What Can You Do With Squash Seeds

Squash seeds are edible, nutritious, and incredibly versatile, so you can roast them for a snack, press them for oil, or plant them to grow next season’s crop.

 

If you’ve ever scooped out a pumpkin or butchered a butternut and wondered what can you do with squash seeds, you’re in for a treat.

 

Those little seeds you usually toss in the trash are actually packed with protein, healthy fats, and minerals.

 

In this post, we’ll explore the many things you can do with squash seeds, from tasty kitchen experiments to clever garden tricks.

 

Let’s get to it.

 

What Can You Do With Squash Seeds?

You can do a surprising number of things with squash seeds, and once you realize how useful they are, you’ll never scrape them into the bin again.

 

Here are the best ways to put those seeds to work.

 

1. Roast Them for a Crunchy Snack

The most popular thing to do with squash seeds is roast them.

 

Just rinse off the pulp, pat them dry, toss them with a little olive oil and salt, and spread them on a baking sheet.

 

Bake at 300°F for about 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they turn golden and crisp.

 

You can season squash seeds with paprika, garlic powder, cinnamon, or even a little chili lime for a zesty kick.

 

This is one of the easiest ways to enjoy what you can do with squash seeds, and it works for pumpkin, butternut, acorn, and delicata seeds alike.

 

2. Press Them for Oil

Another great thing you can do with squash seeds is press them for oil.

 

In fact, pumpkin seed oil is a prized culinary oil in parts of Europe, especially Austria.

 

It has a rich, nutty flavor and a deep green color that looks stunning drizzled over salads or soups.

 

You can buy a cold press machine if you’re serious, but small batches can also be made at home with a blender and a bit of patience.

 

So yes, what you can do with squash seeds goes well beyond snacking.

 

3. Grind Them Into Flour or Meal

If you’re into baking, you can do something clever with squash seeds by grinding them into flour.

 

Simply blend dry, roasted seeds in a high-speed blender until they form a fine powder.

 

This seed flour adds a nutty taste and extra protein to breads, muffins, and pancakes.

 

You can also use it as a gluten-free thickener for soups and stews.

 

Just swap about a quarter of your regular flour with squash seed flour to keep the texture right.

 

More Uses for Squash Seeds You’ll Love

Beyond eating them, there are even more things you can do with squash seeds that might surprise you.

 

1. Grow Your Own Squash Next Season

One of the coolest things you can do with squash seeds is plant them.

 

Save seeds from your healthiest squash, let them dry completely, and store them in a cool, dark place.

 

When spring rolls around, plant them in rich soil and watch them sprout into new vines.

 

Keep in mind that squash cross-pollinate easily, so seeds from hybrids may not grow true to the parent plant.

 

Still, what you can do with squash seeds in the garden is basically free food for next year.

 

2. Feed Birds and Wildlife

You can also do a lot of good with squash seeds by feeding them to birds.

 

Many backyard birds, including cardinals, chickadees, and nuthatches, love seeds.

 

Just make sure they’re plain and unsalted before you toss them outside.

 

This is a simple, thrifty thing you can do with squash seeds while supporting local wildlife.

 

3. Make a Natural Facial Scrub

Here’s a beauty trick for what you can do with squash seeds.

 

Ground squash seeds make a gentle exfoliating scrub that’s rich in vitamin E and zinc.

 

Mix a spoonful of ground seeds with a little honey or yogurt, massage it into your skin, and rinse.

 

It’s a natural way to polish your skin without harsh chemicals.

 

4. Add Them to Salads and Soups

You can do a lot with squash seeds in the kitchen by using them as a topping.

 

Sprinkle roasted seeds over salads, roasted veggies, or creamy soups for instant crunch.

 

They also work beautifully in granola, trail mix, and even pesto.

 

So if you’re wondering what you can do with squash seeds, the answer is basically anything you’d do with sunflower or pumpkin seeds.

 

So, What Can You Do With Squash Seeds?

Squash seeds are edible, nutritious, and incredibly versatile, so you can roast them for a snack, press them for oil, or plant them to grow next season’s crop.

 

Whether you’re snacking, baking, gardening, or getting creative with beauty treatments, there’s no shortage of things you can do with squash seeds.

 

Next time you carve a pumpkin or roast a butternut, don’t toss those seeds.

 

Rinse them, save them, and put them to good use.