Pumpkin Seed Calculator

One pound of pumpkin yields roughly half a cup of cleaned seeds before roasting — a rough home-kitchen average that varies with variety and how aggressively you scrape the cavity. Multiply your pumpkin weight by that ratio to plan bowls and sheet pans.

Sheet pan counts assume about two cups of spread seeds per standard half-sheet for even browning. Roast time adds a base 25 minutes plus five minutes per extra pan — stagger pans in the oven if you only have one rack.

Example: a 12 lb carving pumpkin produces about 6 cups of seeds — three sheet pans and roughly 40 minutes total roast guidance at moderate heat (actual doneness still depends on your oven and seed size).

Rinse pulp off seeds in a colander; dry thoroughly or roast steams instead of crisps. Oil, salt, and spice after drying — garlic powder and smoked paprika are common Halloween-night snacks.

Save seeds from pie pumpkins and giants alike — giants may produce more seeds by volume even when flesh is less tasty for puree.

Allergen note: pumpkin seeds are tree-nut alternatives for many schools but check district policies before sending roasted seeds to classroom parties.

Limits: does not subtract seeds you discard with pulp or account for hull vs hulled varieties — weigh scraped seeds for precision baking.