Pumpkins are very versatile in their uses for cooking, from the fleshy shell, to the seeds, to even the flowers, most parts of the pumpkin are edible. Traditionally, pumpkin is a very popular Halloween and Thanksgiving staple.

When ripe, the pumpkin can be boiled, baked, steamed, or roafsted. Often, it is made into various kinds of pie which is a traditional staple of the Canadian and American Thanksgiving holiday. Pumpkins can also be eaten mashed or incorporated into soup. In the Middle East, pumpkin is used for sweet dishes; In South Asian countries like India, pumpkin is cooked with butter, sugar, and spices. In Australia, pumpkin is often roasted in conjunction with other vegetables. In Thailand, small pumpkins are steamed with custard inside and served as a dessert.