Topic: crazy "plastic" pumpkin problem

[umshamrock]

Hi...

I decided to make a pumpkin pie tonight with one of the pumpkins i picked last week. But when i tried to cut open the pumpkin, a knife wouldn't even pierce the skin! I finally busted it open with a hammer...ok...there was an outer layer that looked like normal pumpkin 'skin', under that was a tan colored layer that looked and felt like plastic! under the plastic layer was a green layer, then the flesh, then the seeds. the outer skin kinda chipped off with the hammer - i have never seen anything like it!

Do you guys think it is safe to eat? any idea what happened?

Thanks!

[Mrs Ava]

I have had them where the outer skin is like glass and chips away in shards, but that is normally after they have been cured for a while.  I'm sure it will fine to eat, just a swine to cut!

[calendula]

I had that problem one year with swede - they were so large we had to take an electric knife to them, which didn't actually work, but finally a huge serated knife did the job - they are large plants and should come with a warning  :) always be careful when cooking large vegetables

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've had serious problems hacking my way into them before now, but once inside, they've always been OK.

[LILACSPLASH]

sounds like it's not quite ripe yet, if you have others leave them out in the sun to cure for a while.

[umshamrock]

hi guys
thanks for your help!
lilac- the pumpkins have been ripe since july so that is not the problem. maybe it is like EJ says - they have actually cured while sitting in the sun for the last two months!

thanks again,
shamrock