Top ways to harvest pumpkin seeds: how to dry them properly at home

What are pumpkin seeds good for?

The use of the product brings the following benefits:

1. Pumpkin seeds contain vitamins A and E, which contribute to the renewal of skin cells.
2. They contain zinc, which is important for maintaining vascular tone. In addition, the ingestion of a trace element into the body helps to get rid of various skin rashes.
3. Eating pumpkin seeds is beneficial in lowering cholesterol levels.
4. The product acts as an effective choleretic agent.
5. Pumpkin seeds are rich in protein. That is why they are indispensable for vegetarians and raw foodists.
6. Eating pumpkin seeds looks like an excellent preventive solution to fight parasites.

Eating pumpkin seeds

People don't eat peeled pumpkin kernels every day. Most prefer to replace them with sunflower seeds or completely deny themselves such a diet, but this is a huge mistake. The composition of pumpkin kernels contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals.

They are especially useful for women. Due to the fact that they contain healthy fats, the use of kernels helps to improve the condition of the skin, hair and nails.

If you decide to use this product in your diet without a doctor's prescription, try not to exceed the daily norm, which is only 10-12 g. It is especially dangerous to use these seeds for people who have problems with the digestive system or heart.

Try to consume more raw seeds. They are much more useful. If you want to enhance the beneficial properties of pumpkin kernels, add a few teaspoons of honey to every 100 g.

It is best to consume this product on an empty stomach, 1-1.5 hours before a meal.

Remember that you cannot eat pumpkin seeds all the time. You need to take a break every six months, literally for several months. This is due to the fact that the human body quickly gets used to food. To benefit from the use of such kernels, he needs to rest from the regular use of this or that product.

At home, it is not so difficult to peel and flesh seeds from seeds. For this you do not need any special devices or a lot of time. The difficulty lies in the material selection process. Never pick up the first seeds that come along. Remember that your health depends on it.

Properly dried and peeled pumpkin seeds are a treasure trove of nutrients and minerals. This amount of vitamins, macro- and microelements is not found in all food products. In this case, it is worth remembering about the restrictions in use, despite their benefits. In case of overeating seeds, there may be disorders of the digestive system, so the recommended dose should not exceed 10-15 grams per day. Extracting and preparing the grains is not an easy task, but at the same time it is quite interesting.

Preparation of raw materials

Before I tell you how to dry pumpkin seeds at home, I would like to say a few words about preparing for the process. To begin with, a mature pumpkin is taken, on which there are no signs of decay. Then the top is cut off so that the flesh is clearly visible. The inner tissue of the fetus is removed with a wooden spoon.If you wish, you can handle the task with your hands. The main thing is to make sure that the seeds are not damaged. Otherwise, they will become unusable during drying.

After removing the pumpkin seeds, the raw materials are carefully separated from the pulp and transferred to a colander. Flushing takes place under a powerful stream of tap water. The grains are gently tossed with hands. They will be slippery at first. However, after several washes, the viscosity will disappear. As soon as the seeds stop slipping between the fingers, they can be further manipulated.

Take a few paper towels. The washed seeds are wrapped in the latter. Light pressure is applied to the raw material so as not to damage the product.

As soon as the seeds get rid of the liquid, they are moved from the towel to a board or tray. They are laid out in one layer and left in the fresh air. The seeds are kept in such conditions for several hours until the remaining moisture evaporates.

When the sunflower grows. Sunflower environmental requirements

Sunflower is a plant in regions with a long hot period, a sufficient number of sunny days, it is demanding for heat, lighting, soil fertility and moisture supply. The growing season of sunflower lasts from 80 to 140 days, depending on the variety. Therefore, sunflower grows normally and forms crops in the open field only in certain regions where climatic and agronomic conditions meet its requirements.

If, in general, the climate in the region is suitable for growing sunflower, but spring frosts up to -4 ..- 6 ° C are repeated annually, then agricultural experts do not recommend growing this food crop, especially of medium-late and late varieties. For a long growing season (100-140 days), the harvest will still not be complete and will not ripen.

Sunflower seed shoots

Sunflower temperature requirements

The best areas for sunflower are places without shade and constant winds. When shaded, the plants stretch out, bend towards the sun, form small baskets of inflorescences and crushed achenes.

For normal growth and development of sunflower, the required temperature is + 20 ... + 27 ° C. Seedlings are cold-resistant and can withstand air temperatures down to -5 ..- 6 ° С, but for germination they need soil warmed up to +8 .. + 12 ° С.

