Air Fryer Pumpkin - How to Roast a Whole Pumpkin

Roasting a whole pumpkin in the air fryer is a simple and great way to use fresh, seasonal pumpkins in your cooking during the fall. An air fryer pumpkin turns out soft and tender inside and then can be made into a mash or homemade puree. Use it in place of store bought pumpkin puree in your favorite pumpkin recipes, like pumpkin cream cheese muffins, pumpkin pasta, sweet pumpkin bread, chewy pumpkin cookies and even pumpkin soup!

This recipe uses pie, or sugar, pumpkins which are sweet enough to eat plain too. It doesn't require any olive oil, salt, pepper, or seasoning. Just a simple roasted pumpkin to use in your favorite pumpkin-inspired recipes.

One of the coolest things about roasting a whole pumpkin is that there is no waste- you can easily use the entire pumpkin to make delicious snacks, including roasting the pumpkin seeds and even turning the skin into crunchy pumpkin chips! You can also use the same method I give here to roast butternut squash, acorn squash, and other winter squashes in your air fryer.

Pumpkins can be cooked in any brand basket-style or oven-style air fryer. I tested this recipe in both my Instant Pot Duo Crisp and Omni Plus, and there was no difference in cooking time or outcome. You can also cook a pumpkin using your Instant Pot, so if you have more than one pumpkin and both of these appliances, use them both!

What Type of Pumpkin to Air Fry

Pie pumpkins, also known as sugar or sweet pumpkins, are one of the best for cooking. They are small, readily available and sweet tasting with a creamy inside. Long Island Cheese and New England Pie are also fantastic pumpkins for roasting and eating.

You should not use field pumpkins for cooking. These are the pumpkins found in pumpkin patches and used traditionally for carving and decorating. They tend to be too large to fit in an air fryer and have watery, stringy flesh.

How To Prepare a Pumpkin for Roasting

Because we are roasting the whole pumpkin, you only need to wash it and scrub away any dirt. You can cut the stem off prior to cooking or leave it on. After the pumpkin has been air fried, the stem is easy to pull off. If you have a small air fryer that does not fit the whole pumpkin, cut it in half and remove the stringy fibers and seeds before air frying. If the pumpkin fits in your air fryer whole, you'll do this once it's done and cooled.

How Long to Air Fry

Whole, uncut pumpkins should be air fried for approximately 12 minutes per pound. I had a 2 pound pie pumpkin that took 24 minutes. You can test to see if it's done by inserting a knife into the flesh. The knife will easily pierce through the skin and slide through the inside.

Ways To Use Air Fried Pumpkin

Or, turn it into mashed pumpkin, similar to making mashed sweet potatoes. To do this, mash the cooked pumpkin using a potato masher or immersion blender. Once smooth and creamy, mix in a little brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter for a sweet side dish or just a little salt and pepper for a more savory version.

Want to make baby food? All you need to do is mash the pumpkin and season as desired. It's full of wholesome vitamins and minerals!

Step-By-Step Directions

1. Wash your pumpkin, scrubbing away any dirt. Remove the stem if doing so is necessary for it to fit in your air fryer basket.
2. Set the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (or 204 Celsius) for 24 minutes. *The timing here is for a 2 pound pie pumpkin. You should alter the timing to air fry your pumpkin for 12 minutes per pound. Use a kitchen scale to get an accurate weight.
3. When done, carefully transfer the pumpkin to a cutting board and let cool for 15-20 minutes. Cut the pumpkin in half and scoop out the fibers and seeds. Peel the skin off using tongs or your fingers. A knife can be used to cut away any skin that is difficult to peel. Bonus- use the skin to make pumpkin chips!
4. Use a food processor or blender to create a puree or mashed pumpkin.

How to Store

If you've made a puree, store it in mason jars in the fridge for up to 7 days. If you've kept the pumpkin whole after cooking, cut it into pieces and store in an airtight container. If you'd like to keep it longer than this, store in the freezer for up to 6 months. For easy use all season, divide into ½ or 1 cup increments and put into freezer safe bags. Lay them flat to stack in the freezer. Defrost overnight in the fridge when ready to use. For a quick thaw, place the frozen bag in a bowl of warm water.