How to dry pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds for many are a reminder of childhood. They have an incredible taste, as well as a special structure. It is characteristic that these seeds can take the hands no worse than the usual sunflower seeds, but at the same time are much more useful for the body. They contain a large amount of iron, which is able to prevent the occurrence of diseases of the circulatory system and heart. At first glance, it may seem that drying seeds at home is a troublesome and difficult task. But in reality it will be enough to adhere to a number of simple recommendations, and any hostess can dry pumpkin seeds. Further in the article we will learn how to dry them, and also we will tell how to store this useful delicacy at home.

What is useful?

Pumpkin seeds are not only tasty, but also extremely useful product.As raw materials they are used to obtain healing oils, you can also often find them in "beauty recipes", but they are most often used in cooking, as they are added to baking, salads, they cook vegetarian dishes and, of course, they are used raw.

In this product there is a large amount of minerals, there are also trace elements and protein compounds, which are extremely useful for the human body. Of particular value is the presence in the composition of a high indicator of vitamin E. This group of elements has a positive effect on the reproductive qualities of a person.

It is unacceptable to eat these seeds in such cases:

• the presence of individual intolerance to the product;
• the presence of an allergic reaction;
• a number of diseases of the liver, stomach and intestines.

Despite the fact that raw seeds are more useful because they contain a higher level of nutrients, they are most often consumed in dried form. This is due mainly to the fact that they are quite difficult to clean.

In addition, the undiluted product quickly becomes unusable - moldy due to the high moisture content. Therefore, before storing seeds for storage, they should be thoroughly dried. And in order not to damage this product, retaining the maximum possible amount of useful substances, you need to follow the recommendations that will be proposed later in the article.

Preparatory stage

You can harvest the seeds of any pumpkin: as a home grown in his garden plot, and wild, fodder. The taste of the seeds of these varieties do not differ among themselves, the difference can be only in size, since the seeds of homemade pumpkin are usually much larger.

Grown or bought vegetables should be cut with a sharp knife into two parts, and then get all the insides, which are the storage place of seeds.Pumpkin pulp can then be used as an ingredient for preparing various kinds of dishes, in particular, delicious compotes and juices are made from it.

We offer a step by step description of the preparatory stage of harvesting pumpkin seeds:

1. To begin with, the fetus should be examined for pest damage and decay. Then you need to cut off the top of the vegetable in such a way that the insides are clearly visible, or simply cut it into two equal parts. The flesh and seeds inside are closely intertwined, so you need to carefully separate them from each other, so as not to damage the grain.
2. You can get the seeds by hand, or by using a tablespoon. It is important during the procedure not to deform the grains, because if they form cracks, they will dry out too much during the heat treatment process. This product is no longer suitable for consumption.
3. Next you need to wash the product. To do this, it is recommended to put the seeds in a colander and send a stream of running cold water into it. In the process of washing you should mix the seeds with your hands.At first they will be slippery, as if soapy, but after three or four washes, they will stop slipping between the fingers, which will be evidence of their readiness for subsequent manipulations.
4. Now you need to wet the product with paper towels to collect excess moisture. It is important to watch out again not to deform it.
5. After all the liquid has drained, you need to put a thin layer of seeds on the kitchen board, tray or kitchen pan and leave in the sun. Usually, 2-3 hours of active sun exposure are enough to dry. In the process, it is desirable to mix pumpkin seeds one or two times so that they dry out on all sides.

Drying methods

Those who have never dried pumpkin seeds may face the fact that different sources describe completely different methods of drying.For this purpose, a frying pan, an oven, an electric dryer, and even a microwave oven are used. It should be understood that the method of drying should be chosen based on the goal that is being pursued and the desired end result.

In general, at the end of any method of drying should be obtained ready-to-eat or use in cooking seeds, which are still rich in nutrients and vitamins. Consider the most popular methods of drying, as well as recommendations that should be followed to achieve the desired result.

In the open air

This method of drying requires free time and good weather conditions. It is necessary that in the next few days hot and sunny weather be predicted, because the humidity will increase the likelihood of mold or rotting of the product.

The process is as follows:

1. The seeds are separated from the pulp, then washed and salted.
2. Next, you need to pour boiling water into a deep container, add salt there at the rate of 10 g per 70 ml of water. Pumpkin seeds should be put into this solution and left in this form for 10-25 hours. This stage of processing will give the product an unusually rich salted taste. If such a goal is not pursued, then you can skip this stage.
3. The product should be removed from a kind of brine, rinsed under running water (not for long, so that the salt is not completely washed) and then proceed to drying.
4. Any convenient horizontal surface needs to be covered with paper towels, foil or paper for baking. A tray, baking tray, and even a cutting board will do. In extreme cases, you can use several large plates. It is important to put the seeds on the surface as thin as possible. All this should be put under direct sunlight and left in this form for two or three days.
5. Understand that the product is ready, you can by its shell. Seeds should be hard and at the same time fragile, easy to crack by hand. If after the specified time period the seeds have not dried, you need to increase the duration of drying.

In the pan

A very popular method of drying pumpkin grains is to use a frying pan. How to fry pumpkin seeds in a frying pan, without damaging the product, tell further:

1. You will need a large frying pan, a colander, as well as a regular spoon or spatula.
2. If necessary, the seeds are pre-washed under running water and dried to get rid of excess moisture.
3. Dried grains should be laid out in a thin layer on a griddle.
4. It is necessary to fry the seeds without a lid and on low enough fire so that they do not burn. Leave the product is not worth it, on the contrary, constantly slightly stir pumpkin seeds, bringing them to a light golden hue. It usually takes about 30 minutes, but you need to adjust the time yourself.

