Pumpkin seeds are a fall favorite, but they’re also an excellent source of nutrients. You can roast them, add them to salads, or simply enjoy them as a snack. However, when you’ve eaten all the pumpkin flesh from your jack-o’-lanterns and other gourds, don’t throw away those seeds! In this article we’ll show you how to save pumpkin seeds for planting so they’ll be ready to use when you need them again next year.
Scoop Out the Seeds
Before you start scooping, make sure your pumpkin is completely cool. You can’t use warm or hot seeds for roasting because heat will cause them to explode and turn into a sticky mess in the oven. Once the pumpkin has cooled down, flip it over so that its bottom faces up.
With a spoon or melon baller (a small tool with handles on either end), gently pry out the kernels from their shells. If you’re using a spoon to get at them, hold one handle in each hand and scrape away at both sides of each seed until it’s free of its skin—but don’t dig too deep! The top part of most pumpkins contains very soft flesh that would be difficult to work around if you tried digging too deeply with your utensil; instead, just go shallowly enough so that when they pop out they don’t break apart into pieces before being plucked out with tongs later on in this process.
Rinse the Pulp From the Seeds
To make sure that the pulp is rinsed off, you should place the pumpkin seeds into a colander and run them under running water. You can also use a strainer or bowl to rinse your kernels. To make sure all of the pulp is removed, let them sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing again. This will allow any remaining pulp to sink to the bottom of your bowl or colander so that it does not end up on your seeds when they are ready for roasting.
Thoroughly Clean the Seeds
To begin, thoroughly clean the seeds in a colander and then dry them with a salad spinner. If you don’t have one of these handy kitchen gadgets, use paper towels to absorb the water from the pumpkin seeds. You can also use any number of other tools:
- A knife or spoon for scraping away excess pulp around each seed
- A toothpick for removing any remaining pulp from inside each seed.
Prepare the Cookie Sheet
When it comes to cooking your pumpkin kernels, you will need a cookie sheet. You can use any type of baking pan, but I recommend using one that is the same size as your pumpkin seeds so that they cook evenly. The best option for lining the pan is a paper towel or a paper bag. Simply fold over the top of each towel and place them on top of each other until you have enough layers to cover all areas of the baking sheet.
If you do not have access to disposable towels and bags in your kitchen, use parchment paper instead! This will reduce clean-up time during this project as well as future projects where parchment is needed (making meatballs).
Place the Seeds on the Sheet
Now that you’ve washed and dried your pumpkin seeds, it’s time to get them ready for roasting. Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper or a non-stick pad to ensure that the seeds don’t stick to the surface of the pan and make a mess. Spread out your seeds evenly across the pan; you want them not touching so they can cook evenly. Make sure there’s enough room between each kernel so they’re not crowded together as well; too close together will prevent them from roasting properly.
Allow the Seeds to Dry
The seeds need to dry for about 24 hours before you store them. The dryer they are, the longer they will last. Store them in a cool, dry place until you use them. If you’re drying them in a container without a lid, make sure it’s covered with cheesecloth or another breathable cloth so that moisture can escape as the pumpkin dries out and not damage your seeds or cause mold to form on top of them when stored later.
Stir and Turn Them Over
- Stir and turn the seeds over. In a large bowl, stir the pumpkin seeds to ensure they are all coated with oil or butter. After 30 minutes of drying, use a spoon to flip them over and continue to dry for another 30 minutes.
- Burn yourself at your own risk! You may want to wear an oven mitt or other protective gear when lifting hot pans or trays so as not to burn yourself while stirring your seeds around until they’re evenly dried (or just use tongs).
Continue to Monitor as the Seeds Dry
As you continue to monitor your seeds, be sure not to leave them unattended. The drying process can take a few days or more depending on the humidity and temperature of your home, so it’s important that you check on them often. If the moisture is too low, the seeds will be brittle and break when handled; if it’s too high (due to either too much heat or inadequate ventilation), they may start to mold instead of dry out properly.
Put the Dry Pumpkin Seeds For Replanting in an Envelope
- Put the Dry Seeds in an Envelope
Keeping your pumpkin seeds for replanting in a paper envelope or plastic bag is one of the most common methods for saving and storing pumpkin seeds. Both options work well because they don’t let moisture in, but there are some differences to be aware of when using each type of container. The main advantage that envelopes have over bags is that you can easily see how many seeds there are left inside; it’s hard to gauge how much you’ve eaten from a bag without pulling everything out first. If space is an issue, plastic bags may be more convenient as they take up less room than envelopes do, but they also have less air circulation around them—which means that it might take longer for your seeds to dry out completely before cracking open! Make sure your envelope or bag has enough room so that all sides of each seed touch something else before sealing it shut with tape or another adhesive material (so they’re not touching air).
Save Seeds from Pumpkin and Store in a Cool, Dry Place
Pumpkin seeds are best stored in a cool, dry place. If you store them in the fridge, make sure to keep them in an airtight container and check their moisture level every so often to make sure they’re still fresh.
Conclusion
In conclusion, pumpkin seeds have many health benefits. They can help prevent heart disease, control blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels. They are also a great source of protein and fiber which make them ideal for people who want to lose weight.
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