A pleasant sweet taste, a slight crunch and an “exciting” cleansing process - that’s all about pumpkin seeds. They contain a lot of calcium, which is beneficial for the skin, teeth, and nails. They contain vitamins and microelements necessary for the body to function properly. The maximum amount of useful substances is contained in the raw product, but, unfortunately, it cannot be stored for a long time. The seeds quickly deteriorate and become unfit for consumption.
The best way to extend the shelf life of pumpkin seeds and preserve all their beneficial properties is to properly dry them. You can buy roasted seeds, but a product prepared yourself is much healthier, since the drying process occurs under your control. In this article we will tell you how to dry and peel pumpkin seeds at home.
Selecting seeds and preparing them for drying
It is not always possible to grow a pumpkin and process the seeds manually. Therefore, we will consider the option of purchasing ready-made ones.
How to choose the right one:
- by smell - if you feel any specific smell, then their kernels are probably affected by something; they will taste bitter;
- by appearance - the seeds must be thoroughly washed; if they stick, it means they have not been washed well;
- by the quality of the skin - if the skin of the roasted seeds is soft, they were prepared with violations of the technological process.
Many people prefer to get their own pumpkin seeds to avoid a poor quality product.
How to collect pumpkin seeds:
- cut the pumpkin in half;
- remove all the seeds with your hands and remove all the pulp from them;
- wash them in a colander several times;
- when all the moisture has drained, blot them with a napkin.
Eating seeds
Most people rarely consume pumpkin seeds, despite the huge amount of vitamins and minerals they contain. Often, seed lovers prefer sunflower seeds.
On a note! The daily intake of pumpkin seeds is 10 g. This is approximately 50 pieces.
Consumption of this product in excess of the norm negatively affects the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the product has a high calorie content - about 560 kcal per 100 g.
Drying methods
It is best to dry the seeds outside under the influence of the sun - this way they will retain all their benefits. But it happens that this is not possible or they are needed as soon as possible and in large quantities. Let's consider possible drying methods, in addition to open air and sun.
In a frying pan
Simply dry the seeds in a frying pan:
- place the frying pan on medium heat;
- heat it well and reduce the heat;
- pour out dry and clean seeds;
- fry them, stirring constantly (no more than 10 minutes);
- the finished product is left to cool.
Microwave
When choosing this method, the product must be completely dry.
Procedure:
- placed on a glass dish from the microwave;
- dry at medium power for 3 minutes;
- open the door and mix them;
- turn on medium power and leave for another 3 minutes;
- mix again and repeat the previous step;
- Remove the glass dish and leave to cool.
In the oven
Before drying pumpkin seeds in the oven, be sure to wash them in water to get rid of the pulp. Then they are dried with a napkin and left to dry completely for several hours (preferably overnight).
You can put the product in the oven and not worry that some part will not dry completely:
- preheat the oven to 180°C;
- line a sheet of parchment on a baking sheet;
- lay out the seeds in one layer so that they do not lie on top of each other;
- place the baking sheet in a preheated oven;
- take it out exactly after 5 minutes and mix thoroughly;
- put back in the oven for another 7 minutes;
- Remove the pan and leave to cool.
If the pumpkin seeds are very damp, it is also enough to preheat the oven to 180°C , spread the parchment on a baking sheet, distribute the product in an even layer and place in the oven for 7 minutes. The moisture will leave through the pores of the peel and the kernels will dry out.
In an electric dryer for vegetables and fruits
The seeds are placed on the grate of each level of the dryer in an even layer. The temperature is set to 70°C . In order for them to dry equally, it is necessary to periodically rearrange the grates.
In a convection oven
The blowing power is set to maximum, the heating temperature is set to 70°C . Air fryer drying time is 40 minutes. The lid of the device is left slightly open for better ventilation - then the moist air will have somewhere to go.
Interesting facts about pumpkin seeds:
Harm and benefits of pumpkin seeds for men
The benefits and harms of pumpkin seeds for women
How to eat pumpkin seeds for weight loss
Easy diet
A diet based on pumpkin and pumpkin seeds is a new, affordable, easy method designed for weight loss. It's all about its uniqueness.
This vegetable and its seeds have a rare vitamin “T”, which prevents fat from being deposited in problem areas, so a salad with the addition of pulp and seeds of this plant will not allow you to gain extra pounds.
