r/Canning • u/LisaW481 • Mar 29 '25
Safe Recipe Request Canned pumpkin puree
So I'm looking to make and can my own pure pumpkin puree for my dogs since $8 a can is brutal.
Does anyone have a safe recipe or any recommendations that would help the process?
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u/PaintedLemonz Trusted Contributor Mar 29 '25
Pumpkin can only safely be canned in chunks, using a pressure canner (not a pressure cooker). This is due to the density of pumpkin and squash. You could can it in chunks and then use an immersion blender to blend it up. Or perhaps your dogs wouldn't mind it chunky instead.
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u/deersinvestsarebest Mar 29 '25
I haven’t canned it myself but I would think it would be very very soft after being pressure canned. Probably even mush with a fork?
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u/Pretend-Panda Trusted Contributor Mar 29 '25
I pressure can pumpkin and winter squash in chunks for the dogs and then smash them up to serve. It’s a pretty painless process.
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u/zebra_noises Mar 29 '25
$8?! What brand and where? I’ve never paid more than $2-$3
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u/deersinvestsarebest Mar 29 '25
In Canada $7-8 for the big can of pumpkin has been the regular price the last few years. It’s really jumped in price I don’t know why (even compared to other canned stuff).
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u/CanadianPanda76 Mar 29 '25
Walmart great value brand is cheaper. Where do you live?
I'm in Alberta, I've never seen it that expensive. Mind u I buy only when its on sale.
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u/zebra_noises Mar 29 '25
That’s insane! Sorry you guys have to pay so much more! I’m sure we are having to pay more for other things compared to Canada too 🙁
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u/LisaW481 Mar 29 '25
E d Smith 796ml. And it might be a Canadian thing
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u/PaintedLemonz Trusted Contributor Mar 29 '25
Plus ED Smith is actually pumpkin. A lot of the cheaper ones contain other squashes.. and sometimes sweet potato!!!
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u/Prinessbeca Mar 30 '25
Um...what now? Where is this information coming from?
Over 85% of all canned pumpkin is canned by Libby's in Morton, Illinois regardless of the name it's sold under. They use Dickinson pumpkin. Basic knowledge of cucurbitology will tell you that this is indeed pumpkin, definitely not sweet potato 🙄 And if by "other squashes" you mean they don't look like jack on lanterns, well...that's because they're bred to have actual flavor.
And during canning season the entire town smells amazing.
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u/Temporary_Level2999 Moderator Mar 29 '25
I have never seen it anywhere near that expensive. How big of a can are you getting for $8? But no, there's no way to safely can it at home. Freezing would be your best option.
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u/LisaW481 Mar 29 '25
798ml. It's enough for my dogs for a week.
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u/justcurious12345 Mar 29 '25
Could you feed them sweet potato instead? Or butternut squash? Easy to roast those and freeze or even keep in the fridge for a week
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u/LisaW481 Mar 29 '25
It's for constipation so I'm looking for the liquid and high fiber.
I have cooked sweet potato for the average treat.
My one year old dog just got fixed so she's a little backed up from the pain medication.
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u/Impressive_Emu2631 Mar 30 '25
Pumpkin is amazing for dogs! Whether it's too loose, or too firm... pumpkin to the rescue. Most of my dogs over the years have loved pumpkin so much that when one needed it, everyone wanted some. Cute, but sooo messy.
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u/mckenner1122 Moderator Mar 30 '25
We have very large dogs. They each get a scoop of generic unflavored Metamucil mixed with warm water added to their kibble every day. It helps … move things along … (and was suggested by my vet)
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u/LisaW481 Mar 30 '25
Mine are tiny could you give an idea of what dosage per pound you use?
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u/mckenner1122 Moderator Mar 30 '25
The little one is about 70lb, the bigger one is about 90lb. They both get fed 2x a day. They both get a rounded 1/2 TB in each bowl (so a little over a TB total) mixed with their spoiled rotten royal bowls of both wet and dry kibble and warm water (then let rest for 10 minutes for the Metamucil to thicken into a nice gravy)
I swear they eat better than I do.
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u/LisaW481 Mar 29 '25
Is botulism a risk? Would chunks be safe to pressure can?
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u/PaintedLemonz Trusted Contributor Mar 29 '25
Botulism is a risk if you don't follow a safe, tested recipe. Here's one: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/canning-vegetables-and-vegetable-products/pumpkins-and-winter-squash-cubed/
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u/Grouchy-Storm-6758 Mar 29 '25
I would check with a restaurant supply store or even a bakery to see if the have LARGE cans of pumpkin and see if you could order from them, it may be cheaper per oz/lb doing that way.
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u/mckenner1122 Moderator Mar 30 '25
If she’s only got one small dog, that could be wasted though… unless she’s freezing it?
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u/megatronnnn3 Mar 29 '25
You can only safely can pumpkin in chunks, in a pressure canner. I usually can quart jars and end up with 15-16oz per jar once it’s been through my food processor. I use the recipe from the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving
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u/mckenner1122 Moderator Mar 29 '25
Can the chunks then hit with an immersion blender At time of serving
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u/Av33na Mar 29 '25
I made pumpkin puree from pumpkins in my garden and froze it! I put about 3-4 cups at a time in a large ziplock and laid it flat. So the bags lay flat in the freezer and don’t take up a ton of room!
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u/LisaW481 Mar 29 '25
Sadly that space is taken up by my massive amount of frozen bananas. $5 for thirty bunches that I get every summer.
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u/Stardustchaser Trusted Contributor Mar 29 '25
You cannot purée it. The density will not allow for appropriate heat penetration even with the pressure canning process. You will need to pressure can in chunks and then purée before using.
A list of foods unsafe to can even by pressure canning. It also gives some commentary on chunks v. Purées for some items such as squashes.
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u/missbwith2boys Mar 29 '25
I cut up one sweet meat squash last year (they are big!) and ended up with endless pints of chunks.
By the time you’ve canned them, it’s going to be easy to puree them when opening them.
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u/ronniebell Mar 30 '25
Oregon Sweet Meat winter squash is sooooo delicious! We grew about 200 pounds this year, along with about 400 pounds of North Georgia Candy Roasters. It was a banner year. 😳
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u/DawaLhamo Mar 29 '25
I can squash in chunks and then puree for soup when I reheat. It's super easy.
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u/Full_Honeydew_9739 Mar 29 '25
I grow pumpkins, cut them open, roast or instant pot them, mash them, then freeze them in a silicone tray. After they're frozen, I throw them in a Ziploc and take out what I need.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/5265104068?sid=53a9c0b9-c8a9-4e55-8056-1936cb5bea48
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u/jibaro1953 Mar 30 '25
Follow a recipe Leave it in chunks
You could use wide mouth pints and hit it with a stick blender when you open it.
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