What is the difference between a baking pumpkin and a carving pumpkin?

The main difference between a baking pumpkin and a carving pumpkin lies in their intended use, which is a result of their physical and flavor characteristics.

1. Texture and Flesh: Baking pumpkins, also known as pie pumpkins or sugar pumpkins, are smaller and more dense than carving pumpkins. They have a sweeter, more tender flesh that is less stringy, making them ideal for cooking and baking. Their flesh is also thicker, which provides more pumpkin material to use in recipes.

2. Flavor: Baking pumpkins have a better flavor for consumable pumpkin dishes. They are bred for a higher sugar content and typically have a smoother texture when cooked, which is perfect for pies, breads, and other pumpkin recipes.

3. Size and Shape: Carving pumpkins are usually larger and have a more robust and uniform shape, with a thicker rind. They are specifically grown to have a hollow, spacious interior that can accommodate a candle or light, and a wall structure that holds up well to being carved into jack-o'-lanterns. This hollow characteristic means they have less flesh to eat.

4. Skin: Baking pumpkins have a softer skin than carving pumpkins, which makes them easier to cut into and cook. The skin of carving pumpkins is generally tougher, which is helpful for keeping the carved designs intact but is not as pleasant to eat.

5. Seeds: Both baking and carving pumpkins have seeds that can be roasted and eaten, but the seeds from carving pumpkins tend to be larger and are thus more commonly harvested for this purpose.

Because of these differences, it's generally recommended to use baking pumpkins for any recipe where you'll be eating the pumpkin, and save the carving pumpkins for decorative purposes.