The best way to cook a pumpkin depends upon the recipe you are making. Roasting or sauteing in a pan gives the pumpkin added flavor through caramelization, which is perfect in salads, with other roasted vegetables or soups. While boiling, steaming, or microwaving cooks, the pumpkin has a much more subtle taste. Boiling or microwaving is great when you want to make a pumpkin mash, puree (for pies, bread, cookies, and muffins), or need pumpkin in its purest form.