Sunflower lighting requirements

In relation to the length of sunlight, the sunflower belongs to the group of neutral plants, but has a positive reaction to the length of the day during the flowering period. If the intensity of illumination during this period is high, the sunflower enters the generative phase of development earlier; in cold, foggy-rainy weather, the process of entering the next phase is delayed. The crop is formed and ripens at a later date. Therefore, it is advisable to sow sunflower in illuminated areas, avoiding even temporary shading, and protected from the wind.

Sunflower moisture requirements

For the formation of the vegetative mass, which provides the generative organs of the plant with the necessary nutrients, the sunflower requires a lot of water, especially in the initial period of development, when the roots are in the upper layer of the soil, which most often suffers from dry weather. At the same time, sunflower is drought-resistant. In adulthood, he is not afraid of heat, since a powerful root system is able to extract water from the lower soil horizons (3-4 m). The sunflower needs regular watering until the flowering phase, and then the number is reduced. Watering is carried out at the request of weather conditions (long hot period, drying winds, etc.).

Sunflower soil requirements

Soil conditions with timely fertilization do not play a radical role for sunflower.However, the culture prefers chernozems, sandy loams, floodplain and loess soils. (Loess soils are macroporous soils containing calcium carbonates and exhibiting subsidence properties when soaked with water under load). Sunflower grows well on humus and deciduous soils. The optimum acidity of the soil is pH = 6.5-7.0-7.2. Does not tolerate heavy clay soils, acidified and saline.

Pan drying

Let's take a look at how to pan dry pumpkin seeds. The process differs little from frying other products. The result is the ultimate crunchy treat. So how do you dry pumpkin seeds this way? To do everything right, you need to perform actions according to the following sequence:

1. After preliminary drying in the fresh air, the pumpkin seeds are sprinkled with salt.
2. The raw material is placed in a bowl filled with olive oil. Black pepper is poured here, dried garlic and dill are added. If desired, salt and savory ingredients can be replaced with powdered sugar. In this case, the fried seeds will be sweet.
3. How to dry pumpkin seeds? The prepared product is placed in a thin layer on a hot frying pan. The fire is removed to a minimum. The seeds are fried for 20-25 minutes and periodically turned over. The lid does not cover the pan.
4. The fact that the pumpkin seeds are ready will be indicated by the appearance of a golden crust on their surface. At the end of the procedure, the product is laid out on a paper towel. You can consume the seeds as soon as they cool down.

How to perform the procedure correctly, at what temperature

Do you have an electric dryer?
Well no

Proper drying is the key to long-term storage of pumpkin seeds. So choose your method carefully.

In an electric dryer

Drying time: 2 hours
A quick and convenient way to prepare pumpkin seeds.

1. We heat the oven to 75 degrees.
2. Spread the harvested seed in an even layer over shallow containers.
3. We are waiting for at least two hours. This method, although slow, allows you to preserve all the elements necessary for the body.
4. Periodically change the containers in places, mix the seeds. They will cook when they turn dark and harden.

In the oven

Drying time: 30 minutes
Here are a couple of techniques for different types of oven, differing in how long the process will take and at what temperature.

Drying in an evenly heating oven (without the possibility to turn on the top heating element separately):

1. We heat the oven to 210 degrees.
2. Put baking paper on a baking sheet.
3. Sprinkle the seeds in a thin layer.
4. We put in the oven, reducing the strength of the flame to a minimum.
5. We are waiting for half an hour, not forgetting to mix the seeds in a timely manner.
6. When the product is ready, take out the baking sheets and pour it onto the dish. Let it cool.

If the seeds have not hardened within the specified period, turn on the device again and dry them for 10 minutes.

Drying in the oven with adjustable heating modes (if it is possible to turn on the upper heating element):

1. We turn on the frying mode at 150 degrees.
2. Do not forget to spread non-stick paper on a baking sheet.
3. We fall asleep seeds.
4. We put a baking sheet, wait 15-20 minutes.
5. Do not forget to monitor the condition of the seeds. Turn them over and dry again in the oven for about 10 minutes.
6. Pour the seeds, darkened from readiness, onto a dish and let cool.

In the microwave

Drying time: 2-3 minutes

Also a very simple way, and most importantly - affordable.

1. Take the glass plate, put the baking paper.
2. We put the seeds.
3. We turn on the high power mode for 2-3 minutes.
4. Mix the raw materials and dry them in the microwave for another 1 minute.
5. We repeat the procedure until the pumpkin seed hardens and turns brown.
6. Cool down the finished delicacy - and you can eat it!

Especially tasty pan-fried pumpkin seeds - try to cook them.

In the air and the sun

Drying time: 3-5 days
This method is only suitable if the weather is dry and sunny.

1. Sprinkle the raw materials in a thin layer on trays, after putting clean paper towels.
2. We put on a sunny place and wait at least three days.
   

