What to Expect in a Can of Farmer's Market Organic Canned Pumpkin
How is your pumpkin puree made, and what is in it?
Pure Puree
Our pumpkin puree is 100% organic and completely free of additives. It is perfectly pure puree and America's #1 brand of organic pumpkin. Our exacting standards for the growing of the pumpkins and the cooking of the puree is consistently the highest in the industry.
Product of Nature
Our pumpkin is not modified in any way from what nature intended it to be. As a completely natural product, you may note slight variations in color or consistency from year to year. We wanted to explain what some of those variations might be so that you know what to expect. (Imagine going to your favorite booth at your local farmer's market…and getting to speak directly to the farmer about his or her pumpkin patch. At Farmer's Market organic, we farm our own pumpkins!) Variation in pumpkin puree is based on annual days of sunshine and inches of rainfall. Even the field in which a pumpkin is grown can influence the pumpkin's color and moisture content.
What color should canned pumpkin be?
Perfectly Natural Orange Color
We never add colorings of any type to our pumpkin puree. Pumpkin is a sunny orange color in the field and a tawny orange color in the can. Pumpkin is high in naturally occurring sugars. Some of those sugars caramelize during the pureeing and canning process, imparting the pumpkin with rich flavor and its appealing color. From time to time a dime-sized amount of pumpkin at the top of the can will caramelize to a deep caramel color. This occurs when a small bubble is formed in the can during processing and does not harm the pumpkin at all.
What consistency should canned pumpkin be?
Smooth, Creamy Consistency
It is perfectly normal for pumpkin to have natural variation in its consistency, ranging from the texture of whipped potatoes to that of a very thick applesauce. We never add liquids to our pumpkin puree, nor do we concentrate the puree and remove the natural juices. Still, we test every batch to make sure that the pumpkin will perform as expected in your recipes (so rest assured that your pumpkin pie will be perfect with Farmer's Market organic pumpkin puree!)
Is canned pumpkin cooked?
Fully Cooked, Recipe Ready
Farmer's Market Organic Pumpkin is ready to eat or to add to your pies and other baked goods, soups, sauces, desserts and side dishes. Please see www.farmersmarketfoods.com/recipes for a host of interesting suggested uses for pumpkin puree.
Is canned pumpkin healthy for you?
Nutritionally Dense Superfood
A little-known fact about pumpkin is that certain nutrients such as beta-carotene become more bio-available after the fruit or vegetable is cooked, and Farmer's Market pumpkin contains 380% RDA per serving! Pumpkin puree is also considered an excellent source of fiber, boasting 4 grams per serving.
How do I make the Perfect Pumpkin Pie?
Pumpkin Pie Baking Tips and Recipes
We know that Pumpkin Pie, especially on Thanksgiving, is a near-sacred dish on your table. The spicy fragrance of a pumpkin pie baking in the oven evokes the warmest of memories and excites the appetite. So here are a few resources to help you bake the perfect pumpkin pie. And note that every can of Farmer's Market Organic Pumpkin has a recipe for pumpkin pie right on the can, too.
Here at the farm kitchen in Corvallis, Oregon, we love the article published by Cook's Illustrated on tips for baking pumpkin pie: http://www.finecooking.com/articles/why-pies-crack-shrink-tough-crumbly.aspx.
On our website, we feature both traditional and vegan pumpkin pie recipes.
Add'l Notes on Time and Temperature
Since Pumpkin Pie bakes best with an initial hot blast and then a slightly lowered temp, always preheat your oven to 425 degrees, and after the pie has been baking for 15 minutes, reduce the temperature down to 350. The next phase of baking at 350 degrees will last 32–40 minutes. Several factors can influence the length of time it takes to finish baking your pie, including the consistency of the pumpkin, oven heat or moisture variations, the crust you make or buy, and the type of baking dish or pie pan.
After 32 minutes at 350 degrees, perform a "pumpkin pie doneness test" by inserting a knife into the pie (but NOT in the center of the pie...insert the knife about 1 1/2 inches away from the center.) Pumpkin Pie is done when the knife comes out clean. As the pie cools on the wire rack, it will continue to bake the center. This is why we do not recommend conducting this test at the center of the pie.
The appearance of tiny bubbles around the edge of the pie, or a filling that separates from the crust, signifies over-baking. Remove the pie from the oven immediately and place on a wire rack in a draft free spot. (And do not dismay if your pie has a bit of a dark top in places. Most likely it will be just as scrumptious as a picture-perfect pie. Whipped cream on top is wonderful!)
