Right about now, pumpkins are cheap... dirt cheap. Put down that cleaver, though, if you plan on tasting that Jack-O'-Lantern.

In the days leading up to Halloween, grocery stores will be trying to get rid of all their big carving pumpkins. With food prices the way they are, you might think to save a little money by buying one for your holiday baking—think again. Here are 3 reasons why you should skip cooking with your carving pumpkins this year.

Some pumpkins are bred for carving.

What you can find at grocery stores for under $5 right now are your basic carving Jack-O'-Lanterns. These are selected and bred to be larger, woodier, and less fleshy. What makes a good decoration does not make a good pie.

Carving pumpkins are bland.

Anyone who has ever tried one will tell you that a pie pumpkin or denser winter squash has exponentially more sweetness than a standard grocery store pumpkin. There's a reason why they command such high prices! For one standard pumpkin pie, you'll need at least 2 cups of puree, or the flesh of one sugar pumpkin. Don't be fooled by size; it's what's on the inside that counts.

Carved pumpkins could harbor bacteria.

Forget the flavor aspect for a second, and just think about the potential mold and bacteria a cut pumpkin could be hiding. Don't take the risk just to save a few bucks. 

If you do decide to ignore these reasons to avoid cooking with carving pumpkins, do yourself a favor and roast them first. Boiling them would just accentuate how bland they are. Cut the pumpkin into big chunks, drizzle them with olive oil, and bake them at 400F until tender. They won't taste like much—you've been warned.

The seeds, on the other hand, make great snacks when roasted and seasoned. Just make those instead!