How to Cure Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds, a powerful health food, provide more than 30 percent of your daily value of nutrients like vitamin E, thiamine, magnesium and selenium, according to The World's Healthiest Foods. Grow your own sunflowers for a cost-efficient way to produce your own seeds. Sunflower heads can yield up to 1,000 seeds per head. Use seeds as a healthy snack or for bird or chicken feed. Cure seeds properly before using for the best results.

Things You'll Need

Paper bag
String
Garden shears

Stiff brush
Newspaper

Instructions

- 1
  Punch several holes in a lightweight paper bag. Wrap the bag around the sunflower head once it has fully opened. Tie the bag closed with a piece of string at the bottom near the stem top.
- 2
  Cover the sunflower head with the bag until it dries and appears brown with no green color left.
- 3
  Cut the sunflower head off the stem with a pair of sharp garden shears. Leave about a foot of stem attached to the head.
- 4
  Hang the head upside down in a dry, well-ventilated area such as a garage or basement to finish drying.
- 5
  Brush the seeds out of the flower head with a stiff brush or rub them out with your fingers. Seeds should feel dry. If any seeds feel moist, spread them out on a piece of newspaper to dry. Seeds are ready when they feel brittle and crack when you place them between your teeth.

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