How to Dry Pumpkin Seeds

Many gardening enthusiasts like to harvest pumpkin seeds grown in their home gardens or on public grounds. This is a simple task that gives you seeds for next season or a delicious snack. Fortunately, pumpkin seeds are the easiest crop to harvest because of their large size and the abundance of seeds in each squash. However, you need to wash and dry the pumpkin seeds properly before planting or roasting.

Table of Contents

Harvest and wash pumpkin seeds

Add the squash to get the seeds. Place the pumpkin on a flat surface. Using a large kitchen knife, place the tip of the knife on the top of the squash. Slowly push down on the knife, moving it sideways as you press it, to widen the cut. Continue cutting all the way down to the squash. When you’re done cutting the squash in half, switch to the other half and repeat the same action. ^{[1] X Research Source}

When you’re done cutting around the squash, you’ll cut one last cut through the squash, then split it in half with your hands.
Hold the squash firmly in the non-dominant hand. Be careful, never put your hand in front of the blade.

Use a spoon to scoop out the pumpkin seeds. With just one quick scooping motion, most of the seeds will come off easily. For seeds that are more difficult to peel, use a spatula to scrape along the sides of the squash to separate the seeds. If you don’t mind getting dirty, you can use your hands to pick up the seeds that can’t be scooped. ^{[2] X Research Source}

If you have an ice cream scoop, you can use the spatula to scrape along the sides of the squash to get the seeds.

Remove the squash from the seeds. The easiest way to remove the squash from the seeds is to tear it off with your hands. If you’re drying the seeds for roasting and want more flavor, there’s no need to scavenge the entire squash. But if you’re going to save it as a seed, you’ll need to remove the pumpkin flesh from the seed. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Dip the stuck seeds in a bowl of water to wet the squash so it’s easier to peel.

Dried pumpkin seeds

Spread the pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet or baking sheet. Pour the clean pumpkin seeds into the tray and spread them evenly in a single layer, making sure none of the seeds touch or overlap. ^{[6] X Research Source}

If there is not enough room in the tray to spread the seeds in one layer, you will have to use multiple trays to heat the seeds.

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Dry the seeds in a cool, dry place for at least 1 month. Find a spot that doesn’t get wet to dry the pumpkin seeds. An indoor spot such as a lawn or barn or a shaded outdoor location is suitable for this. Avoid poorly ventilated areas like garages, and never dry pumpkin seeds in the basement. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Check the pumpkin seeds daily and turn them over to dry evenly on both sides.
Do not let the pumpkin seeds pile up, as this will not dry thoroughly and may mold.
Air drying is the most effective and safest way to dry pumpkin seeds, but also the most time-consuming.

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Store pumpkin seeds in a paper bag or envelope until planting or roasting. Empty pumpkin seeds whole into an envelope or paper bag and store in a cool, dry place. If you can’t find a suitable place, you can store it in the refrigerator. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Remove all moldy seeds.

Use a food dryer

Spread the pumpkin seeds on the drying tray in a single layer. Make sure no beads overlap. If your drying tray has holes, you can cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the drying tray and line the bottom of the tray to prevent the pumpkin seeds from falling through. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Each batch only dries one tray to avoid uneven drying of seeds.

Dry pumpkin seeds at 46-49 degrees Celsius for 1-2 hours. Turn on the dryer at 46-49 degrees Celsius. Turn the seeds every 20 minutes to ensure even drying. ^{[10] X Research Source}

The food dryer method has a greater risk of damaging the pumpkin seeds than the air drying method, but is still safer than drying in the oven.

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Store pumpkin seeds in envelopes or paper bags in a cool, dry place. Avoid wet areas so the seeds don’t get wet again. If you can’t find a suitable place, you can store it in the refrigerator. Store pumpkin seeds until you want to roast or plant them. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Remove all moldy seeds before storing.

Dry the seeds in the oven

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Preheat the oven to the lowest possible temperature. Most ovens have a minimum temperature of 93 degrees Celsius. If you’re using an electric oven, you’ll usually need to wait 10-15 minutes for the oven to heat up. The gas oven will take about 5-10 minutes to preheat. Place the grill on the lowest position. ^{[12] X Research Source}

For more accuracy, you should use an oven thermometer to monitor the temperature.

Dry the seeds in the oven for 3-4 hours. Spread the pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet or baking sheet. Remember to spread in a single layer and that no seeds overlap. Place the grill on the lowest position in the oven and place the pumpkin seed tray on the griddle. Set the oven temperature to the lowest setting – usually 93 degrees Celsius – and wait 3-4 hours. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Use a spatula to stir the seeds every 20-30 minutes to avoid burning.
If you plan to use pumpkin seeds as seeds, be very careful not to scorch or burn them, as pumpkin seeds will not grow if damaged by heat.
Drying pumpkin seeds in the oven is the riskiest method because the seeds are more prone to damage.

Advice

Always dry the seeds before roasting – this will make it easier for spices and oils to stick to the seeds, making them crunchier.
Once you know how to dry pumpkin seeds, you can apply the same method to other pumpkin seeds and harvest the seeds for planting next season.

Warning

When spreading pumpkin seeds on a baking tray or baking tray to freeze or dry, be sure not to pile them up, as this will prevent the pumpkin seeds from drying out thoroughly and may cause mold.
Eating too many pumpkin seeds can lead to a B6 overdose and risk of death. Be careful!
Throw away any moldy pumpkin seeds.

Things you need

Pumpkin
Knife
Baskets
Tissue
Baking tray or baking tray
Envelopes or paper bags

Steps