Pumpkin, whether it is canned or fresh, is a nutritional powerhouse. Pumpkin's rich orange color indicates the presence of beta carotene, an antioxidant that protects the body from certain diseases and may even help stave off the effects of aging, according to the University of Illinois Extension. When buying a canned pumpkin product, read the label carefully. Although pure pumpkin and pumpkin pie filling look quite similar, they have different cooking uses and cannot be used interchangeably.
Pure Pumpkin
Raw pumpkin requires cooking before you eat it, and can be prepared by boiling, baking or roasting, much as you would any other squash. Canned pumpkin, often labeled as pure pumpkin, is a convenient source of the pureed fruit, and is particularly useful at times of year when fresh pumpkin is not available. One serving size of cooked, boiled pure pumpkin contains approximately 49 calories, 2 grams of protein, 12 grams of carbohydrates and 3 grams of fiber. Pumpkin also supplies calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, selenium, niacin, folate and vitamins C, A and E.
Pumpkin Pie Filling
You can make your own filling for pumpkin pie by adding ingredients to fresh cooked pumpkin or canned pure pumpkin, but many cooks opt for canned ready-made pumpkin pie filling or mix, which besides pumpkin contains sugar and spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and ginger. Because of the added sugar and salt, pumpkin pie filling is less nutritious than pure pumpkin alone. Canned pumpkin pie mix contains approximately 90 calories per serving, and has 17 grams of sugars and 120 milligrams of sodium, considerably higher than that of plain pumpkin.
Pure Pumpkin Uses
Freshly cooked or plain canned pure pumpkin is a versatile food, useful as a vegetable side dish, or as an ingredient in both savory and sweet dishes, such as soups, stews, pastas or puddings. Besides serving as the classic Thanksgiving dessert in custard pie form, pumpkin adds flavor to many other baked goods such as cakes, cookies, coffee cakes, pancakes, breads or muffins.
Pumpkin Pie Filling Uses
Many cooks like the convenience of canned pumpkin pie mix, since it requires only the addition of eggs and evaporated milk before it is ready to pour into a pie shell and bake. It is little more work to create your own pumpkin pie filling at home, however, starting with fresh cooked pumpkin or canned pure pumpkin. An advantage of using pure pumpkin to make your own pumpkin pie filling is that you can control the amount of sugar and salt that goes into your recipe. If you wish to use canned or homemade pumpkin pie filling for a dish other than pumpkin pie, look for a recipe that specifically calls for the product. Because pumpkin pie filling contains other ingredients, it cannot be substituted for plain pumpkin.
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