture. If the consistency or color changes, toss it. Sour Smell: The puree should have a distinct pumpkin smell.

The canned option had a more powerful pumpkin flavor and a silkier texture. While some of my colleagues preferred the apple sauce-like texture of the fresh, I can't say all that extra work of cleaning, roasting and pureeing a whole pumpkin is worth it, especially during a busy holiday season.