The simplest salad recipes will appeal to all ladies. Pumpkin is such a versatile vegetable that it can be combined with any food.
- Grate the apple, pumpkin, chop the orange, add peeled pumpkin seeds, mix, season with lemon juice.
- Pumpkin puree soup. Cut the orange vegetable pulp, zucchini, carrots, potatoes into cubes, place in boiling water, add salt, cook until tender. Mix the finished soup with a blender, add herbs.
How to determine if the seeds are dry
Well-dried ones have a light yellow color, the peel acquires density, and the shape becomes contoured . If you clean one thing, you will notice how easily the film separates from the core. The color of the kernel should be dark green with white speckles.
Important! The seed should not taste wet, have a strong crunch, or have a bitter taste. If these signs are not present, the product is perfectly dried.
general information
As you know, pumpkin is a very healthy product.
Moreover, it doesn’t matter at all in what form it is used - fresh, dried, or you are preparing something from a frozen product. What are the benefits of pumpkin seeds? She's well known
Pumpkin seeds help improve the condition of the scalp, preventing dandruff, and have a good effect on the skin, nails and teeth, since they contain a large amount of essential calcium.
Pumpkin seeds cope with male sexual diseases, improving the condition of organs at the initial stage of the disease. This is why pumpkin seeds are so popular.
But don’t forget that they are incredibly tasty and serve as an excellent addition to any prepared dish.
Growing pumpkins in your garden is not difficult at all. But this alone is not enough to obtain such valuable seeds.
It is also very important to properly harvest the crop and choose a method for preserving it.
We will tell you how to preserve pumpkin seeds at home without losing their precious vitamins.
Pumpkin seeds are a source of vitamins
The first and most proven method in this case is drying. It is thanks to her that we can enjoy the pleasant and favorite taste from childhood even in winter.
How to peel pumpkin seeds
Peeling them is easy. Properly dried seeds easily lose their shell . It is enough to take the seed between your thumb and forefinger and press lightly - the peel will immediately open into two halves.
How to Peel Raw and Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Fresh and wet seeds are not easy to clean. Remember that when dried they last much longer . If you peel the seeds raw, eat them immediately. Otherwise, they will become moldy, lose their beneficial properties, and become rancid.
Still, many people love to nibble on unroasted pumpkin seeds. You can get the kernel from raw seeds in this way :
- cut the pumpkin and remove the seeds;
- free the seeds from the pulp, wash with water in a colander;
- blot with a napkin and place on a baking sheet;
- dry them a little from moisture;
- lightly roll the product with a rolling pin;
- put in a saucepan, pour boiling water (1:2).
- cook for 30 minutes over low heat.
The skin will rise to the surface, and the kernels will remain below . Carefully remove the peel with a spoon and pour the water with the seeds into a colander.
Cleaning roasted seeds
When the pumpkin seeds are properly dried, the storage location is chosen correctly, you can start consuming them. There are many recipes using shelled roasted pumpkin seeds - you'll need more than a handful.
Perhaps it will be urbech (a paste made from nuts and seeds) or granola (a baked mixture of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits). In any case, every housewife should know what cleaning methods exist.
The easiest and most effective way to clean large quantities of roasted pumpkin seeds is using a home blender:
- pour water into a saucepan (1 liter per 0.5 kg of pumpkin seeds), bring to a boil;
- pour out the seeds and cook them over low heat under a closed lid for half an hour;
- remove all floating husks with a spoon, drain the water with seeds into a colander;
- wash the seeds to remove any remaining husks;
- dry the seeds.
There are varieties of pumpkin in which the seeds do not have a peel . Then you won’t have to peel the seeds, you can immediately enjoy the taste and get the benefits.
Industrial cleaning
In large-scale conditions, special equipment is used to peel seeds . This is a large centrifuge into which clean and washed pumpkin seeds are collected. They are exposed to centrifugal force and hit the walls of the container.
The peel is damaged, but the kernels remain intact. As soon as the husk begins to come off, the vibration starts. The shells rise up and end up in the trash.
Then the cleaned seeds once again go through the first stage - a centrifuge. Afterwards the seeds are washed and dried. Before packaging in production, the seeds are sorted by hand to check for the absence of debris.
