Easy way to separate pumpkin seeds?

Question

Is there some method that makes it easy to separate the pumpkin seeds from the stringy insides? I recall it takes forever!

Answer 1

I used to think it took forever, too. But lately, it doesn't seem to take so long. I wonder why? Practice? More patience?

Just take a handful of goop, hold it over a bowl, and squeeze the seeds out gently. They should come out pretty well. If a little bit of pulp gets in the bowl, I don't worry about it. I find baked pulp to be quite good to eat, too.

If you are saving the seeds, though, to plant next year, pick out the best ones, and wipe them clean with a paper towel. Allow to airdry, then store in a jar or ziploc bag until you are ready to sprout/plant them.

Answer 2

Put the seeds and pulp in a bucket and gently rub/mash with your hands to separate the seeds. Then pour the mix over a large window screen. Hose them down with a broad spray. Most of the pulp will stick in the mesh and you can gently scrape the seeds off into your bucket. Then spray off the pulp from the reverse side and repeat if necessary. Once they are fairly clean, spread the seeds out on the screen in the sun to air-dry.

Answer 3

Rub the 'guts' between your hands while running them under cold water. The water washes away the stringy stuff leaving the seeds in your hands.