People stunned after realising the right way to carve a pumpkin for a mess-free experience
IT’S the spookiest night of the year – and if you’re yet to carve your pumpkin for Halloween tomorrow one whizz has come to rescue.
No Halloween is complete without the main decoration – pumpkin – however, carving it is oftentimes frustrating and messy.
Luckily, one savvy fan of the holiday has taken to TikTok to share a simple trick that will make it a mess-free experience.
If you’re anything like us, the team at Fabulous, chances are you’ve been first removing the top of the orange vegetable to then tackle the guts inside.
However, according to John Tafelksi it’s the wrong approach – and instead, Halloween fanatics should be cutting the hole at the bottom.
In a video uploaded on his page, John could be seen following this method by cutting the huge pumpkin from the bottom.
Once the bottom half had been successfully removed, one of his little helpers grabbed a plastic spoon and took out all the seeds and orange guts out with practically no faff.
To ensure there was no mess left on the table, John had also placed old cardboard pieces underneath the pumpkin.
With the orange vegetable now all ready, it was time to finish the process by cutting out a spooky face.
Urging fellow Halloween lovers to try out this easy trick, he said: ”Don’t dread pumpkin carving anymore!
”And your jack-o’-lanterns look nice and clean on top!
”Happy Halloween! Have fun!”
Since being posted on the platform, the clip has gone viral, winning John more than an astronomical 5.4million views.
Hundreds of pumpkin lovers flocked to comments – and whilst the response was mainly positive, not everyone was convinced.
One sceptic wrote: ”And messier on your pavement when it starts to leak and mould.”
How to save on Halloween
CUT-OUTS WON’T KEEP: Once carved, pumpkins last just three to five days before they start to rot. So wait until a day or two before Halloween to carve yours, to ensure you won’t have to buy a replacement.
CHILLING CARVINGS: Carve your pumpkin right first time. Download free templates from Hobbycraft to help ensure no slip-ups.
DEVILISHY CHEAP DECORATIONS: Create spooky spider webs using old string or rope.
PAY LESS FOR FACE PAINTS: Cut costs by using your old eyeliners and eyeshadows, and dab on some talc when you need a ghostly white shade.
CUT-PRICE CANDY: Before you buy sweets to give out as treats, clear out your cupboards and see what you have. If you need more, shop bulk deals and compare the price per kilo before you buy.
PETRIFYING POT LUCK: Ask your guests to each bring a delicious themed dish to your party to keep hosting costs down.
SPINE-CHILLING TUNES: Turn to YouTube for a frighteningly good free playlist. There are dozens of channels with hour-long music mixes.
HOLD A SPOOKY SWISH: Swishing — or clothes-swapping with friends — is an easy way to get a new wardrobe. Hold a spooky swish before Halloween to trade costumes for kids and adults.
FRIGHTENING FREEBIES: Sign up for a free local Halloween event. Check your local Nextdoor or Facebook pages, or search eventbrite.co.uk for ideas.
BLOODY GOOD DEAL: Don’t fork out for expensive fake blood. Make your own edible version instead. You can use it for cakes and to decorate costumes.
SHOP ON NOV 1: Be organised and bag the bargains for next year by hitting the shops the day after Halloween. Remember to buy your kids’ costumes a size larger to allow for growth.
Another agreed, warning: ”They rot faster if you carve the bottom out. I figured that out with experience last year.”
”There’s literally no difference, you still gotta scoop it out,” a third chimed in.
However, not everyone was criticising the carving method – and many wished they had seen the video earlier.
One TikTok user wondered: ”Why wasn’t it always done this way?!”
”I’ve been doing it for years why’d you give away the secret,” a second penned.
”Been carving pumpkins like this forever! easier to put a light on also,” someone else claimed.