5. After the desired degree of roasting has been achieved, the griddle should be removed from the heat and immediately poured the seeds onto a plate or other flat surface so that they cool down.Do not leave the grains to cool in the pan, otherwise they will continue to dry, which may render them unusable.

In the oven

There are two main methods of how to fry pumpkin seeds in the oven. Each of them will be discussed in more detail below.

1 way.

1. It is suitable for those who have an oven allows you to adjust the heated plane. You need to adjust the oven by selecting the "Frying" mode, that is, only the top wall should be heated. The oven should be heated to a temperature of 140-150 ° C.
2. At this time, you should put the pre-washed and dried pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet, which is covered with baking paper or foil, and send it all into the oven. Temperature index in the cabinet must be constantly maintained.
3. Most often, drying takes about 10-15 minutes. But a lot depends on the various technical characteristics of the oven, in particular, on its capacity.Therefore, it is recommended to carefully monitor the availability of the product so that it does not burn.

4. After the seed surface has a brownish tint, you need to get the pan out of the oven, stir the grains and then send them for another 10-15 minutes to the oven that is already turned off.
5. Upon completion of drying, you can sprinkle the seeds with salt and let them cool.

2 way.

1. It is suitable for those who have an oven does not provide adjustment modes, and warms evenly. It should be turned on and heated to 200 ° C.
2. In the meantime, the baking sheet is lined with foil or baking paper, and pumpkin grains are laid on top of one thin layer.
3. The product is sent to the preheated oven, the fire at this time must be reduced to a minimum. It takes about 30 minutes to dry the seeds in this form, all the time tracking the readiness of the product and mixing the composition every 7-10 minutes.
4. After the grains become slightly brownish, you need to check them again. If they are ready, then you can get it. If the seeds are not solid enough, then the oven should be turned off, and the product should be placed in it for about another 10-15 minutes.

In the electric dryer

For drying pumpkin seeds, you can also use an electric dryer. In general, the process is very similar to drying in the oven, except for a number of important nuances.

1. Seeds need to be distributed in containers in one thin layer.
2. Drying should be set to warm to a temperature of 70-80 ° C.
3. It will take several hours to dry. The exact time is difficult to specify, since much depends on the characteristics of various electric dryers.
4. In the process of preparing grains, it is necessary to periodically mix the composition, and also to swap the pallets themselves (at least once per hour).
5. Readiness is determined by the formation of a dark shade on the shell of the seeds. They should also be hard and dry.

In the microwave

Many are interested in how to fry pumpkin seeds in the microwave. It is worth noting that this method is not classic, but it is still possible.

therefore We will tell you how to implement it as efficiently as possible, based on the recommendations of experienced housewives:

1. After washing the seeds, you need to lay them out on a flat surface and let them dry for several days, so that all the excess moisture will evaporate.
2. Then one should remove from the microwave a plate of glass that rotates and cover the bottom of the oven with baking paper, thus protecting the substrate.
3. Put pumpkin seeds on a paper surface in a thin, even layer, then set the plate in place and turn on the microwave to maximum power. The timer must be set to 2 minutes.
4. After two minutes, the grain should be mixed, flatten and re-enable the microwave for 2 minutes. But now the power of the device should not be the maximum, but the average.
5. Further, the manipulations must be repeated until the desired level of drying of the seeds is reached.
6. As a result, the product should darken and become more rigid. It will only be necessary to cool the grains, clean them and use them as a snack or as a component ingredient for salads and main dishes.

In the electric grill

Drying pumpkin seeds in an electric grill began to be used quite recently, because as usual this device is used for cooking other dishes.

However, using a special pallet, you can quite successfully dry the grain in it:

1. After the product is thoroughly washed and dried, it is necessary to spread it onto the surface of the container with a uniform thin layer and set the temperature level to 60 ° C.The drying time of seeds is from 20 to 30 minutes.
2. It should be remembered that the device provides for the operation of the fan, and this only enhances the heat treatment capacity of the product. In this regard, it is very important to constantly monitor the readiness of the grains and not leave them unattended, otherwise they will be able to burn.
3. Ready-made pumpkin seeds will acquire a brownish color and, after cooling, can be used to prepare all sorts of dishes or else be used as a separate snack.

How to determine readiness

Determining the readiness of the dried product by any method is quite simple. Sunflower seeds acquire a yellowish and even slightly brownish hue, the skin becomes more fragile, which makes it easy to clean and remove the inner nucleolus.

The seed itself seems to "lose weight", that is, the contour of the inner core becomes clear and easily distinguishable. The nucleolus, which is eaten, acquires a rich green color with white thin veins. The structure should be soft and velvety, the taste - rich and pleasant.

How to store at home

After pumpkin seeds are fully prepared, you will need to get them and put them on a cold baking tray, tray or other flat container.You can even pour the product on the table, before laying on him baking paper. When the grain is completely cooled, you can begin to organize the storage of this product.

The following recommendations should be followed:

• storage should be dark and dry;
• the container in which the grains will be stored must be glass or ceramic;
• Seeds cannot be cleaned, since peeled, seasoned with spices and roasted grains are not subject to long-term preservation. Such a product must be consumed as soon as possible, otherwise they will oxidize and become moldy.

Pumpkin seeds, which have been properly processed and dried, will bring the maximum benefit to the body. To achieve this, it will be enough to use the appropriate appliance, which is available in the kitchen, or dry the product in a natural way. It is important to follow the above recommendations, and then the most delicious and rich in vitamins product will be obtained.