How to separate sqash seeds from the fiber surrounding them?

[woofless]

I have been eating a lot of winter hard squash lately and hate the idea of throwing all those nutritious and tasty seeds away. I am also quite lazy and have no wish to pick the seeds out manually. Anybody have a trick or tip for me? Thanks,


Woof

[TreasonousBastard]

1. No shortcuts I know of-- just dig in there and get 'em out...

some are a lot easier to get out than others, but I usually squeeze them out of the fibrous stuff into a strainer sitting under running water.

It goes pretty fast after you get the hang of it.

(But it's never going to be my favorite chore)

[hippywife]

2. Sometimes a grapefruit spoon

works well to get everything out of the squash. But as far as separating the seeds, the only way I know to do it is manually. As TB said, it might help to throw it all in a strainer and run water through it as you pick them out.

[Tesha]

3. I hate it too...

it's a texture thing. Lucky for me Mr. Tesha doesn't mind.

One way he does it is to place the mass into a bowl of water and squeeze it - the seeds slip between his fingers and he captures them at that point.

[EFerrari]

4. I remember someone posting that freezing seeds works.

Now I can't remember which forum but I threw some unsorted squash seeds in a baggie and in the freezer, thinking I could always clean them up later. I wonder if cleaning them while they're frozen would be easier?

[Warpy]

5. Spread them out on a cookie sheet

and just let them dry out. You can even bake them in a low oven to dry the fibrous crap and toast the seeds at the same time.

It becomes a much easier procedure to separate dry seeds from dry fibres.

[woofless]

8. Thanks Warpy,

That is something I'll try. Have a great Holiday and thanks to all.

Woof

[japple]

6. I just scrape the seeds and fibers out with a spoon

and throw the whole mess out in the woods behind my house. The birds really enjoy them, esp. the cardinals.

[katkat]

7. great idea

That's a great idea, japple. I've been putting this kind of thing in the compost pile, but it's worth a try to see if my bird friends like it.

[japple]

11. Some of the seeds sprouted on the hill behind my house and

I got a bumper crop of about 10 butternut squashes this year. I don't know if they were moved downhill by squirrels or if they passes through a bird's digestive system and deposited there, but the plant was extremely healthy.

[EFerrari]

9. That's a great idea.

[woofless]

10. NOW I'm ashamed of myself.

I should have thought of the squirrels and birds as well. Thanks for a brilliant suggestion.

Woof

[ginnyinWI]

12. rinse with water in a collander

but don't worry if some of the strings remain--they'll kind of dry up. Mix with some oil and sprinkle with salt and roast at about 250 about an hour or so. Don't try to speed it up by roasting them at 350--they will pop and snap and end up all over your oven.

[woofless]

13. Thank you ginny.