Cooking pumpkin seeds, a fun activity for kids, is relatively simple. When you prepare a fresh pumpkin recipe, save the seeds. The most difficult part is separating the seeds from the pumpkin pulp. After that, cooking pumpkin seeds is a snap. Just follow the directions below for a delicious, healthy snack.

Cooking Pumpkin Seeds

Clean the pulpy membrane from the pumpkin seeds, rinse until clean. Place seeds on paper towel and dry overnight. Heat the oven to 350Ë?. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray (use butter-flavored, if desired), and spread the pumpkin seed on the baking sheet in a single layer. Spray lightly with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt or with a flavored salt. Cook seeds for 10 to 20 minutes until brown and slightly crisp, turning once. Cool. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Eat within a couple of months as the seeds will lose their flavor.

Besides being good to eat, pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Cooking pumpkin seeds transforms them into a sweet and nutty, chewy snack. After cooking pumpkin seeds, sprinkle them on other vegetables or salads to add a crunchy zest, or add them to cookie dough or hamburgers. Increase the nutritional value of cooked cereal and muffins by adding toasted pumpkin seeds. Our "Cooking Pumpkin Seeds Resources" section has many other ideas and recipes, so don't forget: the next time you cook or carve a pumpkin, save the seeds.