Drying Pumpkin Seeds – Benefits & Methods

When it comes to really any fruit or veg, you will want to make sure what you are eating is clean. However, washing seeds can make them difficult to dry, especially if you want roasted pumpkin seeds.

How do you dry pumpkin seeds? Using a paper towel can get the job done, although it is inefficient. For that golden brown color on roasting, try baking or dehydrating your seeds.

Dry seeds are clean seeds, and making sure your seeds are dry before roasting or cooking is a great way to get crispier pumpkin seeds. 

Finding a way to enjoy the seeds also makes sure you use the entire pumpkin, avoiding significant food waste. Especially with a decoration pumpkin for Halloween. 

While leftover pumpkin gourd can be put into soups, curries, or pies quite easily the seeds and guts can be a little less appetising. 

That being said, they can still be very healthy for you when enjoyed correctly. Of course, you will need to be able to dry those seeds first, whether for a pumpkin curry or other pumpkin dishes.

Are Pumpkin Seeds Edible?

While excess pumpkin flesh is easy to blend, boil, and cook off, pumpkin seeds are not the most obvious choice when it comes to a healthy snack. 

Although many seeds have become a superfood in their own right, they are usually smaller and easier to digest. Pumpkin seeds can be decently large. 

Thankfully, pumpkin seeds are edible and are easily enjoyed roasted or cut down in size as an additive to other pumpkin-based meals. 

Although they are best enjoyed after being washed and roasted, sugar pumpkins are known to give the best seeds of all pumpkin types available commercially. 

Sugar pumpkin seeds tend to be slightly smaller in size, but a lot crispier. Especially great when roasted to crisp up even more, and turn a beautiful golden brown. 

Learn more here What Seeds Are Edible

Using a Dehydrator

A dehydrator is not a common piece of kitchen kit and not a utensil that every reader will be too familiar with. Still, it is the best way to dry your seeds. 

If you have one handy, then don’t be afraid to use it. Simply loads your pumpkin seeds into the machine much like a baking sheet on an oven rack. 

Make sure the device is firmly sealed before starting it, as you don’t want your seeds escaping and making a mess on your kitchen counter. 

A dehydrator also has less cleanup, as you won’t need to worry about a sheet with parchment paper, or getting the right settings on an electric oven. 

The machine will do exactly as it sounds, drying your seeds out and getting them ready for roasting. All without fear of oven cooking them accidentally. 

Pat dry your seeds after washing them with pieces of paper towel, and then you can leave them in the machine and essentially forget all about them. The process is relatively quick. 

Air Drying Pumpkin Seeds

After washing and towel drying your pumpkin seeds, air drying them is another great way to begin the drying process and then easily forget about it until it is over. 

Dry your seeds with paper towels, and then transfer pumpkin seeds onto a baking sheet. You don’t need to worry about oil or parchment paper. 

Leave the baking sheet on your windowsill, or somewhere just as sunny. Beneath a skylight can work if you have one around your home. 

The main problem that may arise with this method is pets. If you have any cats or other animals that can reach your seeds, they might enjoy the snack treat before you even get the chance. 

Oven Baking Your Seeds

A rimmed baking sheet is all you need to put your pumpkin seeds on for this electric and gas oven method. Although this you will have to pay close attention to. 

Once you place your oiled baking sheet (or a baking sheet with a single sheet of parchment), set the oven to the lowest temperature. Any moderate temperature works, but you are drying not cooking. 

Keep an eye on your oven thermometer, to make sure that the rimmed baking sheet on the oven rack doesn’t start to cook your seeds. 

Drying can take as little as 5-10 minutes if the oven is preheated, and they will be prime for roasting once out of the oven.

Check out this article about Do Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Kill Parasites?

How to Enjoy Pumpkin Seeds

Roasting or pan-cooking pumpkin seeds for 20-30 minutes until rendered golden brown is the best way to enjoy these super seeds. 

Season with salt to add a little more flavor to the seeds, but make sure you don’t overdo it with kosher salt. After all, this is supposed to be a healthy treat. 

A pinch sea salt works fine, and make sure to use cooking oil with saturated fat as this is healthier than unsaturated and cheaper alternatives. 

Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds

Omega 3 and 6 are essential fatty acids found in pumpkin seeds. Each one is beneficial to human health. 

These fatty acids help regulate blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the body. They also strengthen the skin, hair and nervous systems.

Plus, eating them helps prevent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis and cancer cells. In addition, they provide energy for our muscles and organs as we function properly.

Omega 3s can’t be synthesized by the human body, so eating pumpkin seeds is one of the only ways to get these essential fatty acids.

There are a lot benefits we get from pumpkin seeds. To know more about it read this article that will surely help you better understand Are Pumpkin Seeds Good For You?