How to dry pumpkin seeds at home: in the oven, in the microwave, in a pan

You can dry pumpkin seeds at home in a variety of ways, using modern kitchen technology to cook various dishes at high temperatures. Each method is very simple, but it has its own small characteristics that you should know to get tasty and healthy pumpkin seeds.

The benefits and harms of dried pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds are not only tasty, but also useful for the human body. They are rich in a range of beneficial minerals and vitamins. In this case, the type of pumpkin does not matter. Scientists have noted that the maximum benefit from pumpkin seeds can be obtained when consumed raw. But in this form, they quickly deteriorate and are difficult to clean. It is possible to preserve useful qualities for a long time only in dried kernels.

Harm from dried pumpkin seeds can be obtained only with excessive use of this product or in case of individual intolerance to the vegetable.

How many calories are in dried pumpkin seeds

Fans of such a snack should pay attention to the fact that the calorie content of dried peeled pumpkin seeds is 559 kcal, while the calorie content of dried unpeeled pumpkin seeds is almost 2 times less, namely 197 kcal. They can easily satisfy your hunger and be used as a small snack.

Despite the high calorie content of dried pumpkin seeds per 100 g of product, doctors recommend using them in dietary meals as often as possible, but in small quantities. For the benefit, do not overuse if you do not want to put on weight. It is enough to eat 10-15 pieces. in a day.

How to prepare pumpkin seeds for drying

Preparing for drying at home has its own small characteristics. It must be done correctly so that the seeds are intact and clean of pulp fibers. This will allow them to be stored longer. After the inside of the seed chamber is completely removed from the pumpkin, proceed as follows:

1. They take a part of the removed core and manually separate the seeds in one direction, the pulp in the other (it can be used in the future for making soups, sauces and other dishes).
2. The seeds collected in this way are placed in a colander and washed under running cold water until the viscous fibers of the pulp are completely removed. At the end of the rinse, the surface of the rind should be slightly rough.
3. Spread out on a kitchen paper towel and soak over the top with a napkin to remove any remaining water.

It is advisable to leave to lie on the paper for a couple of hours so that excess moisture evaporates, and then proceed to the main drying process.

How to extract pumpkin seeds

It is not difficult to get the seeds from the pumpkin, since they are located in one place - in the chamber located in the middle of the vegetable.

How they do:

1. The ripe pumpkin is cut in half.
2. Use a large spoon to scoop out the fibrous core.
3. Place in a deep bowl or on a tray.

On a flat dish, it will be more convenient to separate the seeds from the fibrous pulp.

How to dry pumpkin seeds at home

You can dry pumpkin seeds at home both from table species and fodder. The main thing is to get them out of the pumpkin on time, not to overexpose the ripening process and not to collect them immature. The most delicious and healthy ones are from a pumpkin that is fully ripe in the garden.

With the advent of various kitchen appliances developed by manufacturers to help housewives, it became possible to dry pumpkin seeds using any of these appliances:

• oven;
• electric dryer;
• microwave oven;
• airfryer;
• frying pan on the stove.

Each method has some peculiarities and at the same time allows you to get a tasty, nutritious and healthy product. You just need to choose the best way for yourself and use it. And for this, you need to decide on what the drying is for: to store or immediately use the prepared product.

How to dry pumpkin seeds in a pan

Taking a frying pan for drying is recommended for those who want to cook a product with a ruddy skin, so that even the air is saturated with its aroma. For this:

1. The pan is placed on medium heat, heated for 3-5 minutes.
2. Reduce heat, pour in prepared seeds.
3. Stir continuously with a wooden spatula so that the seeds do not burn, but dry out evenly.
4. When the seeds are ready, they are poured into the bowl, rather than left in the pan. Otherwise, they may dry out.

Use a low heat to dry in a pan. The lower the heating temperature of the pan, the longer it takes to dry. But the more qualitatively the kernels will dry out and not burn. On average, it takes no more than 20-30 minutes to dry in this way.

How to dry pumpkin seeds in the oven

The oven can be gas or electric. In any case, drying pumpkin seeds in the oven allows you to get an evenly dried product. They do it like this:

1. Preheat the oven at a temperature of 200⁰From about 10-15 minutes. Reduce the heating temperature to the lowest possible.
2. Prepared clean pumpkin seeds are spread in even layers on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
3. Set on a medium level so that drying takes place evenly from below and from above.
4. Check for taste and stir at least 2 times during the entire time in the cabinet.

