Here are tips on how to clean a pumpkin for cooking:

• First, scrub the outside of the pumpkin with a vegetable brush.
• Cut the pumpkin in half and use a spoon to scrape out the fibers and the seeds. A serrated grapefruit spoon works great for this.
• Cut the pumpkin halves into smaller pieces, then place them skin side up in a shallow baking dish. (the pumpkin should be cut into pieces with seeds removed, not cooked whole. The skin does not need to be pierced.)
• Add water to just cover the bottom of the dish, and cover tightly.
• Bake in a 325°F oven until the pumpkin is fork-tender. The time will vary depending on the size of your pieces.
• Let it cool, and then either cut off the peel or scoop out the flesh.

TIP: For pumpkins that you're not cooking right away, keep them cool but not quite as cool as root crops. If you have a coolish bedroom, stashing them under the bed works well. They like a temperature of about 50 to 65°F.