Canned pumpkin is a convenient ingredient that can save lots of time and effort when making a recipe, but the pumpkin section of the canned goods aisle can be a little confusing. While the labels look almost identical, there are some differences between pumpkin pie filling and pumpkin puree.
Pumpkin Puree
Commonly called for in pumpkin recipes, puree is the cooked and mashed flesh of any number of different varieties of squash—yes, squash. There are soft-skinned summer squash, like zucchini and yellow squash, and there are hard-skinned winter varieties like acorn squash, butternut squash, and the various orange ones we lump together as pumpkins.
Canned pumpkin puree is a blend of winter squashes, some of them proprietary (such as the Dickinson squash, which is owned by the Libby's brand). The one type of squash you won't find in a can is the standard field pumpkin that's used for making Halloween jack-o'-lanterns. While edible, this type of squash isn't particularly good for eating no matter how it's cooked or pureed.
Pumpkin puree can be labeled as 100% pure pumpkin, pumpkin puree, solid pack pumpkin, or simply "pumpkin." Regardless of what it's called, one thing pumpkin puree won't contain is any sort of seasonings or sugar—it's just cooked and mashed squash. Most recipes call for pumpkin puree and also call for adding seasonings to flavor the dish.
Pumpkin puree can be used to make pies, cakes, muffins, breads, soups, and much more. You can also make your own puree at home.
Pumpkin pie filling is a mixture of cooked, mashed winter squash that is blended with sweetener and spices. It's a convenient ingredient to use if you're planning to make a pumpkin pie and you're short on time. Instead of measuring sugar and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, the pie filling is already preseasoned and ready to go.
While pumpkin pie filling is a time-saver, it's also not as customizable as pumpkin puree. You may find a brand too sweet for your taste or too heavy on a spice. Cooking with plain pumpkin puree allows you to adjust the seasonings to your liking.
What to Do If You Buy the Wrong Kind
Because both products come in cans and both have the word "pumpkin" on the label, it's possible to buy the wrong kind by accident.
If you meant to purchase pumpkin pie filling but accidentally grabbed a can of plain pumpkin, it's easy to sweeten and season the puree. Follow a good pumpkin pie recipe (there's usually a recipe printed right on the label) and add sugar and spices to the puree along with other ingredients like eggs before baking.
If you erred in the opposite direction—you bought pumpkin pie filling instead of plain pumpkin puree—you may want to return to the store for an exchange. Pumpkin pie filling shouldn't be used in place of pumpkin puree since the finished dish will be too sweet. You can always set the can aside to make a quick pumpkin pie another day.
They are the same product. Both canned pumpkin puree and pie filling are useful, shelf-stable ingredients that can help speed up your kitchen prep time. Just remember that puree is unsweetened, while pie filling contains sugar and spices. This will help you choose the right pumpkin product for your recipes.
Although they both come in cans and the packaging looks almost identical, they can't be used interchangeably. Pumpkin puree doesn't have anything added to it, but pumpkin pie filling comes with pumpkin spice and sugar already mixed in.
Pumpkin purée is simply cooked and mashed pumpkin.
Pumpkin purée can be homemade with whole pumpkin or canned and sold in grocery stores. Canned pumpkin purée that says “100% pumpkin” on the label may also contain one or more types of winter squash, like butternut, Hubbard, Boston Marrow, and Golden Delicious.
Pumpkin puree is made by steaming and pureeing squash so there are no added ingredients. Is canned pumpkin cooked? Yes, it's already been cooked via steaming. It's safe to eat canned pumpkin straight from the can, but it's infinitely better baked into a pan of pumpkin bars.
Based on my taste tests, I think that fresh puree would easily elevate any savory pumpkin dish such as soup or pasta. The fresh, unadulterated flavor and fluffy texture would work wonderfully in savory dishes, especially because even “sugar pumpkins” aren't very sweet on their own.
Pumpkin pie filling shouldn't be used in place of pumpkin puree since the finished dish will be too sweet. You can always set the can aside to make a quick pumpkin pie another day.
Frozen Butternut Squash. You can substitute almost any roasted and puréed squash for canned pumpkin. ...
Sweet Potatoes. Whether you keep the raw tubers or canned cubes on hand, sweet potatoes are one of the best alternatives to canned pumpkin you can keep stocked. ...
Canned pumpkin (labeled as "100% pure pumpkin") is a purée of pumpkin that is sometimes mixed with other kinds of winter squash. It is unsweetened and does not contain any added spices. Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing, and you'll often see the terms used interchangeably in recipes and cookbooks.
Not only does pumpkin purée act as a sweetener, a creamy moisturizer, and a fat substitute in everything from muffins to soup — but it also tastes delicious in everything!
Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing. These terms are often used interchangeably in recipes, though you may also see the term solid-pack pumpkin. All these terms mean 100% steamed and pureed pumpkin—no extras, no add-ins—not even in the canned variety.
You might think you could overcome the lack of flavor by adding more pumpkin purée to your recipe, but you'd be mistaken: By the time you've added enough purée to taste it, your baked good would have a soggy texture on account of all that moisture.
They are the same product. Both canned pumpkin puree and pie filling are useful, shelf-stable ingredients that can help speed up your kitchen prep time. Just remember that puree is unsweetened, while pie filling contains sugar and spices. This will help you choose the right pumpkin product for your recipes.
If a batch of pumpkin puree appears thin or watery, let it drain in a fine-meshed strainer for 1 hour to remove excess liquid. Most roasted or steamed pumpkin just needs a quick mash to turn soft and creamy-smooth. If lumps remain, place the puree in a blender or food processor, and blend until smooth.
The Best Overall: Libby's 100% Pure Canned Pumpkin
The baked pie filling we made using this puree was creamy and soft, and we could actually taste the pumpkin itself along with the other spices the pie recipe called for.
Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing. These terms are often used interchangeably in recipes, though you may also see the term solid-pack pumpkin. All these terms mean 100% steamed and pureed pumpkin—no extras, no add-ins—not even in the canned variety.
Dogs shouldn't eat pumpkin pie, given that this delicious fall staple contains unsafe ingredients. Along with the spices, the filling contains sugar and condensed milk, which can cause stomach upset. In small amounts, pie crusts won't harm your dog, but sugar and butter aren't good for them.
Introduction: My name is Jonah Leffler, I am a determined, faithful, outstanding, inexpensive, cheerful, determined, smiling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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