At the same time, the door is kept slightly ajar all the time. The seeds should turn brown and hard. To complete the drying process, you need to remove the baking sheet, pour the contents into a dry dish and allow the grains to cool completely.

How much to dry pumpkin seeds in the oven

There are two ways to dry pumpkin seeds in the oven, which differ in time and heating temperature:

1. The long way will take from 1 to 1.5 hours. At the same time, the oven is heated to a temperature of 60-80⁰FROM.
2. Express drying will only take 20 minutes, but the heat needs to be brought up to 180⁰C and dry in this mode.

Otherwise, to dry the pumpkin seeds in the oven, you need to do the same in both cases.

How to dry pumpkin seeds in the microwave

You can also dry pumpkin seeds in the microwave. It is suitable for those who do not want to wait long, but want to enjoy a delicacy immediately. For this:

1. Put pumpkin seeds in one layer on a flat plate.
2. Put in the microwave and turn it on at maximum power for 3 minutes.
3. During this time, open the door a couple of times and mix the seeds.

This method is very simple and fast. But in order to really enjoy the taste of the grains, drying pumpkin seeds in the microwave should be followed by a complete cooling of the product: they must be removed and allowed to stand for a few minutes before use.

How to dry pumpkin seeds outdoors

Drying in the fresh air is the simplest and most reliable method. You just need to spread the seeds on a tray or other flat dish in one layer and put them in a dry and well-ventilated place for at least 2-3 days. It is recommended to cover the dishes with one layer of gauze, protecting them from insects and dust settling.

If the seeds are left in the apartment, then you can simply forget about them for a few days. If it is possible to leave them in the fresh air, then you need to ensure that the weather is dry and sunny. At night, the tray should be brought into the house so that they are not saturated with moisture from the night air and do not become damp. The seeds dried in this way will not have a piquant taste, but at the same time they will retain all the beneficial substances.

How to properly dry pumpkin seeds in an electric dryer

The electric dryer is designed for drying vegetables, fruits, berries, mushrooms. It can also be used for seeds. It should be remembered that the upper and lower pallets are interchanged 1-2 times during drying so that the product does not burn.

How to proceed using an electric dryer:

1. Seeds are laid out on the grates in one layer.
2. Include temperature 80⁰FROM.
3. Withstand the time for about 1 hour and turn off.

If there are few seeds, then it is better to use only the middle pallet. In this case, it is enough to set the desired mode.

How to dry pumpkin seeds in an airfryer

If you use an airfryer, then you need to remember that ventilated air enhances the drying process several times. Therefore, you should not set the temperature too high. Recommended grill setting:

• temperature - 60-70⁰FROM;
• airflow - maximum;
• time - 30-40 minutes.

Definition of readiness

You can understand that the seeds are dry enough for long-term storage by several signs:

• outwardly, the seeds have acquired a light beige shade and a clear edging;
• a thin film located on the surface of the peel is easily removed from it;
• if you press on the seed from the narrow sides, then it easily splits open, and inside there is a tasty core of dark green color with light intersperses.

The ready-to-eat insides should not crunch when chewed, feel moist and have a specific taste.

Storage rules for dried pumpkin seeds

Store pumpkin seeds unpeeled, in a dry and dark place at a temperature of 23-25⁰C. So, they will retain their useful properties and taste for a longer time.

The best storage capacity would be cloth bags, paper bags, or dried glass jars that have air access. It is recommended to store by dividing the dried fruits into small batches in order to avoid spoilage of the entire product if some grains turn out to be unsuitable.

The shelf life is no more than 1 year. It is not recommended to store it longer, as the seeds lose their beneficial properties. The stored product must be periodically checked in order to dry it in time when the humidity rises.

Purchased pumpkin seeds usually don't last long. They are processed with special preservatives, spices and flavorings. Therefore, they quickly lose everything useful that was in the product, and acquire an unpleasant rancid taste.

Conclusion

Drying pumpkin seeds yourself at home is easy. Currently, there are many ways to do this using modern kitchen technology. Some rules should be followed and the result will be much better than the purchased one - fresh, moderately dried, tasty and healthy pumpkin seeds.

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