   Bring them into the house at night to avoid dampness. Cover the seeds with gauze to avoid annoying insects.

3. The seeds will be ready when they are hard, and the husks will slide off when pressed with your fingers.

Drying in natural conditions

How to dry pumpkin seeds without subjecting the product to heat? A prerequisite here is the presence of sunny weather and the possibility of placing raw materials in an open, ventilated area. They operate in the following way.

The washed seeds are placed in a thin layer on a metal baking sheet. The latter is brought to the site, which is well illuminated by the sun. In such a place, the raw material remains for several days. It is important to ensure that the air does not become humid. Otherwise, the drying process will be significantly delayed. The criterion for the readiness of a product for use in this case is the appearance of a fragile shell.

How to dry pumpkin seeds in the oven?

To begin with, the oven is well heated to a temperature of about 150 ° C. Prepared seeds are laid out in one layer on a metal baking sheet, previously covered with foil or baking paper. The raw materials are sent to the oven.

How to properly dry pumpkin seeds in the oven? The product is exposed to high temperatures for 10-15 minutes. As soon as the surface of the seeds turns slightly brownish, they are removed from the oven and mixed. Then the raw materials are sent back to the device with the fire turned off until it cools down. After drying, you can lightly sprinkle the seeds with salt or sugar.

Seed cleaning

Only after the seeds are completely dry can they be peeled. If you do not wait for this, then the cleaning process will be laborious, because the raw peel is difficult to separate from the kernel.

Depending on how much product you have prepared, you need to choose a cleaning method. There are only 2 of them, and each of them is characterized by efficiency.

Removing the husk from one seed

A small amount of seeds can be cleaned by hand

Microwave drying

You can dry pumpkin seeds in the microwave. Let's consider the procedure step by step:

1. The seeds are washed and placed in a thin layer in a glass dish, the bottom of which is covered with paper towels.
2. The container is sent to the microwave. The device turns on at maximum power. The heat treatment time is set for 2 minutes.
3. As soon as the timer rings, the dishes are removed from the outside. The seeds are mixed and placed back in the microwave. Raw materials are fried for several minutes, but already at medium power.
4. Then the seeds are turned over again. If the product is not ready, the above steps are repeated. Qualitatively dried pumpkin seeds will have a tough structure and a dark shade.

How to determine readiness?

To determine the readiness of a product, you must carefully consider and taste it. When pumpkin is dried properly, the seeds will turn yellow or brown and the skin will become brittle. In this case, the transparent film is easily peeled off or missing. The dried kernels have a clear outline, a dark green color with white veins, a firm structure and a rich taste.

Cooking sunflower seeds in an electric dryer

How to dry pumpkin seeds in an electric fruit and vegetable dryer? The raw material is placed on the lattice of the device in a single layer. The temperature regime is set in the dryer at 60-70 ° C. To ensure that the product cooks evenly, the pallets are interchanged from time to time.The omission of such an important point will lead to the fact that the seeds that are located on the lower tier will burn. In turn, the top seeds may turn out to be half wet. The seeds are dried in this way until a golden crust and an easily peeled transparent film are formed on them.

How do you know if the seeds are dry?

When properly dried, the seeds turn yellow and the rind becomes firm with a precise outline.

Certainly, the transparent film must simply slide off the seeds. The color at the core is dark greenish with whitish blotches. If you bite the seed through, then it does not have to be wet or crunchy from overdrying.

Storage of dried seeds

If dried pumpkin seeds are stored naturally at room temperature, after about a week they will begin to damp, lose their crispness and change in taste. To prevent this from happening, the product is placed in a cotton bag. An alternative is a gauze cloth that is folded in several layers. Such a container for seeds is suspended in a dry, well-ventilated area.

Alternatively, the product can be placed in a plastic container. A good option for storing seeds is a glass jar, hermetically sealed with a nylon lid. The main thing is that such containers are stored in places where there is no moisture.

Selecting seeds and preparing them for drying

It is not always possible to grow a pumpkin and handle seeds by hand. Therefore, we will consider the option of buying ready-made ones.

How to choose the right one:

• by smell - if you feel any specific smell, then their nuclei are probably affected by something, they will taste bitter;
• in appearance - the seeds must be thoroughly washed, if they stick, then they are poorly washed;
• by the quality of the peel - if the peel of the fried seeds is soft, they were cooked in violation of the technological process.

Many people choose to get their own pumpkin seeds to avoid a poor quality product.

How to collect pumpkin seeds:

• cut the pumpkin in half;
• take out all the seeds with their hands and remove all the pulp from them;
• wash them in a colander several times;
• when all the moisture has drained off, dab them with a napkin.