11 Ways to Use Squash Seeds and Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkins have always given us the image of a Halloween lantern or a yummy pumpkin dessert. Who would have thought this fruit had so many varieties and the most beneficial part of it are the seeds! Yes, those tiny little seeds, which are normally thrown away, are great for snacking! Below are some of the many uses for squash seeds.

11 Uses for Squash Seeds

A few of the easiest ways to benefit from all that the squash seed has to offer is to begin by adding it into your diet. Check out these Uses for Squash Seeds to begin taking advantage of all this fruit has to offer!

Tip: You can learn How to Dry Squash Seeds and Pumpkin Seeds here.

1. Enjoy squash seeds as a healthy snack.

Do you ever have the urge to snack at an odd hour in the afternoon? Roasted squash seeds are a great snack to have on hand. They are tasty, healthy, nutritious, and light. They can also be safely stored for weeks.

2. Include squash seeds in your cooking.

Add a distinct taste to your seasonings or simply use them as a dressing! The acidic nature of squash seeds lends them to a perfect pairing with all meat, poultry, and veggies as they add great flavor. Squash seeds can even give an added taste to various dishes like lasagna, pizza, biscuits, cookies, cakes, sundaes, and desserts. Their crunchy texture makes them a great topping for a plain muffin or a salad.

3. Use squash seeds for their zinc properties.

You can cut out the zinc supplements and pop these regularly to build immunity. Squash seeds also help in keeping insulin levels in check.

4. Up your beauty routine.

If you’re trying to catch up on your beauty sleep, your search ends here! All the beauty issues ranging from good sleep to perfect skin can be acquired by eating these tiny seeds of wonder. They fight acne and other skin issues too, as these seeds are excellent anti-oxidants that protect the skin, fight aging, and rejuvenate the skin.

5. Add squash seeds to your diet plan.

For the conscious weight watchers, munching on squash seeds have shown to be a natural fat buster and they help keep you feeling fuller longer. An ounce of roasted squash seeds is equivalent to just 126 calories and 5 grams of fat.

6. Fight off illness.

The high nutrient value of squash seeds helps fight infections and other harmful ailments.

7. Enhance your mood.

Squash seeds could also be called mood changers, as they help turn grouchy, irritated you into the most amiable person. They are a natural solution to cool off and cure PMS problems and help you to have a pain free period.

8. De-stress.

Have you misplaced your stress ball and feel the pressure mounting? A handful of these tiny de-stressers will help calm you naturally and effectively!

9. Long-term health benefits of squash seeds.

We’ve seen how squash seeds help deal with minor ailments, but research has also revealed that these little jewels can increase immunity and control and keep blood pressure in check. They help to reduce the risk of colon cancer, ovarian cancer, heart disease, stroke, seizures, the common cold, and help stop baldness.

10. Fun crafts and DIY’s.

If you’re tired of using squash seeds for consumption purposes, then think outside of the box and make your next craft with these seeds. They are easy to use and can help keep your child engaged in an activity that doesn’t worry you. Kids can paint the squash seeds and use them for DIY art and craft projects. They can use them to make leaves, bird feathers, cards, or jewelry. They can also be used as math manipulatives and would make a great addition to a Pumpkin Unit Study in the fall.

—Learn How to Create your own Unit Studies here.

11. Go fishing.

Lastly, If your child doesn’t fall for the bait, the fish definitely will. The residue of squash seed pulp works great as fish food.

As you can see, the uses for squash seeds are many. My personal favorite way to use them is for a simple on-the-go snack. They require no refrigeration and can be very satisfying and filling.

Do you have squash and pumpkins coming out your ears? Here are some ideas on how to use them in your meals and baking!

• Pumpkin Muffins
• Easy Pumpkin Bread Recipe
• Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins
• Cooking Winter Squash
• Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
• Pumpkin Turtle Cheesecake
• Pumpkin Zucchini Bread
• One Spaghetti Squash = 2 Delicious Meals

What are your favorite uses for squash seeds?

About the Author:

Surela Mukherjee is a passionate blogger, a foodie, and a fitness freak. She is a content writer who loves writing about beauty, lifestyle, food, health, and wellness. She is a contributor for Lifehack, Elephant Journal, Timecity, and Stylecraze.com . She believes in spreading a word of happiness through her writings.

This post on Uses for Squash Seeds was originally published on Little House Living on September 2014. It has been updated as of September 2021.