Content
Quickly peeling pumpkin seeds seems like an impossible task to many. People often don’t want to simply eat them or use them as a supplement because of the labor-intensive process of removing the thick shell from the kernels. In some culinary and medicinal formulations they are present as an additional ingredient, and people go to the store to buy them. But if you learn simple secrets, your attitude towards the procedure can change dramatically.
Why are pumpkin seeds difficult to peel?
In some cases, it is not possible to peel pumpkin seeds or the process takes a huge amount of time. People stop further actions.
This is due to the mistakes that housewives make:
- Buying a low-quality product. Private sellers or manufacturers often violate harvesting and storage technology, which leads to rotting. This is directly indicated by the smell.
- Wet, poorly washed shells are difficult to clean. This is easy to check. It is enough to squeeze one seed between your fingers. Slippage will indicate a defect.
- If you need to clean raw grains, then you should choose a variety with soft husks.
It is better to prepare the product yourself so as not to run into problems.
Preparing pumpkin seeds for cleaning
It is better to choose a fully ripe large-seeded pumpkin. Then you can choose 2 cutting methods.
- Cut off the cap of the vegetable with a sharp knife.
- Divide the pumpkin into 2 parts.
For the next stage, you must first remove large fragments of pulp.
How to remove pulp from pumpkin seeds
This is the most crucial moment. Not only the speed of processing, but also the quality of the purified grains depends on it.
To remove the pulp from pumpkin seeds, you need to follow these steps:
- place the prepared mixture in a colander;
- rinse with plenty of warm water.
It is easy to check the quality of the work performed. Rub a dry hand over the pumpkin seeds. If they stick, repeat the procedure.
To dry, just lay out a sheet covered with parchment paper. It is placed in the sun, covered with a piece of gauze to prevent insects. You can put it in a slightly open oven, preheated to no more than 60 degrees. At the same time, the seeds are constantly stirred for uniform processing.
How to Easily Peel Pumpkin Seeds
The choice of method will depend on the quality and quantity of the product required.
The most popular options for cleaning pumpkin seeds:
- If the kernels are required for therapeutic purposes, they should not be fried. Heat treatment can destroy beneficial substances. Use only well-washed, wet or naturally dried pumpkin seeds.You will need scissors with rounded ends or nail clippers. With their help, they cut off the junction of the sidewalls and remove the nucleolus, holding onto the thick edge.
- To quickly peel pumpkin seeds in small quantities for simple consumption or as a confectionery addition, they must be thoroughly dried or toasted. You can handle a handful with your hands. Press on the side walls until they crack.
Peeling pumpkin seeds at home in large quantities is also not difficult. There are also 2 popular ways to do this:
- Place the product between layers of baking paper and roll out using a rolling pin. This action is necessary in order to only destroy the shell and not crush the pumpkin seeds. Next, you need to pour them into a saucepan, add water and boil for about half an hour. The floating husks are collected with a slotted spoon, and the mass is filtered through a sieve.
- If the kernels are prepared for salads or baking, then you can crush the pumpkin seeds a little using a coffee grinder. Transfer to water and stir thoroughly. The peel will float to the top and must be drained. Repeat the procedure until the liquid becomes clear. Next, strain together with the mass at the bottom through cheesecloth. Repeat drying.
These methods help to quickly peel pumpkin seeds, but some defects will still remain. You will need to fix it manually.
How pumpkin seeds are cleaned in production
To prepare pumpkin seeds for further use by enterprises or for sale in stores, special installations will be required. The process is also divided into stages, and productivity reaches up to 250 kg in a short period of time - in just 1 hour.
To peel pumpkin seeds, they are first dried and calibrated. Only then do they go into a seed drying machine, where the husks are removed. The device also does not cope with all the product, leaving a defect (culling).
Pumpkin seeds can be completely cleared of husks using a cyclone, a winnower, and the process is completed by a vibrating table.
Conclusion
Quickly peeling pumpkin seeds is not so difficult if you choose the right type of vegetable and carry out the necessary preparatory steps. But it’s worth knowing that now you can grow a variety of vegetables whose grains are not covered with a protective shell, which simplifies the preliminary process. Simply rinse thoroughly to remove the pulp, dry and fry if desired.
Hello! I'm looking for a pumpkin variety that has seeds without peeling and is not peeled?