Pumpkin seed oil facts for kids
Pumpkin seed oil is a special cooking oil. It comes from the seeds of certain pumpkins. People use it a lot in countries in central Europe, like Austria and Slovenia.
Contents
What is Pumpkin Seed Oil?
Pumpkin seed oil is a unique oil made from pumpkin seeds. It has a strong, nutty taste. This oil is very popular in parts of Europe. These areas were once part of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire. Today, you can find it in places like southeastern Austria (Styria) and eastern Slovenia (Styria and Prekmurje). It is also used in parts of Romania, Croatia, Vojvodina, and Hungary.
People around the world also enjoy pumpkin seed oil. It is used in places like North America, Mexico, India, and China.
How is Pumpkin Seed Oil Used?
Pumpkin seed oil is often used as a salad dressing. In Styria, Austria, a common dressing is just pumpkin seed oil mixed with cider vinegar.
This oil can also be used in desserts. A few drops can give plain vanilla ice cream a delicious nutty flavor. In Austria and Slovenia, it is seen as a special treat. People often add a little to pumpkin soup or other local dishes.
It is important not to use pumpkin seed oil for cooking at high heat. Heating it too much can destroy the healthy fats it contains.
How Pumpkin Seed Oil is Made
Pumpkin seed oil is taken out, or extracted, from pumpkin seeds. This can be done using special liquids or a method called supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. After the oil is collected, other parts like carotenoids (which give plants their color) can also be taken out.
The most famous type is Styrian oil. This oil is a product that Austria and Slovenia sell to other countries. It is made by pressing roasted, hull-less pumpkin seeds. Hull-less means the seeds do not have a hard outer shell. These seeds come from a special type of pumpkin called the "Styrian oil pumpkin." Roasting the seeds at a high temperature makes the oil smell and taste even better.
Types of Pumpkin Seeds and Oil
Pumpkin seed oil can look different colors. It can be light green, very dark green, or even dark red. The color depends on how thick the oil layer is that you are looking through. If you see a thin layer, it looks green. If you see a thick layer, it looks red. This color change is a special effect called dichromatism. Pumpkin oil is one of the best examples of this effect.
When mixed with yogurt, the oil often turns a bright green color. Some people even call it "green-gold."
Other kinds of pumpkin seed oil are sold worldwide. These often use white seeds that still have their shells. This usually makes a cheaper, white oil. China has become a big producer of these seeds.
Pumpkin seed oil is full of healthy fats. These fats are stored in tiny drops inside the pumpkin seed cells.
See also
In Spanish: Aceite de semillas de calabaza para niños
