FOOD NEWS
How To Properly Clean Pumpkin Seeds Prior To Roasting
By Tom Maxwell
While most people throw away the insides of a pumpkin when carving jack-o-lanterns, tangled within the fibrous, orange mess are white oval hulls with the seeds, or pepitas.
If you've never roasted pumpkin seeds and have serious trepidation about the process, fear not. Cleaning off all the slimy pulp is easier than you may think.
Scoop the pumpkin guts into a bowl big enough to cover everything with a few inches of water. More space and water in the bowl make it easier to separate the seeds.
Scoop any floating seeds out with a slotted spoon and place them in a colander for later. Though free from their gooey binds, it's normal for the seeds to feel slimy.
Dislodge the remaining seeds from the pulp by agitating them in the water. Avoid over-stirring the water so the pulp doesn't break apart, then remove as much pulp as possible.
Put all the seeds into a colander and thoroughly rinse them. They may be a little slimy after the second bath, but it's fine so long as the larger pieces of pulp have been removed.
Allow your freshly scooped and cleaned pumpkin seeds to dry completely before roasting them on a parchment-lined baking sheet in the oven.