Pumpkin Seed Oil

Name: Pumpkin seed oil, pressed from the seeds of certain pumpkin varieties (Cucurbita pepo), most famously the hull-less Styrian oil pumpkin. In German it is known as Kürbiskernöl.

Description

The first written record of pumpkin seed oil production dates to 1735, in the Styria region of southeastern Austria, where the field pumpkin had been introduced in the late 1800s. A spontaneous mutation producing hull-less seeds was discovered and developed into the first true Styrian oil pumpkin variety in 1947, revolutionising the local industry since hull-less seeds are far easier to press for oil.

To make the oil, the seeds are scrubbed clean, then roasted at around 60°C (140°F) before pressing — the roasting step both loosens the oil and develops its distinctive strong, nutty flavour and deep green-to-black colour, the latter coming from the seeds' high chlorophyll content.

Main nutrition value

Like all pure oils, pumpkin seed oil is essentially 100% fat and around 884 kcal per 100g, with a mix of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat. Unlike most seed oils, it is rarely used for cooking at all — its value lies almost entirely in its intense flavour, used in small amounts as a finishing oil rather than a cooking fat.

How best to be consumed

Pumpkin seed oil's strong flavour means a little goes a long way.

1. Drizzle in small amounts over salads, soups, or dishes like potato salad, a classic Austrian pairing.
2. Use as a finishing oil rather than a cooking fat, since its flavour and colour are best appreciated raw.
3. Look for Styrian-labelled oil for the most authentic, deeply flavoured version.
4. Store in a cool, dark place, since its flavour compounds are sensitive to heat and light.

Overconsumption could cause…

Because pumpkin seed oil is normally used in small amounts as a flavouring, overconsumption is rarely a practical concern.

1. Excess calorie intake only becomes a factor if used far more liberally than its typical finishing-oil role.
2. No unusual health risk beyond the general calorie density shared by all oils.

GroupsPlant/Fruit OilsGourd family (Cucurbitaceae)

Made fromPumpkin Seeds

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Wikipedia — Pumpkin seed oil, used for Styrian production history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumpkin_seed_oil