Grandma surprises TikTok with viral pumpkin-carving hack 

A grandma on TikTok has gone viral after she surprised followers with her simple hack for carving pumpkins: a hand mixer, Vaseline, and cookie cutters. 

The self-proclaimed “everyone’s grandma,” Barbara “Babs” Costello, posted about the trick to keeping pumpkins looking fresh on her TikTok account last week. 

“Babs’ Do’s and Don’ts for Pumpkin Carving, saves the mess and speeds up carving so you can have the perfect jack-o-lantern with no mess and no fuss,” reads the caption of the TikTok.

In the video, which has amassed over 24.6 million views, Costello recommends views to cut the pumpkin open from the bottom rather than the top. To make it easier, she suggests doing it while seated with the pumpkin in your lap. 

Costello also has a tip for the hard work one puts into emptying the contents inside the pumpkin: using a hand mixer to gather and remove the seeds “literally cuts the job in half,” she says. 

For the design on your pumpkin, use a red dry-erase marker to sketch out your artwork, says Costello. Then use cookie cutters and a rubber mallet to carve your design out. 

The most innovative step involves Vaseline. Spreading a thick layer of Vaseline over any exposed flesh around the pumpkin’s carved eyes, mouth, nose, and lid helps preserve the pumpkin, making it look fresh for days, she says. 

Finally, sprinkle some cinnamon on the inside of your pumpkin to add a “festive specie smell” when a candle is lit inside. 

Since Costello posted her hack, several followers have followed her advice and have only expressed gratitude towards the TikToker for making their Halloween easier. 

"God, I love you! I have been doing everything wrong the last 40 plus years of my life!!!" posted one follower. 

"Where has this woman been all our lives," wrote another. 

@brunchwithbabs 🎃Do’s and Don’ts of Pumpkin Carving 🎃It is a treasured tradition in our family to carve jack-o-lanterns for Halloween.  But with all the yuck and mess, sometimes my kids would quit the project before we even started.  Babs’ Do’s and Don’ts for Pumpkin Carving, saves the mess and speeds up carving so you can have the perfect jack-o-lantern with no mess and no fuss.  Happy Halloween 🎃XO Babs 1. Carve from bottom.  That way you have the stem to hold onto and you can easily slip the pumpkin right over a candle or flashlight. 2. Hold pumpkin in your lap to carve.  You will have a much steadier pumpkin to cut.    3. Use a red dry erase marker to sketch your design. It erases easily and if you miss a spot, it blends in. 4. Use a hand mixer to clean out your pumpkin. 5. Use cookie cutters and a rubber mallet to carve your design. 6. Cover all cut surfaces with Vaseline to keep the pumpkin moist after carving.  Pumpkins should last 1-2 weeks carved! 7. Sprinkle some cinnamon on the inside top of your pumpkin for festive pumpkin spice smell when a candle is lit inside the pumpkin.  🎃 #pumpkincarving ♬ original sound - everyone’s grandmother