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

You can dry pumpkin seeds at home in different ways, using modern kitchen appliances to prepare various dishes at high temperatures. Each method is very simple, but has its own small features that you should know to obtain tasty and healthy pumpkin seeds.

The benefits and harms of dried pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds are not only tasty, but also healthy for the human body. They are rich in a whole 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 by consuming them raw.But in this form they quickly deteriorate and are difficult to clean. It is possible to preserve beneficial qualities for a long time only in dried kernels.

Harm from dried pumpkin seeds can only be caused by excessive consumption of this product or in case of individual intolerance to the vegetable.

How many calories are in dried pumpkin seeds?

Fans of this 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 consuming them in dietary dishes as often as possible, but in small quantities. To obtain benefits, you should not abuse it if you do not want to gain 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 undamaged and free of pulp fibers. This will allow them to be preserved longer. After the inside of the seed chamber is completely removed from the pumpkin, proceed as follows:

1. They take part of the removed core and manually separate the seeds in one direction and the pulp in the other (it can be used in the future for preparing 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 washing, the surface of the peel should be slightly rough.
3. Place on a kitchen paper towel and blot the top with a napkin to remove any remaining water.

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

How to extract seeds from pumpkin

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

How to do it:

1. The ripened 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.

It will be more convenient to separate the seeds from the fibrous pulp on a flat dish.

How to dry pumpkin seeds at home

You can dry pumpkin seeds at home from both table and fodder varieties. The main thing is to get them out of the pumpkin in time, not to overstay the ripening process and not to collect them unripe. The most delicious and healthy ones come from pumpkins that are fully ripened in the garden.

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

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

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

How to dry pumpkin seeds in a frying pan

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

1. Place the pan over medium heat and heat for 3-5 minutes.
2. Reduce heat and add prepared seeds.
3. Stir continuously with a wooden spatula so that the seeds do not burn, but dry evenly.
4. When the seeds are ready, pour them into a bowl rather than leaving them in the pan. Otherwise, they may dry out.

To dry in a frying pan, use low heat. The lower the temperature of the pan, the longer the drying. But the more efficiently the kernels will dry and not burn. On average, drying in this way takes no more than 20-30 minutes.

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 obtain an evenly dried product. Do this:

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

The door is kept slightly open at all times. The seeds should turn brown and become hard. To complete the drying process, you need to remove the baking sheet, pour the contents into a dry bowl and allow the grains to cool completely.

How long to dry pumpkin seeds in the oven

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

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

Otherwise, to dry pumpkin seeds in the oven, you need to proceed the same way 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 a long time, but want to enjoy the delicacy immediately. For this:

1. Place pumpkin seeds in a single layer on a flat plate.
2. Place 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, pumpkin seeds should be dried in the microwave followed by complete cooling of the product: they should be removed and allowed to stand for a few minutes before use.

How to dry pumpkin seeds outdoors

The simplest and most reliable way is to dry it in the fresh air. You just need to spread the seeds on a tray or other flat dish in one layer and place 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 settling dust.

If the seeds are left in the apartment, 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 make sure that the weather is dry and sunny. At night, the tray should be brought into the house so that they do not become saturated with moisture from the night air and become damp. Seeds dried in this way will not have a piquant taste, but will retain all the beneficial substances.

How to dry pumpkin seeds in an electric dryer

The electric dryer is designed for drying vegetables, fruits, berries, and mushrooms. It can also be used for seeds. At the same time, you need to remember that the upper and lower trays are swapped 1-2 times during drying so that the product does not burn.

How to proceed when using an electric dryer:

1. The seeds are laid out on the racks in one layer.
2. Turn on temperature 80⁰WITH.
3. Leave for about 1 hour and turn off.

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

How to dry pumpkin seeds in an air fryer

If you use a convection oven, you need to remember that ventilated air enhances the drying process several times. Therefore, you should not set the temperature very high. Recommended grill mode:

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

Determination of readiness

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

• externally, the seeds acquired a light beige tint and a clear edging;
• a thin film located on the surface of the peel can be easily removed from it;
• if you press on the seed from the narrow sides, it easily splits open, and inside you find a tasty dark green kernel with light inclusions.

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

Rules for storing dried pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds should be stored unpeeled, in a dry and dark place at a temperature of 23-25⁰WITH.Thus, they will retain their beneficial properties and taste longer.

The best storage containers would be fabric bags, paper bags or dried glass jars with air access. It is recommended to store by dividing the dried fruits into small batches 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 longer, as the seeds lose their beneficial properties. The stored product must be checked periodically in order to dry it in time when the humidity rises.

Store-bought pumpkin seeds, as a rule, do not last long. They are processed with special preservatives, spices and flavors. 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. Nowadays there are many ways to do this using modern kitchen appliances. You should follow some rules and the result will be much better than store-bought - fresh, moderately dried, tasty and healthy pumpkin seed kernels.

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