How to dry pumpkin seeds at home: choose the best method and follow the instructions
Drying pumpkin seeds at home is very simple, the main thing is to know what end result you want to get. Many people are interested in the best way to do this, because the choice is quite wide: oven, convection oven, microwave oven, electric dryer, frying pan and even natural drying. Let's consider this issue in more detail.
Types of drying pumpkin seeds
Regardless of the cooking method (stewing, drying, boiling), pumpkin remains a real storehouse of vitamins. It does not lose its properties even when frozen. However, not only the pulp, but also pumpkin seeds are useful for the human body: thanks to their composition, they can improve the condition of the scalp, get rid of dandruff and generally have a beneficial effect on the skin, nails and teeth.
They are consumed not only as an independent product, but also used as an addition to ready-made dishes.
Important! Pumpkin seeds are high in calories: 100 g of dry product contains about 550 kcal.
For food and seeds
First of all, you should decide why you need to dry the seeds, since the methods of drying them for subsequent planting in the soil and eating vary.
If you plan to plant seeds in the future, then under no circumstances should they be subjected to heat treatment and dried only at room temperature.If the grains are exposed to high temperatures, all moisture will evaporate from them and all organic compounds from which the sprout is formed will die.
Before carrying out this procedure, the grains must be thoroughly washed and sorted. Only large and undamaged specimens are used for planting in the soil. Before planting the seedlings, the grains are hardened: they are placed in the refrigerator overnight, and in the morning they are again placed in a room at room temperature.
Alternating temperatures is carried out for 3-5 days. After this, the grains are additionally germinated in damp gauze or planted in a prepared container with soil. Water these seedlings as the soil dries out. When 2-3 full leaves appear and the temperature is stable above zero, the seedlings are planted in open ground.
To eat pumpkin seeds, they are prepared using various methods. Initially, people dried the seeds by leaving them in the sun in hot weather. The moisture evaporated and they became suitable for consumption, but a large amount of useful substances was not preserved.
It is now recommended to use proven products and equipment for more uniform drying. Let's look at several ways to dry seeds at home for consumption.
Read also:
How to take pumpkin oil for prostatitis and how it will help.
The best varieties of bush pumpkin and features of their cultivation.
Preparation
To properly prepare the seeds for drying, cut the pumpkin so as not to damage the seeds. Using a spoon to remove the grains is the fastest and safest way.
Attention! All seeds should be white and hard to the touch; only these should be eaten.If their color is uneven and dark in places, they are spoiled.
Then the seeds should be washed: place them in a colander and place under cold water. As soon as the grains are clean, they are ready for drying.
After this, let the seeds dry: blot them with a towel and spread them on a dry surface in a thin layer.
Drying methods
Many people have questions about how to dry pumpkin seeds, what equipment and temperature conditions should be used.
Naturally
This method is suitable for those regions where summers are hot and dry. Thoroughly washed grains are spread in a thin layer on a baking sheet, tray or any other flat surface and left in the sun, and in the evening the seeds are brought indoors.
In this way they are dried for 1-2 weeks. It is advisable to cover the container with seeds with a thin cloth or gauze to prevent insects.
In a frying pan
Use a frying pan if you like well-roasted seeds. Fry them over medium heat, but if you use an electric stove, set the temperature to 100-120 degrees and do not forget to stir so that the seeds do not burn.
The process does not exceed 15 minutes so that the skin does not burn, then remove the pan from the stove. Add a little salt - this will give the seeds a pleasant taste.
In a convection oven
If you have a convection oven, keep in mind that the optimal temperature is 60 degrees and the time does not exceed 30 minutes. After the end of the set program, mix thoroughly and check that all the grains have dried evenly.
In an electric dryer
Cooking in an electric dryer will last about an hour. In this case, the temperature should not exceed 80 degrees. The seeds need to be stirred periodically.
Attention! Leaving the beans at the bottom of the dryer or forgetting to stir them will result in overcooked or overdried seeds.
In the oven
How to dry pumpkin seeds using the oven? This should be done at 60-80 degrees. The process lasts 10-20 minutes. If you come across large seeds, then increase the temperature to 100 degrees. Place them in a thin layer on a baking sheet and cook on a medium rack in the oven, stirring occasionally.
Microwave
Take a bowl and place the seeds on it in a thin layer. Turn on the oven at 600 W and set the time to 20 minutes. At the end you can add salt to taste.
Checking readiness
The readiness of seeds is determined by their appearance:
- they acquire a darker color;
- the outline of the seed becomes pointed;
- a thin transparent film peels off.
Storage
Store prepared pumpkin seeds in a dark and dry place. It is in such conditions that vitamins and beneficial microelements are preserved in them longer.
Conclusion
Dried pumpkin seeds are one of the healthiest additions to dishes that are easy to prepare at home. There are several easy ways to properly dry seeds. This will provide you with not only a source of vitamins, but also an excellent snack for a long time.