<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2020/08/carving-guide-peppers-adbc0f1.jpg?quality=90&resize=620,413" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2020/08/carving-guide-peppers-adbc0f1.jpg?quality=90&resize=360,239 360w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2020/08/carving-guide-peppers-adbc0f1.jpg?quality=90&resize=180,119 180w, " sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" width="620" height="413" class="wp-image-437905 alignnone size-landscape_thumbnail" alt="Four carved peppers with scary faces" title="9 things you can carve for Halloween that aren't pumpkins" /> <p>Let your imagination run wild this <a href="/feature/halloween">Halloween</a> by skipping the supermarket pumpkin pile and surveying the rest of the produce section. There are plenty of options to ensure that your devilish decorations stand out. Get creative with a variety of fruit and veg, and dare to scare…</p>
<h2>Getting started</h2>
<p>If you’re new to carving, then it’s important to know the basics. Take a look at our <a href="/videos/techniques/how-carve-pumpkin-video">video guide to carving pumpkins</a>, which will show you the skills you need. Next, choose your veggie victim.</p>
<h2>Utensils for carving</h2>
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</div>The true pro has a variety of tools at their fingertips. Below are some suggested bits of kit, but have a rummage around your kitchen to see if you can find some of the following:<strong>Skewer</strong> – for cutting small holes or marking out where to carve your design (see the video above)<strong>Large spoon</strong> – to scoop out the seeds or flesh
<p><strong>Grapefruit spoon</strong> – for scooping harder-fleshed fruits and vegetables</p>
<p><strong>Ice cream scoop</strong> – another scooping tool, ideal for a watermelon</p>
<p><strong>Melon baller</strong> – also for innard-removal, and especially good for tomatoes</p>
<p><strong>Small serrated, flexible knife</strong> – for cutting your design into hard fruit and veg</p>
<p><strong>Small sharp knife</strong> – for carving small, softer specimens, like peppers and tomatoes</p>
<p><strong>Peeler</strong> – to remove the top layer of skin from the pumpkin, squash or melon</p>
<p><strong>Apple corer</strong> – for cutting larger, uniform holes and creating patterns</p>
<p><strong>Cordless drill</strong> – for making small holes quickly; perfect for pretty lantern designs, particularly with hard-skinned pumpkins and squashes</p>
<p><strong>Lino cutting tools</strong> – great for carving intricate designs into squash or melon skin. Use them to cut away small areas of the top layer of skin so that you can create mid-tones, textures and more complicated images. You can buy them from an art supply shop or online.</p>
<h2>Alternative fruit and vegetables to carve</h2>
<h3>1. Pineapples</h3>
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<p>A <a href="/glossary/pineapple-glossary">pineapple</a> is perfect for a spine-tingling party piece. Cut the top off a couple of centimetres below the leaves. Run a serrated knife around the inside wall, leaving about 2cm of flesh all the way around. Remove the centre – cutting a cross through the flesh should make this easier. Once hollow, rinse and pat dry with kitchen paper. Carve your spooky face, pop in a tealight, replace the spiky top and display your little hair-raiser.</p>
<h3>2. Squashes</h3>
<p>Squashes can be carved using the same technique as a pumpkin and the variety of sizes, shapes and colours are sure to thrill passing trick-or-treaters. See our <a href="/howto/guide/how-prepare-squash">guide to preparing squash</a>, including photos of some of the types you can buy. Buy a selection for different eerie effects.</p>
<h3>3. Courgettes</h3>
<p>While most <a href="/glossary/courgette-glossary">courgettes</a> are too small to hollow out completely, the firm yet soft texture makes them easy to work with – try etching patterns into the skin and exposing the white insides. To display them, cut off one end to create a flat surface and stand them up.</p>
<h3>4. Marrows</h3>
<p><a href="/glossary/marrow-glossary">Marrows</a> are mature courgettes, with creamy flesh and mild taste. Since marrows are bigger than courgettes, they’ll give you more space for carving your devilish decorations.</p>
<h3>5. Peppers</h3>
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<p>There’s very little scooping and scraping necessary to hollow out <a href="/glossary/pepper-glossary">peppers</a> – simply remove the top and seeds. If you’re planning a spooky supper, give your peppers a creepy countenance, before <a href="/recipes/easy-stuffed-peppers">stuffing with rice</a>.</p>
<h3>6. Tomatoes</h3>
<p>You can hollow out beef <a href="/glossary/tomato-glossary">tomatoes</a> from the base, carve, then fill with a delicious <a href="/recipes/lemon-coriander-couscous">lemon & coriander couscous</a>. If you’re after something more gory, try making gruesome eyeballs from cherry tomatoes and mini mozarella balls in our terrifying <a href="/recipes/eyeball-pasta">tagliatelle</a>.</p>
<h3>7. Oranges</h3>
<p>Use a grapefruit spoon to scoop out the flesh of an <a href="/glossary/orange-glossary">orange</a>, rinse and pat dry with a tissue. Cut out some frightening features, then fill with small sweets to make a brightly coloured ‘bowl’ to adorn your table.</p>
<h3>8. Turnips</h3>
<p>The humble <a href="/glossary/turnip-glossary">turnip</a> is in fact the <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about-us/search-news/halloween-turnip-carving/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original carved decoration</a>, with roots in early European folklore from long before pumpkin carving became popular. Though harder to carve than pumpkins, it’s a fun way of embracing the original tradition.</p>
<h3>9. Melons</h3>
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<img class="wp-image-437933 align size-full image-handler__image image-handler__image–full no-wrap js-lazyload" srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2020/08/halloween-melons-6090c91.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C310" width="700" height="350" alt="Two Halloween melons with carved scary faces" title="Two Halloween melons with carved scary faces">
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<p>You can take a knife to any type of melon but the blood-red flesh of the <a href="/glossary/watermelon-glossary">watermelon</a> can’t be beaten. Hollow it out from the base, scoop out the inner flesh and get carving. Use the leftover fruit in a luscious <a href="/recipes/watermelon-orange-blossom-lemonade">watermelon lemonade</a>.</p>
<h3>10. Radishes</h3>
<p><a href="/glossary/radish-glossary">Radishes</a> are too small to hollow out but their bold red skin and bone-white innards make for a striking visual contrast. Using the tip of a small knife, skewer or lino cutting tool, scrape away a ghoulish grimace and garnish your <a href="/howto/guide/how-make-halloween-feast">Halloween buffet</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Get more Halloween inspiration…</strong></p>
<p><a href="/recipes/collection/halloween-recipes">Halloween recipe collection</a><br>
<a href="/howto/guide/how-make-halloween-feast">How to make a Halloween feast</a><br>
<a href="/howto/guide/how-throw-kids-halloween-party">How to throw a kids’ Halloween party</a><br>
<a href="/howto/guide/how-throw-last-minute-halloween-party">How to throw a last-minute Halloween party</a><br>
<a href="/recipes/collection/halloween-recipes-drinks-recipes">Halloween cocktail recipes</a><br>
<a href="/howto/guide/pumpkin-carving-templates">Pumpkin (or alternative veg) carving templates</a></p>
<p><strong>Have you been getting freaky with fruit and veg? Leave a comment below…</strong></p>
9 things you can carve for Halloween that aren’t pumpkins
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