Basic Rules
How to dry pumpkin seeds at home? How to prepare them for drying? A very important point in drying seeds is their proper preparation.
You must know how to properly extract the seeds and in what form to bring them to direct drying. Let's start with the fact that the seeds are in the very heart of the pumpkin - in its pulp.
Pumpkin seeds are perfectly separated from the pulp - the most important thing is not to damage them. You should cut the pumpkin carefully so that most of the seeds are not cut.
You can remove pumpkin seeds with a spoon.
Also remember that the seeds must be white and firm to the touch - otherwise, your seeds are unripe. Also remember that pumpkin seeds should not be rotten, like the pumpkin fruit itself (this is especially true if the pumpkin is stored indoors).
Once you are sure that your vegetable meets all the necessary requirements, you can begin to cut off the top of the pumpkin. You will see the pulp on which many seeds are attached. Carefully separating the change from the pulp, begin to disconnect them.
The seeds should not be crushed or otherwise deformed - otherwise they can no longer be dried.
Once you have removed all the seeds from the pumpkin, rinse them. Place the seeds in a colander and run under running cold water, rinsing until the seeds lose their viscosity. Only after this can you consider that you have prepared the seeds correctly. (The leftover pumpkin can be used for food or as Halloween decorations).
The next step is to dry the seeds. To do this, thoroughly blot the spread seeds and cover with a towel. Press the fabric with your hand to absorb moisture. Leave the tray in a dry place for several hours until the moisture leaves the seeds. After this, you can proceed to the drying process.
You can learn how to prepare seeds for drying from the video:
Do I need to wash shelled pumpkin seeds?
After drying the seeds yourself and cleaning them, it is not advisable to moisten them again, since after that you will have to resort to drying again. Then there will be much less useful properties. In addition, when washed, dried peeled seeds will crumble.
However, if you purchased pumpkin seeds in a store and are not sure of their quality, you can put the seeds in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Reviews
Victoria
My daughter and I try to eat pumpkin seeds more often to prevent parasites in the body. This is much better than poisoning yourself and your child with chemicals later.
Anna
I wanted to bake a pie with pumpkin seeds. It took 2 handfuls. In order not to bother manually, I tried the second method of cleansing - by boiling in water. The method is effective! Everything worked out. But be sure to cover the pan with a lid. It's faster that way. But any housewife wants to preserve more vitamins in the product.
How do you like the article?
Storing peeled pumpkin seeds
After drying using the chosen method, it is necessary to determine the location and storage conditions. The storage place should be dark and dry . The seeds are placed in a fabric bag and hung up so that they are ventilated. Can also be placed in a glass jar, ceramic container or cardboard box.
There are several important rules for storing pumpkin seeds :
- if there are a lot of them, then divide them into several parts;
- there should be enough oxygen in the storage room, but high humidity will only do harm;
- there should be no high temperature in the storage location;
- It is not advisable to leave a dried and fried product in storage for a long time.
How are they useful?
Pumpkin seeds are not only tasty, but also an extremely healthy product. As raw materials, they are used to obtain healing oils; you can also often find them in “beauty recipes,” but they are most often used in cooking, as they are added to baked goods, salads, prepared vegetarian dishes and, of course, consumed raw.
Drying food is a fairly common practice. Learn how to dry walnuts, oyster mushrooms, cherries, plums, apples, kumquats, rose hips, raspberry leaves, blueberries, mint, thyme, herbs and oranges for decoration.
This product contains a large amount of minerals, there are also trace elements and protein compounds that are extremely beneficial for the human body. The presence of a high level of vitamin E in the composition is considered to be of particular value. This group of elements has a positive effect on human reproductive qualities.
It is unacceptable to eat these seeds in the following cases:
- the presence of individual intolerance to the product;
- the presence of an allergic reaction;
- a number of diseases of the liver, stomach and intestines.
Important! Children, pregnant women, and women during lactation are allowed to eat pumpkin seeds.
In addition, an undried product quickly becomes unusable - it becomes moldy due to the high moisture content. Therefore, before storing the seeds, they should be thoroughly dried. And in order not to damage this product, while preserving the maximum possible amount of useful substances, you need to follow the recommendations that will be proposed later in the article.
