Name: How to Clean, Save and Roast Butternut Squash Seeds
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 butternut squash; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; ½ tablespoon soy sauce; ½ tablespoon lime juice; ½ tablespoon olive oil; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; 1 cup cleaned butternut squash seeds (you might need more than 1 butternut squash to get 1 cup of seeds)

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Whether you are looking to roast them up for a healthy and quick snack or save them for planting next year, I will walk you through all of the steps for how to clean, save and roast butternut squash seeds.

Roasted butternut squash seeds in a small blue bowl with parchment paper.

With fall comes a bounty of root vegetables, tomatoes and squashes and you’re left wondering how to preserve them and what to do with all of that harvest! Let’s not forget about the seeds; there is no need to discard them.

Normally we think of pumpkin seeds when it comes to roasting, but butternut squash seeds also make a great snack.

I will also give you some tips on how to store the seeds after drying or roasting them. If you want to get more adventurous, you could even try making a plant-based milk like I do in my pumpkin seed milk recipe. (You can check out the post here: how to make pumpkin seed milk.)

I also have tutorials for how to freeze cherries, how to cut a cantaloupe melon and how to make tomatillo salsa that come in handy this time of year.

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How to Clean Butternut Squash Seeds
How to Save Butternut Squash Seeds for Planting
How to Roast Butternut Squash Seeds
More Cooking Tutorials to Explore
📋Recipe

How to Clean Butternut Squash Seeds

Whether your are saving the seeds or roasting them, they need to be cleaned first, so follow these steps.

Sliced open butternut squash on wooden cutting board with a chef's knife.

Step 1: Gather Ingredients & Tools.

1 butternut squash
Chef's knife
Sieve (fine mesh strainer)

Step 2: Remove Pulp. Cut the top off of the butternut squash and then cut it in half. Scoop out all of the seeds/pulp with a spoon.

Step 3: Transfer Seeds. Place the seeds into a mesh sieve.

Butternut squash seeds in a sieve with water.

Step 4: Run Cool Water Over the Seeds & Pulp. Place the sieve in the sink or in a bowl. Run the sieve under cold water and massage the pulp to separate it from the seeds. Try to remove as much pulp as possible.

Butternut squash seeds cleaned in a sieve.

Continue with the steps for saving or roasting the seeds below.

How to Save Butternut Squash Seeds for Planting

It’s a good habit to start saving seeds for planting rather than buy them again year after year. It can save you money and you will have acquired a new skill that you can pass down to your children or share with friends. Check out the easy steps below.

Besides the cleaned seeds (following the steps above), you will also need paper towel, a baking sheet and an envelope.

Butternut squash seeds drying on a paper towel.

Step 1: Spread Seeds Out on Paper Towel. After you've cleaned the butternut squash seeds, spread the clean seeds out on a paper towel-lined baking sheet in a single layer. This way they will dry more efficiently.

Butternut squash seeds scattered on a paper towel.

Step 2: Dry The Seeds. Let the seeds sit in a cool, dry place for 1 to 2 weeks.

Dried butternut squash seeds on a spoon and an envelope.

Step 3: Transfer the Seeds. Once they are fully dry, transfer the dried seeds to a paper envelope and store in a cool, dry place.

Dried butternut squash seeds in a brown paper envelope.

❓How long can you store dried butternut squash seeds? You can store them until planting time, for up to 6 years!

How to Roast Butternut Squash Seeds

Ingredients

brown sugar - Can use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar for a deeper molasses flavor.
soy sauce - Light soy sauce is all you need. It's the kind you will most commonly find in the grocery store and most kitchens will have this type on hand.
lime juice - Freshly squeezed is best.
olive oil - Since we are roasting you don't need to waste money on a fancy bottle of extra virgin olive oil. Pure olive oil will do.
garlic powder - Adds a savory, umami flavor to the seeds, that is complementary to the sweetness of the brown sugar.
cleaned butternut squash seeds - You might need more than 1 butternut squash to get 1 cup of seeds.

*Check recipe card for ingredient amounts.

👩🏻‍🍳Chef's Note: If you aren't keen on this sweet and savory flavor combination, you can also roast them plain or with olive oil and salt, using the same method.

Instructions

Brown sugar mixture in a small glass bowl.

Step 1: Combine the Coating Ingredients. Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix the brown sugar, soy sauce, lime juice, olive oil and garlic powder together in a bowl.

Butternut squash seeds in a bowl with a brown sugar and soy mixture.

Step 2: Toss the Seeds With the Coating. Toss the clean butternut squash seeds with the coating mixture.

Butternut squash seeds on a parchment paper lined sheet pan.

Step 3: Spread Seeds Out. Spread the coated seeds out on the baking sheet using a spoon.

Roasted butternut squash seeds on a parchment paper lined sheet pan.

Step 4: Roast the Seeds in the Oven. Roast the seeds in the preheated oven until golden and crunchy, about 30 to 40 minutes. Stir the seeds around once or twice during baking.

Step 5: Cool & Serve. Let cool and serve! If some seeds are stuck together, simply break them apart.

Roasted butternut squash seeds in a small container with green lid.

❓How do you store roasted butternut squash seeds? The roasted butternut squash seeds can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 1 week.

💡 Pro Tip: The rest of the butternut squash can be used to make soups, purées, stuffed squash, etc. or you can roast it.