How to safely carve a pumpkin

Pumpkin carving, that beloved family ritual, can turn as nasty as the goblins lurking outside if you're not careful, particularly if you let children carve or use the wrong tools. We informally tested several pumpkin-carving kits and found that they can reduce the risk of getting cut. The pumpkin-carving kits we evaluated -- which ran from about $6 to $15 -- eased some of our concerns. They contained tools that can saw through rind, poke holes, or scoop out the innards. One advantage of the sawlike tools is that they're not razor-sharp, unlike many knives. Although various tools broke in our tests, the sawlike ones were judged less likely than regular knives to cause serious cuts to your hand. You can find more information and some general tips on pumpkin carving here. Our top tip: keep all pumpkin-carving tools away from kids. If you want them to participate, let them draw a face on the pumpkin and help scoop out the innards. Then leave the carving to adults.
Update: One pumpkin-carving kit you'll want to avoid is the Mr. Potato Head version sold by Target (which includes Mr. Potato Head “Make a Monster Pumpkin," Mr. Potato Head “Make a Fireman Pumpkin” and Mrs. Potato Head “Make a Diva Pumpkin”). The kits were recently recalled after it was determined that they contain small parts that pose a choking hazard to young children. More info from the CPSC is available here.