Canned Pumpkin Isn't Actually Real Pumpkin (2024)

FAQs

Canned Pumpkin Isn't Actually Real Pumpkin? ›

Instead, most canned pumpkin in the U.S. is made from a type of pumpkin that doesn't look all that typical. Dickinson pumpkins, also known as Dickinson squash, are the pumpkins used to make the majority of canned pumpkin we eat today.

What Is In Canned Pumpkin? You may have heard that canned pumpkin is actually made of squash. That is both true and untrue. 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.

As it turns out, some canned pumpkin purée is actually made from one or more types of winter squash, like butternut, Hubbard, Boston Marrow, and Golden Delicious. So then, why might the label say “100% pumpkin?” The USDA is actually pretty lenient with its distinction between pumpkin and squash.

It's 100% pumpkin purée, with no added sugar or additives.

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.

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.

Canned pumpkin offers the same health benefits as fresh pumpkin, making it quick and easy to add pumpkin to recipes year-round. Pumpkin seeds are typically roasted and sold separately as a snack or topping.

If you're buying the canned stuff, though, you're probably getting Dickinson squash. This strain closely resembles butternut, and was specially developed for Libby's. It accounts for 85% of all canned pumpkin sold in the United States.

Pumpkin is rich in fiber and contains prebiotics, which can help improve digestive system health and bowel movement. It may help relieve constipation and diarrhea in some people. However, if constipation or diarrhea persists, a person should consult a doctor.

Canned yams or sweet potatoes can also be used in place of canned pumpkin puree. It's a simple swap to make. Just drain the sweet potatoes and use them in the same proportion as the canned pumpkin. Sweet potatoes and pumpkin do taste a little different, of course, but the texture and color are very similar.

Can you buy real canned pumpkin? ›

Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin is made with only one ingredient-pumpkin. There are no fillers or preservatives. Does this canned pumpkin contain sugar and spices? No.

Libby's proudly uses nothing but 100% pumpkin in our Libby's solid pack pumpkin. We do not use Hubbard squash, or other types of squash.

Since pumpkin pie is such a simple dish with very few ingredients, each one of those ingredients matters. The most important one? The pumpkin itself. According to David and Susan, Costco uses one kind of pumpkin exclusively: Dickinson pumpkins.

Pumpkin is an incredibly nutritious food. It's nutrient dense, meaning it has lots of vitamins and minerals and relatively few calories. One cup (245 grams) of canned pumpkin provides ( 1 ): Calories: 137.

Dickinson pumpkins, also known as Dickinson squash, are the pumpkins used to make the majority of canned pumpkin we eat today. But Dickinson pumpkins are tan pumpkins with uniform, smooth skin that are much larger than the average field pumpkin. They're also sometimes called squash, not pumpkins.

Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin

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.

Pumpkin pies are often made from canned pumpkin purée. Libby's canned pumpkin, the most popular brand, uses the Dickinson pumpkin variety of Cucurbita moschata solely, though other brands can include any of a number of varieties of Cucurbita pepo or Cucurbita maxima.

Any cooking pumpkin will work. In the video I show Musquee de Provence Pumpkins (link to seeds here). But most pumpkins are edible, except for large Jack o Lantern varieties and Gourds. What type of pumpkin will determine how much yield you get, since all pumpkins are so unique to each other.