How to make pumpkin purée easily: step-by-step video tutorial

Can you feel it? A crispness is creeping into the air signaling it won't be long till the scent of pumpkin spice fills many of your favorite stores and eateries.

That can only mean one thing: fall has arrived!

Pumpkins are synonymous with the fall season. Pumpkin patches are packed with kids and adults, strolling through fields, enjoying hay rides and hot apple cider. Pumpkins, real and fake, are used as decorations for Thanksgiving, jack-o’-lanterns for Halloween and pumpkin-flavored foods and drinks appear on restaurant and coffee shop menus.

Cans of pumpkin purée are in high demand this time of year, especially once the holidays roll around. Of course, you don't want to risk missing out. So, instead of gambling, consider making pumpkin purée at home!

Watch this video to see how to make pumpkin puree at home.

How to make pumpkin purée

According to the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences , pumpkins can range in weight from under a pound to over 1,000 pounds. Pumpkins of all sizes are used for decorations, but when it comes to cooking pumpkins, make sure the pumpkin you’re purchasing is good for cooking rather than carving.

To make homemade pumpkin purée:

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
2. Open the pumpkin and scoop out the seeds.
3. Slice the pumpkin into small wedges.
4. Place them on a baking sheet and bake until they're soft and tender, about 30-45 minutes.
5. Remove the skin. It should be soft enough to remove with a butter knife or peel off with your hands.
6. Purée the wedges in a food processor, blender, hand mixer or with a potato masher.

For the most versatile purée, roast the pumpkin plain and avoid adding any oil or seasonings.

Pumpkin recipes

You have the pumpkin purée, so now it’s time to put it to good use!

Consider making:

• Pumpkin pizza.
• Overnight oats.
• Waffles.
• Mac and cheese.
• Pumpkin spice chai latte.
• Baked goods, like pumpkin bread or pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.
• Ice cream.
• Savory dishes like soups, chili or pasta sauce.

Pumpkin purée can be frozen for up to six months. Pro tip: portion it in an ice cube tray or muffin pan before freezing to make perfectly portioned amounts.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to make pumpkin purée easily: step-by-step video tutorial