How to Separate Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are one of the healthiest snacks you can eat. Pumpkin seeds contain protein, fiber, and zinc which is beneficial for your heart. They also have high amounts of essential minerals like magnesium, manganese, and copper. The pumpkin seed oil contains antioxidants that protect cells against free radicals called polyphenols; these help prevent cancer and heart disease.

The first step to separating pumpkin seeds is removing the outer shell. You can do this with a knife or by breaking it apart with your hands. Once you have removed the outer shell, you will need to remove any stringy material that may still be attached to the seed. This process of cleaning the seeds is essential for ensuring they are not contaminated by other materials and so they can be used in recipes or eaten as snacks without risk of illness.

Peel pumpkin seeds – this is how it is done

You will need:

• Pumpkin
• Knife
• Spoon
• Sieve
• Rolling pin
• Cooking pot
• Baking paper

Hollow out the pumpkin and remove seeds

The first step to separating pumpkin seeds is removing the outer shell. You can do this with a knife or by breaking it apart with your hands. Once you have removed the outer shell, you will need to remove any stringy material that may still be attached to the seed.

Wash and layout the kernels

Now seeds are washed. To do this, simply put the pumpkin seeds in a sieve and run warm water over them. With your fingers, then remove the remaining fibers and pulp.

Then the seeds are laid out flat and as well as possible not on top of each other on a piece of baking paper.

Tip: Do not use kitchen paper for drying. The sticky pumpkin seeds adhere very well to this and afterward, you can no longer remove the seeds without residue.

Rolling the seeds

Now you need to slightly break open the pods of the pumpkin seeds and loosen the seeds inside. To do this, roll over the seeds a few times with a rolling pin. The pressure will crack the pods and loosen the seeds. However, make sure that the kernels do not become too flat.

Boiling pumpkin seeds

So that the pods can be easily removed from the core, the pumpkin seeds are then boiled. Put on a pot of water and wait until it boils. Then put the seeds in the hot water and close the lid. Then let them simmer for half an hour. The broken pods should now gradually rise to the surface while the kernels sink to the bottom.

Collect and squeeze out the kernels

Then skim off the empty pods with a sieve. Once you have fished them all out, the water can be poured off along with the kernels.

If some of the kernels have not come out of the pod, they can be squeezed out in a flash with your fingers. This, of course, only after the kernels have cooled down a bit.

Rinse the seeds and process further

Finally, rinse the pumpkin seeds again before placing them back on a piece of baking paper to dry.

So easily and quickly you can peel pumpkin seeds. Now process the pumpkin seeds further depending on your preference and recipe – in the pan, in the oven, seasoned, or simply enjoy them pure. Pumpkin seeds are versatile and at the same time very healthy – what more could you want?

However, if you would like to enjoy and process green, classic pumpkin seeds, you cannot avoid peeling them with your fingers.